Samegrelo

Samegrelo, also known as Mengrelia, is a historical province in the western part of Georgia, formerly also known as Odishi.It is inhabited by Mingrelians, an ethnic subgroup of Georgians who have their own language.The northern side of Samegrelo has access to the sea in the region of Svaneti and the Caucasus Mountains.As is the case with most of the Black Sea regions of Georgia, the climate in Samegrelo is subtropical, with frequent rains. Samegrelo is one of the richest and most beautiful regions of Georgia. Its ancient history makes this region even more attractive. The most outstanding unique identifier of a region is its cuisine, and everyone should try Megrelian dishes at least once in their life. Visitors will discover exotic spices and a variety of mouth-watering dishes. Traveling through this area, you will learn not only the rich Georgian culture, but also the Greek legend about the mythical king Ayete, the son of the sun god Helios, who ruled the kingdom of Colchis. The pre-Christian Kingdom of Colchis was the first Georgian state mentioned in Greek history and mythology, the country to which the Argonauts came to find the golden fleece.

The administrative center of the Samegrelo region is the city of Zugdidi. Until 1918, Zugdidi was called Dadi from the surname of the rulers of Mingrelia, Princes Dadiani. Dadiani Palace, located in Zugdidi, belonged to the former Duke of Samegrelo. In 1921, a museum was founded in Dvorets. The museum complex consists of the palaces of Ekaterina Chavchavadze-Dadiani and Niko Dadiani (19th century), as well as churches and ornamental gardens located on the territory of the Dadiani Palace. Niko Dadiani Palace has the largest banquet hall in all of Georgia and a palace garden with unique trees and shrubs gathered from all over the world. In 1850, Prince David Dadiani opened a museum in the palace. There were collections of ancient objects from the Stone Age, European military weapons from the Middle Ages, paintings and beautiful works of art. Today, more than 50,000 rare exhibits are on display in the museum. Among his collection of relics of European monarchs and imperial families is the death mask of Napoleon Bonaparte. The museum also houses the relics of Christian saints, including the cloak of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which was transferred to Georgia in 1453, the relics of St. Kvirike, St. George and John the Baptist are also housed there. The museum complex includes the chambers of the Mengrel Queen Ekaterina Chavchavadze-Dadiani and Prince Niko Dadiani, the court church and the botanical garden. In the museum you will see jewelry works from the 1st century BC to the 9th century AD; Archaeological materials representing the ancient era of Greek and Georgian culture; a collection of Christian shrines, samples of European applied art; as well as a collection of paintings by Russian, French and English artists.

Martvili is a town in Megrelia.From 1936 to 1990, the city was called Gegechkori after A. A. Gegechkori.

In the 7th century, a monastery was built in the village of Martvili, named after St. Andrew the First-Called. It is based on a huge oak tree, which has served as a pagan idol for centuries. People worshipped this tree as the god of fertility, fertility and prosperity. In the 1st century, one of the apostles of Christ, Andriy the First-called, converted pagans to Christianity, who subsequently cut down an oak tree and built a church in its place.The church is cross-domed, and the paintings on the walls date back to the 6th -7th centuries. The two-storey cathedral was built next to the church in the 10th century. In the Middle Ages, the Martvili Monastery was a center of culture and education and attracted many writers, translators, and philosophers.

Martvili Canyon is a unique natural monument with traces of prehistoric animals, one of the most memorable places in the vicinity of Martvili.It was discovered only recently, but thanks to its beauty, it has already become truly famous.

The canyon is located in the village of Gachedili. Here the Abashi River crosses limestone cliffs, and a fascinating canyon has formed in this place for many thousands of years. The length of the Gochkadili Canyon is 2,400 meters, and the depth reaches 40 meters. In the middle of the canyon there is a ledge in which the water falls down, forming a stunning stepped waterfall 12 meters high. The canyon walls are a stone arch. Due to the very high humidity, beautiful vines grow here, and the canyon walls are covered with long-term moss. Paleontologists have recently discovered traces of prehistoric animals that lived here millions of years ago. Scientists have found paw prints and dinosaur bones, as well as traces of a caveman. These findings have made the canyon a unique place, important for world science.You can take a boat trip along the Martville Canyon, view its beauty up close and get an unforgettable experience. You can also take a walk along the entire course of the river. There is a very beautiful nature here: a large waterfall falling from a great height, many small waterfalls and streams that form beautiful blue lakes with clear water. The water in these lakes is always cold. Martvili Canyon is an amazing and fascinating natural monument in Georgia.

Kolkheti National Park is located in Samegrelo. It covers the eastern zone of the Black Sea coast and the basin of Lake Paliastomi. The park was created to protect and ensure the survival of the wetlands ecosystem.

Lake Paleostomi is located in Poti and is part of the Kolkheti National Park. One hundred and ninety-four species of birds migrate across the lake, and it is home to more than one hundred species of fish. Paleostomi is an ideal place for fishing and spearfishing.

Poti is a major seaport and a free economic zone .In the old days, Poti was called Phasis and was the economic and cultural center of Colchis. Poti was first mentioned in the 7th century.In the old days, this place was the mouth of the sea. The Poti Cathedral was built in Poti in the 19th century. On June 17, 1895, the military governor of Kutaisi convened a committee to build the cathedral with the permission of the Russian commander. The church was supposed to be built in the Georgian style, but the Russian government rejected the project and architects Zelenko and Marfeldi presented a new design.According to this project, the church was supposed to be a smaller replica of the Church of St. Sophia in Constantinople with enough space for 2,000 parishioners. On the north side of the church, the icons were made in the Greek-Byzantine style.On the south side, the icons were in the Georgian-Byzantine style, and the central icons were in the Russian-Byzantine style. Among these icons were the icons of St. Nino and David Agmashenebeli (the Builder). In 1932, the communist rulers of Poti turned the church into a theater. The church was returned to the Patriarchate in 2005 and has now returned to its original function.

The cultural heritage of Nakalakevi is a truly charming place. Literally, its name means "the place where the city was." Nakalakevi was called Tsikhogji. Based on Georgian history, the fortress was built by the Duke of Egrisi and Svaneti – Kuji, in the 3rd century BC. It is believed that there was a mythological city of Aia, which was the capital of the Kingdom of Colchis, and the place of storage of the legendary Golden Fleece. Archaeological excavations have discovered several traces of various civilizations on the territory of Nakalakevi. The oldest trace goes back to the 8th-7th century BC. Various valuable items were discovered here, including wine dishes, gold, silver, bronze and glass ornaments, as well as various ceramic items. Ruins of ancient palaces, Christian churches, baths and underground tunnels have also been discovered and preserved here.

 Anaklia is a vibrant resort with a dry climate unusual for the Georgian Black Sea coast, high—class hotels, smooth roads, European architecture framed by subtropical forests, and soft sandy beaches. Anaklia is a new resort, and therefore it takes time for full development. There is no better place in Georgia for short-term relaxation for lovers of silence, but there is not enough entertainment for long-term recreation in Anaklia.But even today, Anaklia is a good alternative for the prestigious Black Sea resorts of Georgia, if you want to relax quietly and peacefully with your family.