Gonio fortress how to get from Batumi. Holidays in Gonio - private sector, reviews of the beach and fortress. Crossing the Georgia-Türkiye border in Sarpi

Georgia is bright, sunny country, where there is everything you need for beauty and quality rest: proud and majestic and gentle sea, ancient architectural monuments and modern beautiful cities. And most importantly, famous Georgian hospitality awaits guests here. There are many pristine places in Georgia with healing air, sea water and beauty Caucasus Mountains literally cure all ailments - both physical and mental. One of these places is the small coastal village of Gonio, which is located on the Black Sea coast near Batumi. This article presents short review resort Gonio (Georgia), reviews and photos. We wish you pleasant reading!

Black Sea resort of Gonio: mild climate and warm sea

You can get from Batumi to Gonio in literally 20 minutes by bus, the distance to this small village is only 12-15 kilometers. It’s surprising, but the name of the village of Gonio comes from the name of the Italian city of Genoa. To understand what connects a small Adjarian village and a distant Italian city, you need to dive into ancient history the edges.

In the XV-XVII centuries BC. e. in this place there was an outpost of the Great Roman Empire, guarding its eastern borders. Later, the territory passed to Byzantium and became the center of Genoese trade. Ships from Italian Genoa came here by sea. Local residents changed the name in their own way, and this is how the village of Gonio appeared on the future Georgian land (by the way, it was on this territory that the first Georgian state entities were created). The ancient fortress has survived to this day and is the main attraction of Gonio. If you look at the reviews about Gonio in Georgia, tourists come here for the mountain air, warm sea and silence.

Choosing accommodation in Gonio

Reviews about holidays in Gonio in Georgia indicate that choosing a place to stay here is quite easy. Some of the housing for vacationers is located on the seashore, some in the mountains. You can book a hotel, villa, guest house or apartment. True, at the height of the season you may encounter the fact that free seats will not be. The fact is that Gonio - favorite place relaxation not only for guests from afar, but also for Batumi residents. Here you can rent a room in a four-star or three-star hotel, where guests will be offered comfortable apartments with sea or mountain views. Hotel services usually include free Wi-Fi, a parking space in the car park, a restaurant with Georgian cuisine and a bar with a classic selection of drinks. The room rate includes breakfast in the style of " Buffet" Hotels of this format: Egrisi, “Liza”, “Shore House”.

The most popular accommodation options in Gonio are guest houses owned by local residents. In such a place guests are offered Standart room, bed linen, towels. Food is prepared by guests themselves shared kitchen, or purchase boarding from the hotel owner. The TV is usually located in the common room. But there are mini-hotels where the rooms are equipped with TVs.

The most convenient and profitable option for a family or a large company is to rent a private apartment. This will be cheaper than previous types of housing. If you wish and have sufficient financial resources, you can rent very decent apartments. You can also rent a detached villa. In general, the cost of rented housing, as well as vacations, is quite affordable and affordable for many. This is the case when for little money you can get all the delights of a holiday at sea.

History of the ancient fortress

Reviews from tourists about Gonio in Georgia necessarily contain mention of a single, but very significant Georgian architectural landmark. The oldest monument architecture Gonio-Apsaros fortress is the oldest in Georgia. Its origin dates back to the 15th-17th centuries. BC e. The history of the fortress is intertwined with different eras and countries.

The first legend is associated with the Argonauts. It says that it was in this place that the Argonaut Jason killed Prince Apsyrtus, who organized a pursuit of him to take the Golden Fleece and his sister Medea. The second legend says that during the Roman Empire the fortress was an important strategic site on the eastern border. The third legend claims that the fortress contains the grave of Matthew, one of the 12 apostles of Christ.

Surprisingly, the fortress was well preserved architectural features of that time in almost its original form. Even 18 out of 22 were saved watchtowers. You can explore the fortress as part of a group and listen to a professional guide, or you can also independent walk to touch the antiquity.

