Sights of Kutaisi: most interesting places, description

Kutaisi is a Georgian city, the history of which began many centuries ago. Currently, it is one of the popular tourist centers of Georgia. What is the interest of this city? What are the attractions of Kutaisi worth seeing?

The capital of ancient kingdoms

Historians tend to believe that the city of Kutaisi was founded even before our era, approximately in the 6th-5th centuries. The first written sources that mention it, date back to the 3rd century BC. E. Apollonius of Rhodes in the poem "Argonavtika" reports that Kutaisi was the city in which the Argonauts sailed in search of the golden fleece.

The city was the capital of the kingdom of ancient Georgians - Kolkhov. Ancient sources describe this region as full of crowded towns, in which they make good wine and grow delicious fruits.

Later, the city becomes part of Imeretia as part of the united Georgian kingdom. In the 15th century, when Imeretia separates and becomes independent, Kutaisi becomes the capital of the Imereti kingdom, and later the Imeretino-Abkhazian kingdom.

As usual, these lands often suffered from Turkish raids. Repeatedly the kingdom requested the help of Russian troops, but it was only under Catherine II that the Russian Empire decided to help. Having liberated the inhabitants of the Imeretian kingdom from the Turks, the region was turned into the Imereti region of the Russian Empire.

As part of socialist Georgia, this city was part of the USSR and was one of the important industrial centers. Now the city is the parliamentary capital of Georgia. Many of the sights of Kutaisi have suffered considerably during the Turkish raids, then during the time of the USSR, but recently they have been actively restored.

A little about Kutaisi

The city is part of the Imereti region, and since 2012 the Georgian parliament is located here . Kutaisi is located in the western part of the country. By certain standards this is a small city (about 150 thousand people live here), but in Georgia it is considered to be the second largest city.

It is located on both sides of the Rioni River. The river crosses many original bridges, which gives the city a special flavor and distinguishes it from other places in the country. Bridges can be safely recorded in bright sights.

Kutaisi is often called the city of May, the city of roses, but its name translates as "stone". All because in ancient times it was located on the northern rocky side of the river.

It is not difficult to get to Kutaisi, not far from the city, at 14 km, is an international airport. Also in the city there are two railway stations.

Kutaisi Airport officially opened only in 2012, mainly it takes loukost-flights. Its name is associated with the name of the king of Georgia - David the Builder, who ruled in medieval times. Kutaisi airport is the second largest airport in the country and is able to receive even long-haul aircraft.

A lot of famous personalities visited Kutaisi. Here Vladimir Mayakovsky studied, and the poet Lesya Ukrainka wrote in this city a famous drama-extravaganza "Forest Song". Such creative personalities as Akaki Tsereteli, Niko Nikoladze, Titian Tabidze and many others also visited the city.

Bagrath Temple

Bagrati, or the Bagrat Cathedral, was built during the rule of Bagrat III, in 1003, and was the main cathedral of the unified kingdom of Georgia. The temple is lit in honor of the Assumption of the Virgin. Previously, it was part of a huge palace complex. Here passed the most important events of the kingdom, for example, in the XI century, the coronation of David the Builder occurred precisely in this cathedral.

The temple is visible from almost anywhere in Kutaisi, since it is located on the hill of Ukimerioni. He suffered considerably during the Russo-Turkish struggle in the XVIII century and was restored in our time. Some of the ancient fragments of the temple were partially preserved.

Before, the cathedral was decorated with carvings and carvings. The floor and walls were decorated with a mosaic, you can see it now. In the vestibule there was a fresco with the image of the Virgin.

This monumental and majestic structure, representing a monument of Caucasian medieval architecture. And from the top of the hill on which the Bagrat temple is located, you can see not only the whole of Kutaisi, but also the Rachin Range in the distance.

Church by the sky

In Georgia, there are a lot of temples that are located on the tops of the hills, but this one is unique in that it is on the top of a natural-shaped tower. The Katzhi Pillar is a 40-meter monolith made of limestone. Previously, it was a symbol of the god of fertility, and later Christians built a temple on it.

The pillar of Katzha is a place where, literally and figuratively, one can become closer to God. The temple at the top of the pillar was erected on the ruins of the once existing temple in this place. Its architecture is a repetition of the previous structure. The building of the stone church is small and quite simple. Nearby is the crypt.

Before that, many rulers wanted to climb the mountain, for example, Bagration in the XVIII century. Their attempts were crowned with failure. For the first time after many years of absence, people climbed to the top of the pillar in 1944. Archaeologists carefully explored the area, concluding that religious life here was conducted since the VI century, when the first church was built.

Bolnis cross is carved at the foot of the mountain. And to the top now leads the iron staircase. Near the church were found the remains of an unknown monk. Local people often call the mountain "the fortress of loneliness".

The Monastery of Saint David and Constantine

Monastery Motsameta is located in an incredibly beautiful place: on the hills in the green hills above the river Rioni. From the neighbor - the Gelati monastery - it is separated by a picturesque canyon. From one monastery to another leads a path through the canyon.

A legend is connected with this place about the Arab conquerors who came to the Georgian lands. The Arabs burned an ancient church of the VIII century and wanted to convert the local residents to Islam. Confront the Arab invasion decided the brothers David and Constantine, but, alas, lost the battle and were captured. Refusing to accept Islam, the brothers suffered cruel torture for a week. Then they were drowned in the river.

The locals discovered the bodies of the victims and at that moment they heard the voice of God, who ordered to go to the east and leave the bodies in the place where dawn will catch them. Such a place, naturally, turned out to be a burnt church, where the local built a monastery in honor of the brothers.

The relics of saints are kept in the monastery, and on October 15 of every year a festival in their honor is held - Motsametoba.

The monastery itself is quite small and cozy. Above the structure rise two round towers with tent orange domes. All the paintings in the monastery are new and do not represent historical significance, but the old bell tower. The age of the bell tower is unknown. On the territory of the monastery there is a fountain with healing water, according to local.

Colchis fountain

In the central square of the city of Kutaisi there is a fountain decorated with 30 unusual figures. These figures are enlarged copies of archaeological finds from the Colchis lowland. In the original, these are gold figurines with images of animals.

Facing the fountain is made of Kharagauli stone. The main figures of the fountain are the horses of King Eet. One of the figures - the golden lion - is a repetition of the figurine of a lion found in the Alazani Valley, which dates back to the 3rd century BC.

The fountain was created in 2011 under the guidance of the architect David Gogichaishvili. At the site of the fountain, at first stood a statue of David the Builder, who was transferred to the station square.

National Park

In the south-west of the main Caucasian ridge, on the eponymous mountain, there is the national park Sataplia. The subtropical climate and mountain ranges around make it very attractive for rare animals. About 20 species of endemic live here.

The most interesting thing in the park is for children. There is a crater of a long extinct volcano, karst caves, where you can see natural wells, stalagmites, stalactites. And in a special pavilion you can look at the traces of dinosaurs.

Conclusion

Kutaisi is a beautiful city with a rich history. Such sights of Kutaisi, as a monastery, Bagrat Cathedral, Pillar of Katzha, are surrounded by incomparable nature, a picturesque national park tells about prehistoric times, and a fountain in the center of the city in modern times tells the Colchis story. All this is definitely worth seeing.