About Sights – The Café Fantasy (also called the Octopus) in Batumi
The Café Fantasy (Georgian: კაფე ფანტაზია) or the Octopus (რვაფეხა) was a coffeehouse situated in the seaside city of Batumi on Georgia’s Black Sea coast. Completed in 1975, it became a popular meeting point for both Batumi residents and visitors. During the Soviet period visitors to the Octopus could buy freshly brewed coffee, ice-cream and … Continue reading
About Sights – The Neptune Fountain in Batumi
The statue of Neptune in front of Batumi Drama Theater in the city of Batumi was erected in 2010. The statue and its fountain is a copy of the Fountain of Neptune in the Piazza del Nettuno in the town of Bologna in Italy. The original sculpture was completed by the Flemish sculptor Giambologna in 1567. The statue was gold-plated in 2011. Four … Continue reading
About Sights – Ilia Chavchavadze Monument in Batumi
Ilia Chavchavadze is widely regarded as one of the founding fathers of modern Georgia. Revered as Pater Patriae (Father of the Fatherland) of Georgia, he spearheaded the revival of the Georgian national movement in the second half of the 19th century. A monument to Chavchavadze was erected in the city of Batumi on Georgia’s Black Sea coast … Continue reading
About Tourism – Promoting Tourism in Georgia in the 1970’s
During the Soviet era, Georgia was the “Riviera of the Soviet Union”, with 3 million visitors annually. Georgia appealed to tourists because of its sunny weather, its culture, wines and food, health spas, beaches and skiing. Tourism was centrally planned and the market was monopolized by Intourist, a state owned tourism agency that arranged all holiday … Continue reading
About Sport – Bridgestone Black Sea Cup 2014
MIA Force team driver Davit “Data” Kajaia (Georgian: დავით “დათა” ქაჯაია) won the Bridgestone Black Sea Cup 2014 held on August 24 in Batumi on Georgia’s Black Sea coast. Davit is best known for winning the Legends Euro Nations Cup in 2012 and 2013. First held in 2004, the event is organized by Tegeta Motors and the Georgia … Continue reading
About Sights – Astronomical Clock in Batumi
Made in Germany, the Astronomical Clock in Europe Square in the city of Batumi (Georgian: ბათუმი) adorns the restored facade of the former National Bank building. A chime indicates the full hour, a single ring the half-hour. Apart from the time of day, the clock also shows astronomical information – the placement of the sun and … Continue reading
About Sights – Medea Monument in Batumi
The Medea monument in Batumi was designed by Davit Khmaladze and erected in Europe Square in 2007. In Greek mythology, Medea was a daughter of King Aieti (Georgian: აიეტი), the king of Kolkheti in present day western Georgia. Medea helped Jason to steal the legendary Golden Fleece (Georgian: ოქროს საწმისი). The Kolkhetian people developed an expertise in the smelting … Continue reading
About Development – Electric Patrol Vehicles for Batumi Boulevard
The police in Batumi (Georgian: ბათუმი) in Ajara on Georgia’s Black Sea coast have been equipped with new electric vehicles for patrolling the city’s famous Batumi Boulevard. The environmentally friendly vehicles are a convenient way for police to patrol the popular boulevard. The size of the vehicles means that there is less disturbance to pedestrians. Efficient … Continue reading
About Architecture – Batumi Air Traffic Control Tower
The air traffic control tower in Batumi on Georgia’s Black Sea coast was put into service in May 2007. Batumi airport serves both domestic and international flights and its control tower is equipped with the latest navigation systems. Digital screens were installed on the control tower’s facade in 2012, permitting display of various graphical and digital images, advertisements … Continue reading
About Sights – Ajara State Museum of Art
The Ajara State Museum of Art (Georgian: აჭარის ხელოვნების სახელმწიფო მუზეუმი) in Batumi was founded in 1998 and houses a collection of paintings, sculptures,graphic works and decorative art by Georgian and foreign artists. The museum’s 500 exhibits include paintings by famous Georgian artists such as Niko Pirosmani, Lado Gudiashvili and Elene Akhvlediani. The post-1950 collection, by contemporary … Continue reading
About Sights – The Orta Mosque in Batumi
The Orta Mosque (Georgian: ორთა ჯამე) in the city of Batumi on Georgia’s Black Sea coast was commissioned by Aslan Beg Khimshiashvili, a Muslim Georgian nobleman in 1886, and is one of the finest examples of Islamic art in Ajara. The mosque is popularly known as the “Jamia in the middle” for it once stood in … Continue reading
About Sights – Batumi Lighthouse
The 21-meter stone lighthouse situated in Miracle Park in the city of Batumi (Georgian: ბათუმი) on Georgia’s Black Sea coast was built by French engineers in 1882. Batumi’s first lighthouse was built in 1863 during Ottoman rule, while the Russians erected a second one in 1878. Miracle Park is situated on the last stretch of … Continue reading
About Sights – Miracle Park in Batumi
Miracle Park, in the city of Batumi (Georgian: ბათუმი) on Georgia’s Black Sea coast, is situated on the last stretch of Batumi Seafront Boulevard and contains the Alphabet Tower, the Statue of Love and the Ferris Wheel. It often hosts concerts and festivals, such as Julio Iglesias’s concert in 2011. The 130 meter Alphabet Tower in Miracle … Continue reading
About Sights – Kemal Turmanidze’s Ethnographic Museum “Borjgalo”
The Kemal Turmanidze Ethnographic Museum “Borjgalo” celebrates the work of Kemal Turmanidze – a master woodcarver. The museum contains several hundred examples of his work, together with exhibits of Georgian cultural heritage. Turmanidze is from the village of Namonastrevi in the Keda district of Ajara. From childhood he liked painting and making toys. He became interested in … Continue reading
About Sights – Batumi Port
The Ancient Greeks established a colony on Georgia’s Black Sea coast at the site of modern day Batumi (Georgian: ბათუმი) and called it Bathus – derived from the Greek phrase bathus limen meaning “deep harbour”. Located on a bay just northeast of Batumi city. the port of Batumi is an important oil export point providing access to … Continue reading
About Sights – Aerial Tramway in Batumi
A 2 km long aerial tramway opened in the city of Batumi (Georgian: ბათუმი) on Georgia’s Black Sea coast in August 2013 and links the heart of the city’s waterfront with the Argo Entertainment Center development on Anuria Mountain. With a capacity of 500 passengers per hour, the aerial tramway provides spectacular views of the city. An impressive, angular, … Continue reading
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