Resort infrastructure

Currently locality is in the process of developing its resort business. This is noted by vacationers in reviews of seaside holidays in Gonio in Georgia. This quiet Adjarian village has recently begun to turn into a full-fledged Black Sea resort. Hotels, shops and restaurants are being actively built. Of course, there is no special entertainment in Gonio. It's quiet and calm resort. Walking along the embankment, a relaxing evening in a local restaurant or a trip to the waterfalls - this is, perhaps, all that Gonio has to offer vacationers, except beach holiday. The village is located in a very beautiful place, where the mountains come close to the sea.

Lush greenery covering mountain slopes, hides a lot of waterfalls, streams and lakes with crystal clear water. Fascinating walks to the mountains are often held here with mandatory visit waterfalls If you want noisy and fun entertainment, you can easily get to Batumi, since the capital of Adjara is very close. Everything here is generally very close. Even the capital is only about 270 kilometers away. Therefore, living in Gonio, you can make small trips to many cities and memorable places of this unique country.

Beach holiday in Gonio

The warmest words in the reviews and descriptions of Gonio in Georgia are addressed to local beach. In this place Black Sea coast the purest water. It is much more transparent than in Batumi. This is why local beach holidays are so popular among Batumi residents. The coastal strip is completely pebble, the stones are large and smooth. Judging by the reviews of Gonio Beach (Georgia), it is quite comfortable, since the coast here is flat and the entrance to the sea is convenient. Another advantage of the beach is that it is quite spacious, so you can sit in relative privacy. If necessary, umbrellas and sun loungers are available for rent. The beach also offers all the standard water activities.

Unique climate

Gonio has a very mild and comfortable climate. Due to the close proximity of the mountains, there is no extreme heat here. And the eucalyptus groves that surround the village in abundance fill the air with healing powers. A life-giving cocktail of sea and mountain air has a beneficial effect on well-being and energizes you for a long time.

Waterfalls and icy mountain streams influence the microclimate; lush greenery also adds its own note. The water temperature in mid-summer is +25 degrees Celsius. In their reviews of Gonio (Georgia), many say that the local air is very useful for respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases and many other health problems.

Family holiday

Gonio is a good place to spend the summer with children. Hotels and guest houses provide all the little household details to make your vacation hassle-free and relaxing.

It will be very useful for little tourists to breathe local air and splash in the warm sea water. In Gonio there is no bustle of people or loud entertainment venues, so it’s easy to look after your child and maintain a daily routine. The beach is quite suitable for children's recreation: the sea here is calm, the coast is clean, largely due to the pebble surface.

For older children, an adventure will include a mountain walk to waterfalls, a visit to a fortress, and water activities. And you can go to a water park or spectacular events in Batumi. But how nice it is after a busy day in the capital to return to quiet and cozy Gonio, enjoy a walk along the embankment and look at the impressive southern sunset!

Gonio and Sarpi: one-day outing from Batumi What neighborhoods to see while vacationing in Batumi? Of course, if this is the summer season, and your humble servant was vacationing in the capital of Adjara exactly at its height - in August, the best option would be to combine an educational walk with a relaxing holiday on the seashore. Fortunately, there are enough such corners in these places. But perhaps the most popular route extends from Batumi towards the border with Turkey, namely to the villages of Gonio and Sarpi. So, let's hit the road. On Tbilisi Square in Batumi we are looking for the minibus we need (it should say “Gonio”, “Sarpi” or “Kvariati” on the windshield; if the signs are only in Georgian, don’t despair, ask the people or drivers clustered near the stops, they will tell you which one to take), or bus No. 16, pay the driver 80 tetri (you can pay at the exit, 80 tetri are Georgian “kopecks”) and off we go! Those who don’t want to wait for public transport, although minibuses run towards Turkey at intervals of about once every half hour, can take a taxi. For 10 GEL they will deliver you to the Gonio Fortress. Yes, we will make our first stop there, and it is the closest to the city along the described route. The travel time from the center of Batumi to the Gonio fortress is about 15 minutes. The drive is only about 10 kilometers. Well, we've arrived, let's go out. The stop is located just opposite the entrance to the fortress, crossed the highway and.... welcome to the depths of centuries:

