The first thing you’ll see as you round the corner of the cape on the road to Batumi is the small collection of sky-scrapers gracing
the very tip of the Batumi skyline- residential and business towers, restaurants and top hotels, surrounded by nightlife venues
and some of the best-known landmarks in the city. The city is famous for its unusual architectural mixture.
Check out some of the highlights below.
THE BOULEVARD
The wide boulevard follows the beach and is packed full of beach bars, café-lounges, restaurants, rides for kids, bikes to hire, refreshment and souvenir stalls, greenery and interesting sculptures and architectural monuments, not to mention clubs in summer! Over 100 years old, its construction began in 1881 on the initiative of Batumi District Governor Mekalov, who commissioned the coastal boulevard to be built by a famous Prussian gardener named
Reseller. Later, the planned development of the boulevard was handed over to a French gardener and designer invited to Georgia, Mikheil d’Alphonse, also the main man behind the Botanical Gardens.
In 2009, the length of the Boulevard was increased to a whopping 7 kilometers. The so-called New Boulevard was designed by a Spanish architect and built in accordance with the latest standards.
MIRACLES PARK
At the end of the seafront Boulevard in Batumi is Miracles Park. Home to palm trees, a Ferris wheel, and interesting
statues, it is the perfect location for a stroll on warm summer nights.
THE CHACHA TOWER
In the past, at 7 pm for 10 minutes, the tower would flow with 40%+ Chacha, Georgia’s national spirit, but this was
stopped due to over-enthusiastic drinkers, so now it is nothing more than a legend and a quick photo-opportunity.
THE ALPHABET TOWER
The twisting circular DNA-shaped Alphabet Tower watches over the bay like a futuristic lighthouse. As its name
suggests, the tower represents all 33 letters of the Georgian alphabet. And it has a nice restaurant up top, too!
MAN & WOMAN SCULPTURE
The fluid and curvaceous statue of two lovers embracing was inspired by the love story of “Ali and Nino”, an Azerbaijani youth and Georgian princess who fall in love. A similar story to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, he then dies defending his country. It was this famous love that inspired Georgian artist Tamara Kvesitadze to create her monumental moving sculpture in 2010. The lovers move toward each other and become one every 10 minutes and at night, they are illuminated. On her well-loved Batumi mechanical sculpture, Man and Woman, the artist told
us: “People mostly associate it with love, so it stirs positive emotions within viewers. Anyone can interpret this monument as he/she prefers, yet the main message that my work conveys is that being together is possible for only a little time. This short period for someone might mean a whole century. This is the simple idea behind the
sculpture.
ARGO CABLE CAR
Batumi is Georgia’s second-largest city and in our opinion the most beautiful. Hop into one of the carriages of the Argo
Cable Car and experience breathtaking panoramic view of the city, the expanse of the Black Sea and the mighty Caucasus Mountains. The ride takes you to the summit of the famous Anuria mountain. At the top, adjacent to the upper station of the cable car, is a café and souvenir shop. You will also find a viewing platform, where you
can see anything you might have missed on the ride up. The line is 2.5km long, with nine 8-seat carriages operating. A one-way trip takes approximately 10 minutes.
THE PIAZZA
Piazza Square in the middle of the town was renovated in the last decade to reflect Batumi’s European influence. Relax in one of its many cafes, bars and restaurants against a background of live music while small children (and some bold grown-ups!) dance in the center of the square. Restaurants serve Georgian and European cuisine. There is a clock on the piazza tower with beautiful figures that appear every hour. The surrounding streets offer many interesting shops selling everything from antiques to souvenirs and contemporary goods.
THE DANCING FOUNTAINS
A laser, light and musical show that goes on for hours in the dark. Enjoy pop, rock and classical music just meters from the beach and Boulevard.
THE BATUMI ARTS CENTER
Situated just outside Batumi city center, closer to Makhinjauri than Batumi city, The Batumi Arts Center is the home of the Batumi State Symphony Orchestra, Batumi State Cappella, Batumi State Musical Center Opera Studio, Musical Theater of Youth, and vocal quartet “NOTA”. It boasts 1100 seats and hosts more than 150 concerts and events annually- from classical music and opera to traditional folk dance and film. It was renovated in 2011.
MORE MUST-SEES:
• Astronomical clock
• 6 May Park
• Europe Square
• Batumi Sea Port
• Fountain of Neptune
• Batumi Archeological Museum
• Monument of Ilia Chavchavadze
By Katie Ruth Davies
Main photo: thebohochica.com