Zugdidi ( ka, ზუგდიდი; xmf, ზუგდიდი or ზუგიდი) is a city in the western

Georgian Georgian may refer to: Common meanings * Anything related to, or originating from Georgia (country) ** Georgians, an indigenous Caucasian ethnic group ** Georgian language, a Kartvelian language spoken by Georgians **Georgian scripts, three scrip ...

historical province of

Samegrelo Mingrelia ( ka, სამეგრელო, tr; xmf, სამარგალო, samargalo; ab, Агырны, Agirni) is a historic province in the western part of Georgia, formerly known as Odishi. It is primarily inhabited by the Mingrelian ...

(Mingrelia). It is situated in the north-west of that province. The city is located 318 kilometres west of

Tbilisi Tbilisi ( ; ka, თბილისი ), in some languages still known by its pre-1936 name Tiflis ( ), is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Kura River with a population of approximately 1.5 million p ...

, 30 km from the

Black Sea The Black Sea is a marginal mediterranean sea of the Atlantic Ocean lying between Europe and Asia, east of the Balkans, south of the East European Plain, west of the Caucasus, and north of Anatolia. It is bounded by Bulgaria, Georgia, Rom ...

coast and 30 km from the

Egrisi Range Egrisi Range ( ka, ეგრისის ქედი), also known as the Samegrelo Range (სამეგრელოს ქედი) or the Odishi Range (ოდიშის ქედი), is an east–west mountain range that runs parallel to t ...

, at an elevation of 100–110 metres above sea level. Zugdidi is the capital of the

Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti ( Georgian: სამეგრელო-ზემო სვანეთი) is a region (Mkhare) in western Georgia with a population of 308,358 (2021) and a surface of . The region has Zugdidi as its administrative center, ...

region, which combines

(Mingrelia) and upper part of

Svaneti Svaneti or Svanetia (Suania in ancient sources; ka, სვანეთი ) is a historic province in the northwestern part of Georgia. It is inhabited by the Svans, an ethnic subgroup of Georgians. Geography Situated on the southern slop ...

, and the center of the

Zugdidi Municipality Zugdidi ( ka, ზუგდიდის მუნიციპალიტეტი) is a Municipality of Georgia, in the region of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti. Zugdidi Municipality is located in the central part of western Georgia (area - 692 sq. ...

within. The city serves as a residence of Metropolitan of

Zugdidi and Tsaishi Eparchy The Eparchy of Zugdidi and Tsaishi ( ka, ზუგდიდისა და ცაიშის ეპარქია) is an eparchy (diocese) of the Georgian Orthodox Church with its seat in Zugdidi, Georgia. It has jurisdiction over Zugdidi and ...

of the Georgian Apostolic Autocephalous Orthodox Church.

Etymology

The name "Zugdidi" (ზუგდიდი) first appears in the 17th century. Literally it means "big hill" in the

Mingrelian language Mingrelian or Megrelian (, ) is a Kartvelian language spoken in Western Georgia (regions of Mingrelia and Abkhazia), primarily by the Mingrelians. The language was also called kolkhuri (Georgian ) in the early 20th century. Mingrelian has histori ...

(from , 'hill'; 'big'). An alternative version of the name recorded in old sources is "Zubdidi" (ზუბდიდი) with same meaning from Megrelian. Local Georgian (Megrelian) residents of the historical provinces of

Megrelia Mingrelia ( ka, სამეგრელო, tr; xmf, სამარგალო, samargalo; ab, Агырны, Agirni) is a historic province in the western part of Georgia, formerly known as Odishi. It is primarily inhabited by the Mingrelian ...

and Abkhazia also use "Zugidi" (ზუგიდი), which is a shortened form. The name was given to the town because of a hill situated in the eastern part of the city, where some small remains of an ancient fortress are still visible.

History

Historically Zugdidi was a capital of the

Principality of Mingrelia The Principality of Mingrelia ( ka, სამეგრელოს სამთავრო, tr), also known as Odishi and as Samegrelo, was a historical state in Georgia ruled by the Dadiani dynasty. History The principality emerged out of ...