On the map

View of the Gonio Fortress from the bus stop

Price entrance ticket for an adult - 3 lari (at the current exchange rate this corresponds to only 1.02 euros). You can, of course, pay extra for the excursion, but I didn’t do that. I like to wander around on my own and enjoy what I see, and there is a lot to see here.

On the map

Fortress of Gonio-Apsaros

The Gonio-Apsaros fortress dates back to 77 AD; it was built by the ancient Romans, and these places were inhabited much earlier. Why does the fortress have such a double name “Gonio-Apsaros”? But because at one time the famous Argonauts, led by Jason, who killed the son of King Eetus, Apsyrtus, “hanged out” here a lot, and the father buried his son in this fortress. The Georgian name Gonio appeared much later... Many stories of the myths about the Argonauts unfolded here, in the cradle of ancient Ayia Colchis...

On the map

At the fortress walls and towers

Until the end of the 3rd century AD, the fortress of Gonio-Apsaros performed an important strategic function of protecting the borders of the Eastern Roman Empire... Cohorts were stationed here, there was a hippodrome, there was even a theater. And, of course, Roman baths were built, the remains of which can still be seen today...

On the map

Remains of ancient Roman baths

On the map

So that's what you are, Roman baths!

You can climb around the Roman baths and take interesting photo sessions. But you won’t be able to wash yourself the Roman way, a lot of water has passed under the bridge since then... in the literal and figurative sense of the word

On the map

You can also examine the ancient well, I looked into it - it’s dry and empty and quite deep...

Well, well, give me some water to drink! - Does not give((

The entire territory of the fortress can be viewed from the height of its walls - there are stairs, but they are natural, and not specially designed for tourists, so you will have to step directly in the historical footsteps...) So wear comfortable shoes, I, being shod in slates (i.e. then followed to the beaches), did not dare to repeat the exploits of other, more prudent visitors...

On the map

After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Byzantines chose the fortress, but in the middle of the 16th century, and specifically in 1547, warriors came here Ottoman Empire, who organized their military garrison here, and remained here for more than 330 long years... until 1878.

On the map

Window to the sky

Time has not been kind to the Gonio fortress, but the ruins that remain have become a significant reason to study its rich history and conduct archaeological excavations... Excavations began in the 60s of the last century, the archaeologist managed to find many interesting artifacts and even... . real treasures. Yes, yes, in 1974, a golden treasure was found on the territory of the fortress, namely jewelry from the 2nd-3rd centuries!

On the map

Ruins of the fortress

You can easily walk around the perimeter of the fortress at a leisurely pace (without climbing walls 5 to 7 meters high) in half an hour. If you do not deviate from the route and do not inspect other buildings located inside... Fortunately, the length of the fortress is only 222 meters.

On the map

Promenade along the fortress walls

By the way, what is impressive in Gonio-Anapsaros is not only the fortress ruins themselves and the preserved objects, but also the lush subtropical vegetation. Sort of Botanical Garden in miniature, starting right at the entrance to the fortress: you dive under the arches of kiwi thickets, which protect so well from the bright sun rays...

On the map

Entrance shady alley

So this is how you grow - kiwi! Almost ripe...

On the map

There's no such thing as too much kiwi)

If the kiwis are still firmly held on the branches, then the persimmon, although still green and unripe, is already falling off... Be careful: do not fall under the “persimmon fall” and do not slip on the persimmon!

Green persimmon

The persimmon is not yet ripe

"Carrion")

What other interesting things can you see in the Gonio Fortress? View some found archaeological finds, including ancient amphoras, tools. All this is collected in a separate indoor pavilion.. It’s a pity that you can’t see the ancient Roman jewelry discovered 43 years ago.

