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Kutaisi
Kutaisi is the second big city of Georgia and was the capital city during the 150 years since Xth century up to beginning of XIIth, when Tbilisi was captured by the Arab conquerors.

The mostly interesting is old part of the city laid on right embankment of river Rioni where are 1-2-story buildings with beautiful balconies, hanging over the steep mountains slopes and all these panorama is immersed in greenery. Nearby you will have opportunity to explore amazing medieval architectural monuments: Gelati Church and Academy, Bagrat Cathedral, in which still hold church services. Gelati is under the UNESCO heritage list. Great Kutaisi is the best place for walking; here you can visit State Historical Museum.

The majestic Temple of Bagrati stands proudly above the city, and can be seen from any point. The temple was built in the X-XI centuries, during the reign of King Bagrati III (975-1014). Temple named of the Blessed Virgin Mary Assumption was a palace and temple complex, and also served as the cultural and religious center of its era. In the 11th century David the Builder was crowned in the Cathedral, David has united Georgia into a single centralized state. Moldings, tiled floor and walls, fragments of which survived by nowadays, as well as the frescoes of the Blessed Virgin. The bas-reliefs and decoration of the church represent a stunning work of ancient craftsmen.
Motsameta is a beautiful monastery with rounded towers and marquee-shaped domes. The monastery overlooks the river Rioni and is surrounded by lush vegetation. According to ancient legend Muslim invaders executed Georgian princes David and Constantine Mkheidze, cause they retained their Christian faith with cost of own lives. Inside the monastery is stored a large shrine with the relics of saints pious brothers Mkheidze. According to the tradition if you touch the shrine and make your cherished wish the princes David and Constantine will fulfill dreams of believers. In the 19th century, the temple was reconstructed.
Gelati is the great extant monument of Georgian architecture, as well as the center of scientific and educational life of the Middle Ages. The temple and the academy are situated in 11 km distance from Kutaisi. King David the Builder gathered in the center of the Gelati Academy the best scientists of his time, where they have had a rich library.

Upon the higher order of King David in the Gelati Monastery was constructed tomb for the royal family representatives where are buried kings: Demetre I, George III, David the Builder himself. At that period in the monastery was stored such Christian shrines as Khakhuli Icon of the God Mother, which is now in the Georgian State Museum of History and Atskuri Icon of the God Mother, many ancient manuscripts and other valuable relics.
At 5 km from Kutaisi is the cave of Prometheus which length is 1600 m. From this territory you can view a mountain of Khvamli where according to legend was chained Prometheus (in Georgian version Amirani).

Designers from Germany staged in the cave a fabulous show: colored lights, music and even a laser show are the special part of the cave touristic infrastructure. Visit the cave, where year-round constant temperature is + 14 ◦ C is possible only with a guide, as well is provided boating. In the future it is planned to organize speleo-diving, speleo-therapy courses for people with asthma and other types of allergenic diseases.

No less interesting is the cave of Sataplia, here was found still preserved dinosaur tracks.
Cave compared to promethium is not very big, the length is only 300 meters, but very picturesque because of huge stalagmite in the form of a biological heart. The cave is very high humidity and from the ceiling and the floor and hanging tower giant stalactites and stalagmites.

Take a chance and enjoy tour of Kutaisi and its great sightseeings!

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