Samegrelo is a historical province in the
western part of Georgia. The province is inhabited by Megrelians, a
subgroup of Georgians having their own language. The region borders
with Abkhazia, Svaneti, Imereti, Guria, and the Black Sea offering
a wide variety of activities to see and do.
Learn about Dadiani Family
The Dadiani family were Dukes of Samegrelo and their palace in
Zugdidi, the central city of the region, was turned into a museum
in 1921 displaying more than 50,000 rare exhibits of the family
memorabilia, military weaponry, artifacts, and archives to name a
few. One of the most significant items stored here is a death mask
of Napoleon Bonaparte and a shroud of St. Mary.
The museum consists of Ekaterine Chavchavadze-Dadiani and Niko
Dadiani palaces, garden, and a church. The Palace of Niko Dadiani
has the most extensive ballroom in all of Georgia, while its garden
is home to some of the unique trees and bushes brought from all
over the world.
Wander through a botanical garden
Built in the late 19th-century by David Dadiani, the prince of
Samegrelo, the botanical garden of Zugdidi is located in the
territory of the Dadiani Palace. The garden is home to over 80
exotic plants brought from Southeast Asia, Japan, India, the
Americas, and the Mediterranean.
Walk on the longest ‘flying’ bridge in
Europe
Anaklia-Ganmukhuri pedestrian bridge, located in the Black Sea
resort of Anaklia, serves as a vital link across the Enguri River
and the town. This 552-meter long cable-stayed timber bridge is
considered to be the longest of its kind in Europe.
Attend the biggest electronic music festival of
Georgia
Anaklia is an up-and-coming Black Sea destination for both
locals and tourists. It is home to the country’s biggest electronic
music festival, called GemFest during the summer months. In 2018,
the festival is set for August 9-12, bringing world-renowned DJs
and thousands of visitors to the area.
Walk through the ancient city ruins
Nokalakevi, meaning “the place a town was”, was built by Duke
of Egrisi and Svaneti in the 3rd century BC. It’s believed to be
the mythological city of Asia, capital of the Kingdom of Colchis,
and home of the fabled Golden Fleece.
During the archaeological excavations, the scholars found
various layers of civilization on its territory along with valuable
items such as wine vessels, silver, golden, bronze and glass
adornments, ceramic objects and pottery.
Admire the work of a Byzantine artist in Tsalenjikha
Cathedral
The Tsalenjikha Cathedral dates back to the 10th-century and
features a bilingual (Georgian and Greek) inscription revealing
that Cyrus Emanuel Eugenicus frescoed the interior of the church, a
Byzantine artist from Constantinople. The Megrelian Prince, Levan
Dadiani II, together with his wife, is buried here.
Visit the most prominent bell tower of the
country
The Khobi Church, located four kilometers from the city of
Khobi, is an architectural system consisting of a church, bell
tower, palace, and the ruins of buildings. The stone church tower
has seven windows and is one of the most prominent bell towers in
Georgia, once covered in frescoes.
Indulge in Megrelian Cuisine
Samegrelo region, like any other region of the country, has
its staple meals you need to try once here. Megrelian cuisine is
famous for being spicy, and most of its meals are hot dishes.
Elarji is a variety of ghomi, a cornmeal dish, but this one is
enriched with sulguni cheese resulting in a stretchy ghomi.
Get closer to nature at different canyons and national
parks
Besides historical buildings, Samegrelo region is also home to
various national parks and canyons. One of them is Kolkheti
National Park and Martvili Canyon. Kolkheti National Park reaches
the eastern zone of the Black Sea coast and the basin of Lake
Paliastomi. The park was founded to preserve and guarantee the
survival of the wetland ecosystem. Both, the park and the lake are
prevalent throughout the Caucasus for their rich birdlife and
unique scenery.
Martvili Canyon, one of the country’s most beautiful nature
spots, is a must-visit destination once in the region. Admire the
gorgeous scenery while you take a walk, ride a boat on the
emerald-green river, and hike towards to waterfall.