On the map

Closed lost and found pavilion

And here is the symbolic grave of one of the 12 apostles - Matthew. According to one of the existing historical versions, it was in Gonio that he was executed for his sermons. However, the Italians think differently and built his grave in the Campanian town of Salerno...

On the map

Tomb of the Apostle Matthew

It won’t take you long to stay in the Gonio Fortress. Even if you study in detail this museum and archaeological complex, equipped and furnished for tourists in 1994, two to two and a half hours will be more than enough. Therefore, we take a farewell look at the powerful walls...

On the map

And, not forgetting to leave your traces in the history of the fortress...

On the map

What about a photo for memory?

We leave this corner of history and wondrous nature and rush to the “bluest in the world” Black Sea, namely, to the center of the village of Gonio, to the beach... The same passing minibus or bus will take you from the fortress to the beach, or on any ride ( vote, they’ll give you a ride, it’s a 3-minute drive, they didn’t even charge me).

On the map

Beach in Gonio

Here we are on the beach. Not as crowded as Batumi, but that’s understandable - the village is small. And the storm did not contribute to the influx of vacationers. The beaches in Gonio are equipped with everything you need - sun loungers, umbrellas, toilets, changing rooms, there are beach cafes where you can have a snack and even a hearty lunch.

On the map

The sea was stormy

As on the entire Batumi coast, the beach is large-pebble, and without special shoes it is problematic to enter the rough sea (and most importantly, to get out of it, being sure that you will not be knocked down by a wave). I was pleased that almost opposite each passage to the sea there are wooden “paths” equipped for convenience. I paid 3 GEL for a sunbed - sit by the sea, there is plenty of space, enjoy! I didn’t go swimming - I limited myself to passive rest... Following the example of these little cows resting on green lawns

On the map

Cows want to sunbathe too

On the map

I noticed that on all the sun loungers and changing cabins - both in Gonio and Batumi - there are advertisements for famous mineral waters Georgia. “Nabeghlavi”, “Likani”, “Bakuriani” and, of course, the famous “Borjomi”... for every taste, as they say!

On the map

After relaxing on the beach in Gonio, we go further - to the very border with Turkey, to the border village of Sarpi. 5 minutes on a ride (free again!), and we are at our destination. And the mountains in the photo are no longer Georgian, but Turkish mountains... And Sarpi beach is considered the cleanest, with the cleanest water, and local residents, as well as Turks on the other hand, prefer to relax and swim here.

Photo review of Gonio – one of the best beach resorts Georgia. Description, photo, how to get there, resort map.

Gonio – resort village on the Black Sea coast of Georgia, located 14 kilometers south of Batumi, and famous primarily for the ancient Roman Gonio-Apsaros fortress and its beautiful pebble beach.

As a place for a beach holiday, I like Gonio more than all other resorts in Adjara - it’s not as crowded as in Batumi; The first line is not as built up as in; there is no road a few meters from the beach, as in; not as crowded during the season as in, the size of the pebbles is much more comfortable than in - and all this in combination with the clearest sea, a wide spacious beach bordered picturesque mountains, quite humane prices and excellent transport accessibility from Batumi.

Gonio is perfect for residents of big cities who are tired of these same cities and their crazy crowds of people - and just want to relax peacefully in a quiet, comfortable place, but at the same time be able to quickly and without much effort again plunge into “civilization” for a while - from Gonio It takes no more than half an hour to get to the center. During the day, minibuses depart to Batumi every 10 minutes; at night, you can take a taxi for 12-15 GEL one way.

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Where to live in Gonio

Currently, there are more than 50 hotels and guesthouses in the village - the most decent housing is located between the highway and the beach pedestrian boulevard, and cheaper and less comfortable options can be found in the private sector - as a rule, these are rooms in houses located on the slopes of the mountains behind the highway. But in August-September, almost all of them are busy; only the most unsightly options are offered “on the spot” at inadequate prices.

