Kutaisi is a relatively small city in Georgia. Its population is less than two hundred thousand people. The historical center is located on the western bank. It is a temple surrounded by fortress walls.
It is an ancient city that constantly suffered from the attacks of enemies and enemies. In 805, it became the capital of Georgia, and remained so until 1123. Georgian kings were crowned here and important events in the country were decided. Kutaisi has a difficult history, like any people of the Caucasus, but this did not prevent it from preserving the ancient architecture and cultural heritage of the region. Near modern buildings there are landmarks that are included in the UNESCO list. The City Day is celebrated here on the second of May.
Getting from Tbilisi to Kutaisi will not be a problem: you can go by rented car and in three hours you will be there; railway transport runs three times a day; a minibus runs every hour. From here you can go to any regional center or another city.
The main attractions in Kutaisi are the temples. They were formed during the development of the Georgian state. The most popular is the Bagrat temple. The city's calling card stood for more than three hundred years in a ruined state, but 9 years ago it was reconstructed and restored. The shrine is located at the highest point of the city, so incredible panoramic views open up from here. The cathedral building itself has not survived in its original form, as it suffered from frequent Turkish raids.
It is noteworthy that the temple became the discovery of a whole complex of Georgian architectural construction. It is decorated with mosaics and carvings of that time. In the middle you can see ancient paintings and stained glass.
Gelati Monastery is another historical landmark. The entire complex consists of three churches, a bell tower, old gates and ancient burial sites. Construction took place during the Golden Age of Georgia – a time when the country was free from invaders and expanding its borders. The entire territory was surrounded by a double row of fortress walls, of which only ruins remain today. The main buildings of the monastery complex are the Church of the Holy Mother of God, the Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and the Church of St. George the Victorious.
The Geguti Palace is an interesting ancient building. Once the largest palace in Georgia, it stands at the source of the Rioni River and has an area of two thousand square meters. Today, only ruins remain, but several centuries ago, it was a favorite vacation spot for royal families. It is also very often mentioned in Georgian chronicles. Since 2019, the Georgian authorities have been restoring this cultural monument.
The oldest theater named after Lado Meskhishvili. It showed its first performance back in 1862. There are stars with the names of the actors who made the cultural building famous, and museum exhibits dedicated to the history of the theater.
The Historical Museum is the main museum in Kutaisi and the second in Georgia. Almost 200 thousand items and exhibits are presented here. Starting with clay dishes, silverware, jewelry made of stones from the Paleolithic period, and ending with modern numismatic collections and weapon collections. All this was found not only in Georgia, but also far beyond its borders.
Kutaisi is a beautiful, colorful city with its own difficult history. When tourists come here, they relax first of all with their souls, because the city is quiet and calm, and the Georgians themselves are famous all over the world for their hospitality. Be sure to try Georgian wine and local cuisine - you will not experience such a combination of tastes anywhere else.
