Seaside climatic resort of Tsikhisdziri is situated 5 km from Kobuleti, on the Tsikhisdziri highland, whose slopes steeply descend to the sea and create a cape. Along with newly-built hotels and guest-houses, surviving Soviet-time rest-houses are still being operated here.

Grean-clad slopes surrounding the resort are covered with citrus tree groves, tea plantations and bamboo alleys. In the central part of the village, on the acropolis, Petra- Fortress Museum-Reserve stretches on 7 ha. The Fortress (‘Petra’ in Greek means ‘Rock’) allegedly was built by Strategos Ioann in 535 AD. In the written Annals this Fortress is also mentioned under moniker of ‘Kadjetis Tsikhe’ (Kadjeti

Fortress is the scene where some episodes in Rustaveli’s poem The Knight in the Tiger’s Skin take place). There is a theory that in The Knight in the Tiger’s Skin Rustaveli mentions exactly this Fortress. On the territory of Museum-Reserve archeologists uncovered several cultural layers of which the oldest dates to the later Bronze Age (II-I millennia BC). In the II millennium BC a town within the Lazika State was located here. Archeologists unearthed gates of old town, remnants of fortification structure and V-VI cc. basilica as well as household articles. Defenders of the Fortress in case of long siege could use secret underground tunnel to get down to the sea and supply fighters with new fish and other products. It is presumed that near the Fortress, even in the sea there might be ruins of old town.

 

1. As a result of archeological excavations conducted in 60s of the XX century, in the burial site uncovered on the territory of Petra Fortress were found numerous domestic utensils that nowadays are housed in the Hermitage Museum.

2. Rocky sea bed of Tsikhisdziri full of cavities, its warm water (30 degrees on the season) create favorable conditions for reproduction of small crawfishes and other creatures used by fish for feeding that is precondition of fish surfeit in these places. That is why one can see school of fish of the species of mullet, sea perch and crucian carp, as well as sole that also shows up frequently. In summer Atlantic

bonito which has the weight of up to 7 kg travels here for spawning. European seabass (its weight often reaches up to 12 kg) is possible to catch far away from the seashore. Georgian legislation bans underwater hunting with special breathing equipment (scuba set).

 

Location: Black Sea narrow coast strip, slopes of contiguous plateaus (Lesser Kavkasioni bifurcations)

Distance: 5 km away from Kobuleti, 25 km away from Batumi, 340 km away from Tbilisi

Sea level: 50 m

Landscape: mountainous

Climate: maritime, humid, subtropical climate; mean temperature in January 6 degrees; mean temperature in August 22,6 degrees

Average annual precipitation: 2732 mm

Average comparative annual humidity: 78%

Annual average number of sunlight hours: 2200-2300 h.

Natural treatment factors: maritime, humid, subtropical climate and sea water

Types of therapy: air and sun exposure, sea baths

Diseases for treatment: respiratory tract non-TB and nervous system functional diseases