When choosing one of these economy options on the Internet, it is advisable to carefully study not only the description, but also the reviews of previous guests. Adjarians tend to embellish and exaggerate everything - and a “comfortable house with a view of the sea” can turn out to be a wooden shed high in the mountains, which really offers an amazing view of the sea.

It is also undesirable to rent housing in Gonio near the highway - for obvious reasons. When booking accommodation in the private sector of Gonio on the Internet, carefully read the reviews and be sure to check the location of the property relative to the sea and the beach on the map.

From my point of view, for a quality beach holiday in Gonio in August-September, the wisest thing to do is to book a decent hotel on Booking as much as possible in advance - with a certain amount of luck, a room in it will turn out to be a little more expensive than a room in the private sector.

If on vacation you want to have your own large personal space, a separate kitchen and often a balcony with a gorgeous view of the sea for evening wine drinking, then it is better to pay attention to apartments and apartments, of which there are also a lot in Gonio last years Quite a few appeared.

Sea and beach in Gonio

The beach in Gonio is very wide and long, covered with large pebbles - like almost everywhere else in Adjara.

Very long promenade with palm trees

It doesn’t look as impressive as in Batumi, but as a place for leisurely walks in the evenings or bike rides, it’s the place to be. Instead of hobbling along the pebbles, you can go out onto the concrete flooring and walk comfortably along the sea.

During the season, many peddlers walk along the beach, offering their simple food - churchkhela, raspberries in cups, cold coffee.

You can also buy inflatable mattresses, children's inflatable rings, etc. on site. — for example, I bought myself special swimming slippers on Gonio beach.

What to see in Gonio and the surrounding area

Gonio-Apsaros Fortress

The Gonio-Apsaros fortress, along with the Byzantine one, is one of the few ancient citadels preserved in Adjara. Located 12 km south of Batumi and one and a half kilometers north of the village of Gonio - it rises right next to the Batumi-Sarpi road, it is impossible not to notice it.

Nowadays it is a museum, but Gonio was once a strategically important Roman fortress that closed the only plain route to Colchis. Being a Roman outpost, the fortress was called Apsaros - the name comes from the name of the Colchis prince Apsyrtus, one of the heroes of the Greek myth of the Argonauts.

According to legend, it was in this place that the prince was buried - previously killed either by his own sister Medea, or by the leader of the gang, Jason, who was sailing to Greece with the stolen Golden Fleece and thus trying to detain his pursuers.

There is also a hypothesis that the ashes of the Apostle Matthew rest in Apsaros - but no evidence has yet been found for this statement. In addition to the supposed tomb of the apostle, on the territory of the fortress you can see the remains of a Roman water supply system, as well as what remains of the Roman baths - the original buildings were rebuilt by the Turks in accordance with their tastes and preferences.

The Gonio Museum-Reserve occupies an area of 4.5 hectares and consists of high stone walls forming a square, the foundations of ancient buildings and a museum building where you can admire artifacts (including gold) found in 1974 during excavations on the territory of the fortress.

The total length of all the walls of the fortress is about a kilometer, and the height is on average about 5 meters. 18 of the 22 towers and one of the four gates, the western one, have survived to this day. At present museum complex similar to ancient Indian cities in Mexico - the same walls enclosing almost empty space:

Useful information about the Gonio-Apsaros Fortress

Opening hours: from 10:00 to 18:00, open every day except Monday.
The entrance ticket costs 3 GEL.
If you want to thoughtfully explore this attraction, then I advise you to take an audio guide (5 GEL), and large group tourists can negotiate with a guide (10 GEL) - the excursion lasts about an hour and a half.

How to get to Gonio Fortress

Coordinates: N41°34.397; E41°34.333.

