Poti

Poti municipality is located in Samegrelo and Zemo Svaneti region. According to scientists, one of the oldest cities in Georgia, Phasis, was located on the territory of the current Poti and Poti is considered the heir to this ancient city. Late Bronze Age and Early Bronze Age settlements were found in the surrounding areas of the city. The earliest artefacts (on the western part of Lake Paliastomi, at the place where the fragments of dishes were found) from archaeological materials found on the territory of today's Poti, which date back to the IV century BC. In historical sources, Poti is first mentioned in the VIII century. In 1578 Poti was conquered by the Ottomans. In the following centuries, the city was periodically subordinated to Russia, sometimes it was under Ottoman control. Poti revival, reconstruction and amenities are associated with the name of prominent Georgian public figure and publicist Niko Nikoladze.

The planning of Poti was elaborated by the project of Niko Nikoladze. Today, Poti is one of the fundamental regions of the Georgian economy. The seaport of the city is one of the largest ports of the Black Sea basin. The city has sports and tourist facilities, cultural-educational institutions, libraries, museum of colchian culture, a folklore center and others. Poti is a very beautiful seaside town with XIX-XX centuries architecture, interesting stories and myths.

Geography

Poti is located in Samegrelo and Zemo Svaneti, on the Black Sea, on the Kolkheti plain, at the confluence of the Rioni River and the Black Sea. The city is bordered by the Black Sea to the west, Khobi region and the Rioni River to the north, to the south-east the Kaparcha River and Paliastomi Lake. Poti is characterized by plain terrain. The city is located about 0.8-2 meters above sea level. The low hypsometric level and the proximity of soil-ground water to the surface causes the process of wounds,that's why certain areas are artificially raised. The central part of the Kolkheti lowland near Rioni bridge and the April 9 alley are artificially elevated. The green cover of the city is basically the central park of the city, the Maltakva forest-park, green strips, green square and streets. Paliastomi Lake is a perfect resting place for nesting, wintering and migrating birds. The fauna of Poti is distinguished by its diversity. Here we find dolphin afalina, white-sided dolphins, jackal, wild boar, Caucasian talpids, etc.

What to see

If you decide to travel to Poti you should definitely visit Paliastomi Lake. Paliastomi Lake is the third largest lake in Georgia and is an excellent place for watching the nesting and migrating birds. The Colchis National Park Visitor Center offers boat routes for tourists to get to know the lake better. At the Visitor Center Exhibition Hall you will also find samples of local flora and fauna. Another sightseeing in Poti is Okros Tba (Golden lake), a sailing channel that attracts many water sports enthusiasts. The city of Poti is distinguished by its fascinating architecture, and one of the prominent monuments is the Poti Cathedral. Poti Cathedral is built according to the architecture of the St. Sofia Temple of Constantinople. Among the cultural monuments of Poti is the tower of Niko Nikoladze, which is an ensemble architectural monument on the wall of the castle of the 30th of XVIII century. There is a museum of Colchian culture in Poti. The museum exhibits materials from archaeological excavations of historical Colchis, dating from the III millennium BC to the VII-VIII centuries.

Nature

● Paliastomi Lake

● Okros Tba (Golden lake)

Cultural Monuments

● Poti Cathedral

● The tower of Niko Nikoladze