(

Odishi Odishi ( ka, ოდიში) was a historical district in western Georgia, the core fiefdom of the former Principality of Mingrelia, with which the name "Odishi" was frequently coterminous. Since the early 19th century, this toponym has been su ...

) until 1867, when the principality was abolished by the

Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War. ...

. After then Zugdidi was an administrative center of Zugdidi Uyezd as a part of the

Kutais Governorate The Kutaisi or Kutais Governorate was a province ('' guberniya'') of the Caucasus Viceroyalty of the Russian Empire. It roughly corresponded to most of western Georgia throughout most of its existence, and most of the Artvin Province (except t ...

until 1918, when it became a part of the

Democratic Republic of Georgia The Democratic Republic of Georgia (DRG; ka, საქართველოს დემოკრატიული რესპუბლიკა ') was the first modern establishment of a republic of Georgia, which existed from May 1918 to F ...

. From 1930 the center of the Zugdidi Raion of the

Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic The Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic (Georgian SSR; ka, საქართველოს საბჭოთა სოციალისტური რესპუბლიკა, tr; russian: Грузинская Советская Соц� ...

and then Independent Georgia (from 1991). Levan II Dadiani (2)

Between 17–19th centuries, Zugdidi was one of the important political and cultural center of Mingrelia and whole Georgia. A famous Georgian medieval epic poem

The Knight in the Panther's Skin ''The Knight in the Panther's Skin'' ( ka, ვეფხისტყაოსანი, tr literally "the one with the skin of a tiger") is a Georgian medieval epic poem, written in the 12th or 13th century by Georgia's national poet Shota Rusta ...

has been rewritten by

Mamuka Tavakalashvili Mamuka Tavakalashvili or Tavakarashvili ( ka, მამუკა თავაქალაშვილი) was a Georgian poet, painter and famous calligrapher of the 17th century at the court of the King of Imereti. He was captured in Principa ...

here at the court of Prince

Levan II Dadiani Levan II Dadiani (also Leon; ka, ლევან ��ეონII დადიანი; 1597-1657) was a member of the House of Dadiani and ruler of the Principality of Mingrelia in western Georgia. Levan grew up in Kakheti under his grandfathe ...

in 1646.

Zugdidi Botanical Garden, Megrelia, Georgia

During the

Crimean War The Crimean War, , was fought from October 1853 to February 1856 between Russia and an ultimately victorious alliance of the Ottoman Empire, France, the United Kingdom and Piedmont-Sardinia. Geopolitical causes of the war included the ...

(1853–1856) Ottoman forces with

Omar Pasha Omer Pasha, also known as Omer Pasha Latas ( tr, Ömer Lütfi Paşa, sr, Омер-паша Латас, Omer-paša Latas; 24 September 1806 – 18 April 1871) was an Ottoman field marshal and governor. Born in Austrian territory to Serbian Or ...

seized Zugdidi in 1855. At the end of the 1855 and beginning of 1856 city was liberated by Mingrelian Militia commanded by Major General Prince

Grigol Dadiani Grigol Dadiani ( ka, გრიგოლ დადიანი; 1770 – 23 October 1804), of the House of Dadiani, was Prince of Mingrelia from 1788 to 1804, with intermissions from 1791 to 1794 and in 1802 when his position was filled by his riv ...

. By the order of Iskender Pasha Ottomans plundered, burnt and destroyed the whole city, especially palaces and botanical garden. During the

, the city was the administrative center of the

Zugdidi Uyezd The Zugdidi uezd was a county (''uezd'') of the Kutaisi Governorate of the Caucasus Viceroyalty of the Russian Empire. It bordered the Sukhumi Okrug to the north, the Lechkhumi uezd to the east, the Senaki uezd to the south, and the Black Sea t ...

of the

Kutaisi Governorate The Kutaisi or Kutais Governorate was a province ('' guberniya'') of the Caucasus Viceroyalty of the Russian Empire. It roughly corresponded to most of western Georgia throughout most of its existence, and most of the Artvin Province (except th ...