From Batumi, from Tbilisi Square, you can get to Gonio by minibus that goes further to Sarpi, the journey time is about 20 minutes.

If you have already been to the fortress, and sitting on the beach all day is boring, then there is a lot of interesting things in the vicinity of Gonio:

Batumi

“Summer capital” and “showcase” of modern Georgia. Along with Russian Sochi, the most vibrant resort city in all east coast Black Sea.

Machakhela Gorge

Once a “shield” of Georgia from the cocky Ottomans, and now an extremely picturesque gorge on the very border with Turkey. It is noteworthy for its original traditions (for example, the inhabitants of the gorge themselves made flintlock guns to fight the Turks), which can be familiarized with without much difficulty - there is a beautiful asphalt road along the gorge.

Monument to a flintlock gun in Machakhela

Georgian-Turkish border in Sarpi

"Wine Adjara"

“Wine Adjara” is a wine-culinary-ethnographic route running along the Trans-Adjara highway in the Khelvachauri-Khulo section with numerous branches to small private wineries.

Excursions in Adjara from local residents

For a more complete acquaintance with stunning nature and rich history In Adjara, I recommend booking one of the author’s excursions from local residents - your guides will be journalists, historians, artists and simply experts in their native places.

Below is a selection of the most interesting and popular excursions in Adjara according to traveler reviews. To see all available options, click View All. At the booking stage, you will only need to pay 20% of the excursion cost online - the rest of the amount is given to the guide before it starts. As a rule, all excursions start from Batumi - when booking, just ask to pick you up in Gonio.

One of the most best beaches Georgia is located 15 kilometers from Batumi, in the small town of Gonio. Unlike the main beach of Batumi, there are much fewer people in Gonio, and the water is much cleaner - this is due to the distance of the beach from major cities. It gets crowded only on weekends and holidays when locals come to relax.

Like most beaches in Adjara, Gonio beach is pebble. The only peculiarity is that the pebbles here are much larger than in other places. Therefore, it is recommended to take special shoes with you - aqua shoes - which will protect your feet from injury. Entrance to Gonio Beach is free, you can sunbathe on a blanket or towel, but it is better to rent a sun lounger and an umbrella. Vacationers with small children are recommended to choose southern part beach - there is a less steep entrance to the sea.

Weather in Gonio

The beach season in Gonio begins in June, the water in the sea warms up to +22…+25 °C. The warmest months are July, August and September; the water temperature at this time reaches +25...+27C, and the air temperature up to +28 °C. The season ends around October. It is worth noting that there are practically no shady places on Gonio beach, and therefore we recommend taking care of hats and protective creams.

Beach infrastructure

In recent years, Gonio Beach has been actively developing, cafes and restaurants are being built on the coast, approaches to the water are being improved, toilets and changing cabins are operating. Business card catering establishments in Gonio now have thatched roofs. As on other beaches in Georgia, here you can find merchants selling berries and fruits, baked goods, churchkhela, drinks, seeds, toys and other goods.

If you're bored of lying on the beach, you can take a walk along the boardwalk. The pedestrian boulevard in Gonio strongly resembles a similar street in Batumi. The wide sidewalk is decorated with a palm alley, and you can also rent bicycles and scooters here. There are trampolines and playgrounds for children.

Due to the growing popularity of Gonio Beach, places in local hotels are booked several months in advance. If you are planning to spend your holiday near this beach, it is better to decide on accommodation in advance.

Attractions nearby

A visit to Gonio Beach can be combined with other attractions. The most famous building this area is Gonio-Apsaros Fortress. It is located 1.5 kilometers from the beach and can be reached on foot in 20 minutes.

The fortress is a Roman outpost from Byzantine times. The construction area is 4.5 hectares. Here you can see the remains of fortress walls and towers, excavation sites and other objects. The fortress has a museum displaying artifacts found during excavations, as well as restored household items. It is believed that the burial place of the Apostle Matthias is located in the Gonio fortress. When you visit, you can see the memorial structure, but this hypothesis has not yet been confirmed; the country's authorities have banned excavations near the supposed grave of the saint.

