Poti is a resort town with poor infrastructure that has been badly damaged due to military conflicts. However, this is the oldest city in Georgia, which is attractive in its own way for both locals and tourists.
City of Poti (Georgia)
One of the major port cities on the Black Sea coast is located at the mouth of the Rioni River. The city with a centuries-old history attracts thousands of tourists every year, although tourism is rather poorly developed.
About 53 thousand people live here. Although during the holiday season there are much more of them, not only due to those who come to relax in this particular city, but also due to those who stop for a while to go to other cities.
The city of Poti is rather a provincial town, but overlooking the sea, where fresh air, silence and delicious fruits attract tourists here.
History of the city of Poti
The history of the city begins with the fact that once in its place was another city of Phasis, which was an ancient Greek colony. There was a military garrison in the city, and it received the same name as the local river (now the name is Rioni).
After the Greeks left the coast, the city became part of the Georgian kingdom of Tao-Klarjeti and flourished for a long time until it was captured by the Ottoman Empire. In 1654, the city became the center of the slave trade, a fortress was built in it, where the Turkish garrison was located. The city was under the influence of the Turks for a long time, until 1918. During this period, Poti was able to survive the German and British occupation and survive until the city and port of Poti became part of the USSR. It became one of the important ports on the Black Sea, and in addition to this, the infrastructure of the city as a resort developed well, but until Georgia became an independent state and military conflicts began.
Sights of Poti
In the city of Poti itself, there are few attractions, despite the centuries-old history, but everyone will find something to see here.
You should definitely go to the museum, which is open at the port, to learn its history and look at the collection that it contains: ship models, ancient anchors, sails and much more.
To get acquainted with the history of the city, you should go to the local history museum, which displays various documents and materials telling about different periods of the life of the city and the lands in the vicinity.
In the Byzantine style, the Poti Cathedral was built a long time ago, which was badly damaged in wartime and is currently under restoration. Perhaps someday it will be restored to the end, but at the moment you can see its walls from the outside.
The whole family can go to the arboretum to seeinteresting plants that grow in the tropics, which you may never have heard of. The park is located in the city center and is suitable for families with small children, as well as for the elderly and young people.
The city of Poti is small and has few attractions, but in its vicinity you can see many natural monuments. For example, you should go to Lake Paleostomi, which was mentioned by ancient Greek historians.
Near Poti is the town of Zugdidi, which attracts with its main attraction. This is Dadiani Castle, built in the Middle Ages. There is a museum on the territory of the castle, where more than 40 thousand exhibits of various subjects are presented.
You can see Georgian nature if you go to the Rioni River, which is one of the country's navigable rivers. The Rionskaya hydroelectric power station is also located here, which generates electricity and supplies the nearest regions. There are beautiful forests and meadows around the river, and in some areas you can see the mountains.
Rest in Poti and its features
As mentioned earlier, during the military conflicts at the end of the 20th century, the city of Poti suffered and the tourism business system was destroyed. Today, this town cannot offer tourists a good service, which is in Tbilisi or Batumi, but will please everyone with beautiful nature and remoteness from megacities.
It is possible to find a hotel in the city, but the cost of a room for a day is very high, sometimes reaching $40, not matching the quality. Therefore, you can safely stay with the locals,having paid a small fee, where they will be happy to accept and do everything not to overshadow the rest.
Many people come here to live in nature with tents, waking up to the sound of birds and the sound of the sea, as there is almost untouched nature and there is no industrial complex.
This is an ideal place to relax with children, because the weather in Poti in summer is very comfortable and there is no abnormal heat. During the day, you can go to the city beach or wild, choosing pebbles or sand. On the beach you can not only lie or swim in the sea, but also play volleyball and other sports games. In the evening, you can go for a walk along the local streets, along the promenade along the sea and to the port to look at his work.
The city is also attractive for those who love Georgian cuisine. In local establishments you can taste famous dishes: barbecue, khachapuri, cheese, sweets, kharcho soup. Wine is not produced in this city, and it is better to buy it in Tbilisi or Batumi. There are always a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables that are grown on plantations in season.
Climatic conditions
The city of Poti (Georgia) is located in the subtropical zone, which means that the weather here is good both in winter and summer, when the temperature in winter does not drop below 0, and in summer it does not rise above +30 on average, although abnormal temperatures were also recorded for this area.
The sea warms up very well, and therefore the swimming season lasts from May to November, and there is practically no snow in winter.
Port city
Today it is believed that one of the main economic regions is Poti. Georgia in 2008 sold a 51% stake in the port to an Arab company in order to develop the free zone and build new terminals. This was a very important step not only for the city, but for the whole country, which contributed to its development.
The port is an important link connecting Transcaucasia and Georgia. It is capable of receiving up to 5 million tons of cargo, and ships, submarines and barges constantly come here.
Tourists can take excursions and get acquainted with the work of the port, see how ships are unloaded and get the opportunity to ride on the ship.
Twin Cities
Few people know that the city of Poti has a connection with other cities, which are called sister cities or sister cities.
If you briefly describe what sister cities are, then this is an established friendly relationship for mutual cooperation in historical and cultural terms. Such cooperation can be expressed in holding exhibitions, sports competitions, in the exchange of delegations and artistic groups, in order to better understand the life of peoples.
So, Poti's sister cities are Burgas (Bulgaria), Georgia (USA), Larnaca (Cyprus), Nafplio (Greece) since 1990, Aktau (Kazakhstan) since 2005, Sevastopol since 2008.
How to get to the city of Poti
The city of Poti (Georgia) is located on the Black Sea coast and can be reached both by air, water and land. If the choice fell on the plane, then it will deliver to Tbilisi, and from there you can take a bus or taxi,the distance is only 59 km.
From Russia you can also get on the ship, which will deliver directly to your destination. It is also possible to arrive by train via Batumi, Tbilisi and other cities. You can also get there by your own car, having laid out the shortest route for yourself in advance.