. Many buildings were heavily damaged during the

Georgian Civil War The Georgian Civil War lasted from 1991 to 1993 in the South Caucasian country of Georgia. It consisted of inter-ethnic and international conflicts in the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, as well as the violent military ''coup d'état'' ...

1992–1993 as well. In 1993, there were located administration of the first President of Georgia

Zviad Gamsakhurdia Zviad Konstantines dze Gamsakhurdia ( ka, ზვიად გამსახურდია, tr; russian: Звиа́д Константи́нович Гамсаху́рдия, Zviad Konstantinovich Gamsakhurdiya; 31 March 1939 – 31 December 1 ...

and the

Supreme Council of the Republic of Georgia The Supreme Council of the Republic of Georgia ( ka, საქართველოს რესპუბლიკის უზენაესი საბჭო, ''sakartvelos respublikis uzenaesi sabcho'') was the highest unicameral legislative bo ...

as well.

Architecture and landmarks

Dadiani Palace

Dadiani Palace Dadiani Palaces History and Architectural Museum ( ka, დადიანების სასახლეთა ისტორიულ-არქიტექტურული მუზეუმი) is a Georgian national museum located in Zugd ...

, built in the 19th century, was home to the final ruling family of the Principality of Samegrelo. The complex includes the palace of

Ekaterine Dadiani Ekateriné Dadiani, Princess of Mingrelia ( ka, ეკატერინე დადიანი; ''née'' Chavchavadze; March 19, 1816August 13, 1882) of the House of Dadiani, was a prominent 19th-century Georgian aristocrat and the last ruling ...

of Samegrelo; a residence for her son,

Niko Dadiani Nikoloz "Niko" Dadiani ( ka, ნიკოლოზ "ნიკო" დადიანი), or Nikolay Davidovich Dadian-Mingrelsky (russian: Николай Давидович Дадиан-Мингрельский; 4 January 1847 – 23 January 190 ...

; a monastery; and what is now the Zugdidi Botanical Garden. Today, the palace operates as a museum and is open to visitors. It underwent renovations from 2015 to 2018.

Botanical Garden

Zugdidi Botanical Garden was established in the 19th century by the Prince of Mingrelia

David Dadiani David Dadiani ( ka, დავით დადიანი; 23 January 1813 – 30 August 1853), of the House of Dadiani, was Prince of Mingrelia, in western Georgia, from 1846 until his death in 1853. A son of Levan V Dadiani, he became ''de fact ...

and Queen Ekaterine Dadiani, Princess of Mingrelia, Ekaterine, near the residential palaces. Currently, the garden is a branch of National Botanical Garden of Georgia, Tbilisi Central Botanical Garden and is administered by the Georgian Academy of Sciences. The garden covers 26 hectares.

Shalva Dadiani Zugdidi State Academic Drama Theater

This theater's first performance, Molière's Le médecin malgré lui (''The Doctor Despite Himself''), was staged on 11 April 1869 by Anton Purtseladze. The Drama Theater was founded in 1932. in 1959 the theater was named after the famous Georgian novelist and theatrical actor Shalva Dadiani (1874–1959).

Other landmarks

* Chakvinji fortress * Tsaishi cathedral

Climate

Zugdidi has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) under the Köppen climate classification.