If you are traveling by car, you can go to another attraction - waterfall and monument to St. Andrew the First-Called. The monument is located on the highway not far from the Turkish border, there is no parking nearby, you can stop on the side of the road. When approaching the falls, be careful about fast moving cars and keep an eye on children. Near the monument there is a descent to the water, and next to the figures there is a stone throne where you can take beautiful photographs.

Besides, in tourist centers often offer a tour of the beaches - Gonio, Sarpi and Kvariati.

How to get to Gonio beach

Due to the distance of the beach from the resort Batumi, it is most convenient to get to it by car. The best option is a taxi and transfer. Most often, tourists negotiate with the driver to visit the Gonio fortress and go to the beach. In Batumi you can use the Yandex service. Taxi. The cost of a trip from Chorokh airport to Gonio will be about 8 GEL. From the center of Batumi - almost 15 GEL.

You can get to Gonio beach by public transport. Near the Argo cable car station there are constantly minibuses with the inscription "Gonio/Sarpi". You can get to your destination in about half an hour; the trip costs about 1 GEL. When boarding, tell the driver where you are going, he will drop you off at the desired stop.

Bus No. 16 runs from Tbilisi Square and along Chavchavadze Street. Please note that to travel on public transport in Batumi you must purchase a special card. This is the only way to pay for travel; the trip costs 30 tetri. Don’t try to ride as a “hare”; inspectors often stop at stops and check the fare.

If you plan to rent a car and get to the beach yourself, then you will need GPS coordinates: N41.56569, E41.56623. It is also recommended to study the route on the map in advance.

To avoid thinking about the route and travel comfortably, order a transfer from KiwiTaxi. On the website you can select the appropriate car model and order child seats.

Search for transfers in Gonio

Show transfers from Gonio

Where	Where	Price
Gonio	Batumi Airport "Chorokh"	from 1366 p.	show

Gonio	Batumi railway station Central	from 2082 p.	show

Gonio	Kutaisi	from 5726 p.	show

Gonio	Mestia	from 9760 p.	show

Gonio	Tbilisi Airport	from 9760 p.	show

Gonio	Tbilisi	from 9760 p.	show

Where	Where	Price
Batumi Airport "Chorokh"	Gonio	from 1366 p.	show

Batumi railway station Central	Gonio	from 2082 p.	show

Kutaisi	Gonio	from 5726 p.	show

Mestia	Gonio	from 9760 p.	show

Tbilisi Airport	Gonio	from 9760 p.	show

Tbilisi	Gonio	from 9760 p.	show

Video about the beaches of Batumi (Gonio beach at 3.14 minutes):

(English Gonio Fortress, Georgian გონიოს ციხე) was built near Batumi and is an ideal option for self-guided tour in Adjara. In Georgia, it is considered one of the largest and oldest structures of its kind. Over the centuries-old history, this place has become overgrown with many myths and legends, most of which have not yet been solved. The veil of mystery surrounding the Gonio-Apsaros fortress attracts vacationers from all over the country’s Black Sea coast.

A little history and legends

Today it is known for certain that the fortress existed already in the 1st century AD, and just a hundred years later it turned into a seriously fortified Roman citadel city, ready for any defense.

From the very beginning, the owners of the Gonio fortress were the Romans, after which they were replaced by the Byzantines, and from 1547 to 1878, the city belonged to the Ottoman Empire, which eventually transferred the fortress along with the Adjara region to the Russian Empire, after peace was concluded in the Russian-Turkish war. During the Soviet era, Adjara became autonomous and this right remains with it now, as part of Georgia.

