Everything about Kutaisi totally explained
Kutaisi (; ancient names:
Aea/
Aia,
Kutatisi,
Kutaïssi) is
Georgia's second largest city and the capital of the western region of
Imereti. It is 221 km to the west of
Tbilisi.
Geography
Kutaisi is located along both banks of the
Rioni River. The city lies at an elevation of 125-300 meters (410-984 feet) above sea level. To the east and north-east, Kutaisi is bounded by the Northern
Imereti Foothills, to the north by the
Samgurali Range, and to the west and the south by the
Colchis Plain.
Climate
The climate in Kutaisi is humid subtropical with a well-defined on-shore/monsoonal flow (characteristic of the
Colchis Plain) during the Autumn and Winter months. The summers are generally hot and relatively dry while the winters are wet and cool. Average annual temperature in the city is 14.5 degrees Celsius. January is the coldest month with an average temperature of 5.2 degrees Celsius while July is the hottest month with an average temperature of 23.2 degrees Celsius. The absolute minimum recorded temperature is -17 degrees Celsius and the absolute maximum is 44 degrees Celsius. Average annual precipitation is around 1530mm (60.2 inches). Rain may fall in every season of the year. The city often experiences heavy, wet snowfall (snowfall of 30cm/12 inches or more per single snowstorm isn't uncommon) in the winter, but the snow cover usually doesn't last for more than a week. Kutaisi experiences powerful easterly winds in the summer which descend from the nearby mountains.
Landscape
Kutaisi is surrounded by deciduous forests to the northeast and the northwest. The low-lying outskirts of the city have a largely agricultural landscape. Because of the many gardens in the city centre and the high leafy trees alongside the sidewalks of its streets and boulevards, Kutaisi is painted in bright green in the spring and in yellow-red in the autumn. In the springtime, when the snow starts to melt in the nearby mountains, the storming
Rioni River in the middle of the city is heard far beyond its banks.
History
Kutaisi was the capital of the ancient Kingdom of
Colchis. Archeological evidence indicates that the city functioned as the capital of the kingdom of
Colchis as early as the
second millennium BC. It is widely believed by
historians that when
Apollonius Rhodius was writing about
Jason and the Argonauts and their legendary journey to
Colchis, Kutaisi/Aia was the final destination of the
Argonauts and the residence of King
Aeetes. In
975-
1122 Kutaisi was the capital of the united
Kingdom of Georgia, and in the
15th century-
1810 the capital of the Imeretian Kingdom. In
1810 the Imeretian Kingdom was occupied by Tsarist
Russia. Before Georgia's independence in
1991, followed by the country's economic collapse, Kutaisi was a major industrial center. Today, many inhabitants of the city have to leave and work abroad in order to make a living. Small-scale trade prevails among the rest of population.
Education and Science
Kutaisi is one of the most important educational and scientifical centers in Georgia, hosting the
Gelati Academy of Sciences which was established in the
12th century by King
David IV. Here is also one of the most important educational centers in modern
Akaki Tsereteli State University
Georgia, established in 1930. Beside these two, there are many kinds of universities, institutes, colleges and schools in Kutaisi.
Culture
Kutaisi has big and one of the anciest cultural traditions. Here are the list of the cultural centers in Kutaisi.
Museums, Archive, Library, Gallery, Art Salon:
1.
Kutaisi State Historical Museum
2. Kutaisi Museum of Sport
3. Kutaisi Museum of Martial Art
4. Museum of Zakaria Paliashvili
5. Kutaisi State Historical Archive
6. Kutaisi State Scientific-Universal Library
7. David Kakabadze Fine Art Gallery
8. Art Salon
Theatres, Cinema and Entertaining Center:
1. Kutaisi Lado Meskhishvili State Academic Theatre
2. Kutaisi Meliton Balanchivadze State Opera House
3. Kutaisi Iakob Gogebashvili State Puppet Theatre
4. Cinema and Entertaining Center “Suliko”
Professional Unions and Public Organizations:
1. Georgian Writers’ Union
2. Georgian Painters’ Union
3. Folk Palace
Media:
Local Newspapers: “Kutaisi”, “Imeretis Moabe”, “PS”,
“Akhali Gazeti”, "Kutaisuri Versia", "Chveneburebi" (Journal); Scientific Journal “Gantiadi”.
TV: "Rioni";
Radio: "Dzveli Kalaki" (old City)P. S. Also all the republican newspapers, journals and televisions have their representations in Kutaisi.
Sport
Kutaisi has a great tradition in sports. It has many famous sport clubs.
FC Torpedo Kutaisi participated on the highest level of the
Soviet Union football league. After Georgia achieved independence, it won many domestic and international titles.
RC AIA Kutaisi won the Soviet Championship several times in
Rugby, and after the independence National Championships and Cups. Kutaisi also had an influential basketball club. Many famous Georgian athletes grew up here.
Landmarks
The landmark of the city is the ruined
Bagrati Cathedral, built by
Bagrat III, king of Georgia, in the early
11th century. The Bagrati Cathedral, and the
Gelati Monastery a few km east of the city, are
UNESCO World Heritage Sites. One of the famous churches in Georgia is
Motsameta Church. It is named after of two saints, brothers David and Constantine. They were the Dukes of Margveti, and they were martyred by the Arab invaders in the 8th century. Besides the churches, there are many interesesting places in Kutaisi, such as:
Sataplia Cave, where one could observe footprints of Dinosaurs.
Geguti Palace, which was one of the residences of Georgian monarchs,
"Okros Chardakhi" – Georgian Kings’ Palace,
Pantheon, where many notable citizens are burried.
Famous people born in Kutaisi
Sister cities
Further Information
Get more info on 'Kutaisi'.
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