Demography and population

Historically Zugdidi is known as a distinctly mono-ethnic city with a vast majority of Georgians. By the 2002 state census 98.97% (166,039) of its total population (167,760) were ethnic Georgians (for both city and municipality). In the second half of the 1850s, due to the short Ottoman occupation, the town population decreased from 2000 to 800. The 1950s-1970s were an important period for Zugdidi's development, which affected the growth of population, while the last 20-year growth was mainly caused by refugee displacement. After the War in Abkhazia (1992–93), Russian-Georgian war in Abkhazia (1992-1993) a large number of internally displaced peoples from Abkhazia were forced to move to Zugdidi. As a result of this, according to the 2002 state census, Zugdidi became the fifth most populous city in Georgia, ahead of Sokhumi, Poti, and Gori, Georgia, Gori. As of the 2014 national census, the population of Zugdidi decreased to 42,998 inhabitants, making it Georgia's sixth most populous city after Gori, Georgia, Gori. Historic population of Zugdidi:

Education

Zugdidi is a regional center of education. Institutes of higher education are: Theatre(Zugdidi)

*Shota Meskhia State Teaching University – the main institution of higher education founded in 2007 on the basis of Zugdidi Branch of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Zugdidi Professional Lyceum and Senaki Agro-economic College. The university has three faculties of Humanitarian, Business Administration and Law and Health. *Zugdidi Teaching University European Academy, founded in 1991 Besides this Zugdidi has 13 public and 3 private schools, as well as kindergartens. *Alexander Gurtskaya Gymnasium – GG – one more place of interest and unique educational space. Was founded in 2011, on the basis of Presidential Decree instead of former Public School No.7. Today, GG is an innovative educational environment where each individual has a wide selection, capability and motivation of intellectual, physical and spiritual development and wonderful opportunities for achieving success in the global competitive society. The Gymnasium welcomes its students and guests with its unique, original facade, which is made as randomly-spaced books on the shelves. Library tradition in Zugdidi dates back to the reign of Prince (Mtavari)

(1812–1853) of Mingrelia, who collected a large number of handwritten and printed books. The first public library in Zugdidi was established in 1887. After this, in 1899 new reading-room was rearranged, which turned into library in 1912 with its own building. Currently, the library is called Zugdidi City Municipal Library. Gurtskaya Gymnasium

Annual events

Vlakernoba

The main annual event in Zugdidi is Vlakernoba ( ka, ვლაქერნობა - The day of the Blachernae's Virgin Mary) - an Eastern Orthodox, Orthodox Christian feast celebrated every year, on July 15. On this day, the robe of the Blessed Virgin Mary is taken from the Tower of Virgin of the Queen Palace (now a museum), where it is kept, to the Cathedral of the Blachernae Icon of the Mother of God. During the feast thousands of the faithful from all over the world are able to venerate the holy relic upon the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. From 2012, during the event, the holy robe was carried into the new cathedral of Iberian Theotokos. Vlakernoba is celebrated since the 1990s.

Zugdidoba

Zugdidoba ( ka, ზუგდიდობა - the day of Zugdidi) is a newly reestablished public festival, featuring various cultural, sport and educational events in Zugdidi, mostly in October. The festival is managed both by Zugdidi Municipal City Hall and Zugdidi Municipality Government.

Sports

The main association football team in the city is FC Dinamo Zugdidi founded in 1919. Other, amateur, football clubs are FC Mglebi Zugdidi and FC Odishi 1919. American Football Club "Western bad boys"

Notable people

* Niko I Dadiani (1847–1903), Prince of Mingrelia * Salome Dadiani (1848–1913), Georgian princess, the only sister of Niko Dadiani * Andria Dadiani (1850–1910), Georgian nobleman and a chess player * Otar Patsatsia (1929–2021), 3rd Prime Minister of Georgia (1993–1995) * Nona Gaprindashvili (1941–), chess player, the sixth women's world chess champion (1962–1978), first female Grandmaster * Otar Gabelia (1953–), retired football player, goalkeeper of FC Dinamo Tbilisi and Soviet Union national football team * Davit Narmania (1979–), former Mayor of Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia * Bacho Akhalaia (1980–), politician who was Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia * Davit Kiria (1988–), Georgian kickboxer who competes in the Lightweight division * Ika Meporia (1989–), professional footballer

References

External links

*
Website of Zugdidi Municipal City HallWebsite of City Council of Zugdidi Municipality
{{Authority control Cities and towns in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Kutaisi Governorate Mingrelia