The full name of the fortification sounds like Gonio-Apsaros, and there is a theory that this prefix with a dash is related to the ancient Greek myth of the Argonauts. Allegedly, it was here that the son of the Colchisian king Eetes, Apsyrtus, who was killed by Jason, was buried. It should be noted that this is not the only connection between ancient Greek mythology and Georgia - do not forget about Prometheus Cave.

What can you see there?

On the territory of the Gonian fortress there is one interesting grave, its secret is that, according to legend, Matvey, 1 of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ, rests there. There is a hypothesis that after the death of his teacher, he came here to preach. On this moment There is no way to verify this 100%, because... The Georgian government banned any excavations near the grave.

Despite the fact that the Gonio-Apsaros fortress passed from hand to hand and its former architecture combined elements of the Christian and Muslim faiths, the remaining ruins appear to us in almost the same form as they were built by the Romans two thousand years ago.

But, no matter how you look at it, you still have to admit that on a huge territory of 4.5 hectares, only the walls remained in good condition, and the fortress itself with its auxiliary buildings did not stand the test of time and sank into oblivion, leaving behind only pitiful ruins and many unsolved secrets buried under a thick layer of soil.

Five-meter battlements, designed to protect residents from enemy attacks, stretched along the perimeter for 900 m. They coped with their task, there are no holes anywhere, although out of 22 seven-meter watchtowers, only 18 have survived, and out of 4 entrances and exits, only one has survived.

In different parts of the fortress traces of archaeological excavations are visible; in one of them, Gonio’s treasures were once found, consisting of many jewelry and ancient jewelry 5th century AD, which are now kept in archaeological museum Batumi.

Of particular interest are the preserved remains of the sewer system of those times and the pipeline through which hot water was supplied, including for important gentlemen, pre-heated over a fire in large vats.

Due to its unique historical and archaeological value, in 1994, a museum-reserve was established on the territory of the Gonio fortress.

My tourist review

In ancient times, the Gonio-Apsaros fortress occupied a strategic location, but many hundreds of years have passed and nothing has changed - the close proximity to Batumi makes this attraction almost a mandatory point in any excursion program in Adjara.

Despite the impressive territory, there is not much to see there: well-preserved walls that you can climb and walk on, ruins at or just above the foundation, a few graves, an excavation museum, a lot of flowers and that’s it.

In my opinion, this place belongs more to archaeologists than to vacationers. They will rejoice, fishing out another terribly ancient shard from the ground, and the tourist needs entertainment, even if this is not the second Rabat fortress or something like Ananuri Castle, in any case, I would like to see something inside this castle ensemble, some kind of zest, inherent, for example, in the Petra Fortress on the other side of Batumi, that’s where the real beauty is.

We didn't stay there long at all; our eyes couldn't catch anything interesting and make our mouth say "Wow" - 5 out of 10.

Helpful information

Coordinates for Navitel: N 41°34"26", E 41°34"23"
GPS coordinates for YandexMaps and Google Maps: 41.573904, 41.573077
Ticket price: 3 GEL.
The cost of an audio guide for two is 5 GEL, a live guide is estimated at 10 GEL per group.
Opening hours: from 10:00 to 18:00, closed on Mondays.
Time for the excursion: 30-60 minutes.
At the same time, it is recommended to visit: Makhuntseti Waterfall and Queen Tamara Bridge, Sarpi Beach.

How to get there and get to the Gonio Fortress

Bus No. 16 goes to the Gonio fortress from Batumi, and minibuses depart from Tbilisi Square, any with the inscription in Latin Gonio, Kvariati or Sarpi will do. The fare costs only 80 tetri ($0.4), and the travel time is 15-20 minutes. When you are planning to go back, catch any minibus along the road; almost all of them go to Batumi.

Taxi drivers will ask for 15-20 lari ($7-9), but you can try to bargain down to 10 ($4.5).

Getting there by car is very easy; you only have to drive 10 km along the Black Sea coast, past the airport, towards resort town Kvariati and borders with Turkey.

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