Imereti region

    Imereti-is a province in Georgia situated along the middle and upper reaches of the Rioni river. In late antiquity and early Middle Ages the ancient western Georgian kingdom of Egrisi existed on the territory of Imereti. Its king declared Christianity as an official religion of Egrisi in 523 AD. In 975-1466 Imereti was part of the united Georgian Kingdom. Since its disintegration in the 15th century, Imereti was an independent kingdom.

                                                                General city of region

    Kutaisi-is Georgia's second largest city and the capital of the western region of Imereti. It is 221 km to the west of Tbilisi. 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. 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.

    Vani-is a town in Imereti region of western Georgia, at the Sulori river. 41 km southwest from the regional capital Kutaisi. The town is an administrative center of the Municipality of Vani comprising also 43 neighbouring villages. The first phase is dated to the 8th-7th centuries BC. In this period Vani is presumed to have been a major cultic centre. The second phase - end of the 7th and beginning of the 6th to the first half of the 4th century BC - is represented by cultural layers, remains of wooden structures, sacrificial altars cut in the rocky ground, and rich burials. It is assumed that on this stage Vani was the centre of a political-administrative unit of the kingdom of Colchis.

    Tskaltubo-is a spa resort in west-central Georgia. It is the main town of the Tsqaltubo district of the Imereti province. It is famous for its radon-carbonate mineral springs, whose natural temperature of 33-35°C enables the water to be used without preliminary heating. The resort's focus is on balneotherapy for circulatory, nervous, musculo-skeletal, gynaecological and skin diseases. Tsqaltubo was especially popular in the Soviet era, attracting around 125,000 visitors a year. Bathhouse 9 features a frieze of Stalin, and visitors can see the private pool where he bathed on his visits.

                                                              Architectural monuments in region

    Bagrati Cathedral-is the 11th-century cathedral church in the city of Kutaisi, the region of Imereti. Is regarded as a masterpiece in the history of medieval Georgian architecture. It was built in during the reign of King Bagrat III due to which it was called "Bagrati" Cathedral, i.e., Bagrat’s cathedral. In 1994, the Bagrati Cathedral, together with the Gelati Monastery, was included in the UNESCO. Bagrati Cathedral is attracts many pilgrims and tourists. It is also frequently used as a symbol of the whole city of Kutaisi, being one of its main tourist attractions.

    Gelati-is a monastic complex near Kutaisi, Imereti, western Georgia. It contains the Church of the Virgin founded by the King of Georgia David the Builder in 1106. The Gelati Monastery for a long time was one of the main cultural and intellectual centers in Georgia. It had an Academy which employed some of the most celebrated Georgian scientists, theologians and philosophers. In 1994, Gelati Monastery was recognized by UNESCO.

    Katskhi column-is a cave in the air. It is located in Chiatura district. Its supporting columns soar up to 40 meters. Researchers claim that it used to be a cloister for outsiders. No one knows exactly when religious living stopped in the Katskhi column. For the moment it is impossible to get here without alpinist equipment. However, construction of lifts is in progress to allow tourist get acquainted to this miracle.

    Vani archeological Museum reserve-was founded on April, 21, 1981 on the base of the local lore museum and was opened in September, 1985 during the international Symposium. The exposition covers the period from VIII c. BC to I c. AD. The constant exhibition exposes architectural and goldsmith materials as well as the unique bronze statues and their fragments. Vani hosts annual international symposiums over the issues of history and archeology of the ancient Mediterranean countries.
For decades the Vani expedition with its unique discoveries has been attracting attention of the international community of scientists.

                                                                                                                                                                        

                                                         National parks in region

    Sataplia-is a very interesting place for Kutaisi visitors. The Sataplia karst cave lies 6 km. North-West of Kutaisi. Satasaplia is known for its Dinosaurs traces. The specialists think that in this view Sataplia is one of the richest places in the world. The air and water temperatures in the Sataplia karst cave are nearly equal ( 12-13 c). There is a speleological museum near it now. Near the Sataplia Karst cave in Tetramitsa the settlement of a primitive man discovered. There were discovered a wide range of stone weapons and other material which are kept in Kutaisi Ethnographical Museum.

    Sairme-It is situated 55km south from the city Kutaisi. Altitude 950 m above the sea level, in the valley of the Tsablaris tskali-River. The major natural curative factors are mineral waters known since the end of the XIX century. Sairme is an essential balneological-climatic resort in Baghdadi region. It is situated on the northern slope of Meskheti range, in the canyon of river Tsablaristskali, on the height of 950m. A sanatorium, holiday homes and resort polyclinic are located in Sairme.

    Tskaltubo resort-founded in 1926. The main natural healing factor - unique in its physical and chemical properties, thermal of mineral water. Located on the eastern outskirts of the Colchis lowland hills, river valley Tskhaltubo, a tributary of the river Gubistskali. From the north-east of the city adjacent foothills of the Great Caucasus mountain range Samguralskogo. The surrounding hills are covered with deciduous forests with evergreen shrubs in the undergrowth. In the spa park, presents more than 100 species of subtropical flora.