City of Meetings
City of Meetings
Indeed, Batumi is a city of meetings that conjures impressions and memories. This city is a convergence point for individuals and emotions, providing a launchpad for new and exciting journeys.
There's always a reason for everything, including why this city possesses a unique allure, why everyone who visits feels at home, and why anyone can find a niche in its heart.
The hospitable and affable nature of Batumi can be traced back to its history. Since antiquity, it was at the crossroads of vital trade routes. Naturally, this brought about interactions, friendships, and even familial ties among people of diverse nationalities, religions, and traditions in the area.
For instance, on the Roman map known as "Tabula Peutingeriana" (4th century AD), the geographical point "Portus Altus" is marked approximately where modern Batumi is today. Based on the analysis of ancient sources, historians like S. Kaukhchishvili concluded that Batumi's inclusion on the world map indicated that it was a significant city and port as early as the 2nd century.
It is evident that maritime transport was vital for foreign trade. The most significant harbor on the Black Sea in Georgia during the 12th-13th centuries could very well have been Batumi. The reason being, Batumi boasted a bay that was located at the major trade junction of the East and West, and it served as an excellent natural harbor for ships.
During the 19th century, the establishment of Porto-Franco in Batumi, the integration of the railway with the outside world, and the introduction of the oil pipeline between Baku and Batumi significantly amplified and broadened the city's boundaries. This gave a boost to the development of trade and handicrafts.
The transformation of Batumi into a modern harbor-city turned it into a crucial nexus of key communications, linking Georgia and other Caucasus countries to one another and to different regions.
Furthermore, Batumi has a varied ethno-confessional structure. For centuries, people of different ethnic origins and religious confessions have lived together peacefully in this city, collectively contributing to its economy, culture, education, and art. This fact is substantiated by the city's architecture, as well as the traditional material and spiritual culture. Therefore, Batumi is among the most interreligious cities in Georgia, with a wide representation of different denominations, each with their own religious buildings and congregations.
Batumi is a city associated with the names of famous international figures such as Knut Hamsun, Nikos Kazantzakis, Georges Simenon, John Steinbeck, the Nobel brothers, Alphonse Rothschild, and others. Here, they encountered their muse, found inspiration, were captivated, identified potential in it, dared to make a move, and left an everlasting imprint on the city's history.
As the saying goes, even the air in Batumi is imbued with a spirit of friendship and love for people.
