Things to do
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Bagrati Cathedral
Raised on Ukimerioni hill around the year 1003, the cathedral was blown apart by an Ottoman siege and stood roofless for centuries before a contested rebuild gave it a roof, a lift and glass. UNESCO removed it from the World Heritage list over that work. The hill is a short climb from the centre, and the terrace looks over the Rioni.
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Gelati Monastery
Founded by David the Builder in 1106 and holding his tomb at the gate, the complex above Kutaisi ran an academy that taught philosophy and astronomy in the medieval kingdom. Mosaics and wall paintings from several centuries survive inside the main church, which stayed in use through Ottoman and Soviet periods. Restoration scaffolding has come and gone, so some interiors may be screened.
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Martvili Canyon
Turquoise water runs between limestone walls on the Abasha, once a bathing place of the Dadiani princes, about an hour northwest of Kutaisi. A path with bridges follows the gorge, and inflatable boats take short trips upstream through the narrows. Heavy rain raises the river and the boats stop, while summer weekends bring long queues.
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Motsameta Monastery
A cliff above the Tskaltsitela holds a small church built over the relics of two brothers killed resisting an Arab invasion in the eighth century. Tradition has visitors crawl three times under the reliquary casket to make a wish. It sits close to Gelati and the two are usually combined in a single trip.
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Okatse Canyon
A steel walkway bolted to the cliff carries walkers above the gorge of the Okatse, ending at a platform that projects over the drop. Reaching the entrance means a forest track of a couple of kilometres, or a ride in a cart, before the walkway starts. Handrails are high, though the grating is see-through and unsettles some visitors.
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Prometheus Cave
Lit walkways run through a series of chambers with stalactites, an underground river and coloured floodlighting, an hour or so northwest of Kutaisi at Tskaltubo. Visits go in guided groups at set times and take about an hour, with a boat ride offered at the end. The air stays cool year round, and the route has many steps.