KUTAISI
The population and surroundings of Kutaisi have been inhabited since the Lower Paleolithic era, with the city serving as a cultural and political center of the country for many centuries. In fact, Kutaisi was the capital of Georgia from the 8th century BC to the 11th century!
It is said that the legendary Argonauts passed through the city during their search for the Golden Fleece, and dinosaur remains have also been found nearby. This is a city steeped in history.
The name Kutaisi consists of three words: "Kva" (meaning "stone"), "Mta" (meaning "mountain"), and "Isi" ("this"), which together translates as "city between stone and mountain," but it also had other names, including Aia, Kutaisa, and Kutatisiumi. With such a long and rich history, it's no wonder that many of Kutaisi's most famous landmarks are linked to its past.
One such place is the relatively "new" (by Kutaisi standards) garden boulevard leading to the city's central square. The great Georgian poet Akaki Tsereteli called this 150-year-old boulevard the "Parliament of Kutaisi" because the city's intelligentsia gathered here to discuss important issues. This tradition continues to this day.
In the central square, you'll see the Colchis Fountain adorned with images of thirty golden artifacts found during excavations in Vani. Other significant landmarks include the impressive Kutaisi Dramatic Theater, named a national cultural monument, and the Kutaisi Opera and Ballet Theater. The latter is adorned with thirteen Roman figures carved by a local sculptor, making it an impressive architectural feat.
On the banks of the Rioni River lies the residence of the Imeretian king, "Okros Chardaki" ("Golden Canopy"), and above this, atop the hill, stands the millennium-old Bagrati Cathedral, built in 1003 as a symbol of united Georgia.
Also nearby, you'll find UNESCO World Heritage sites - the Gelati Monastery complex and the stunning Motsameta Monastery.