The structure, widely known as the Eye of Anaklia, is located in the village of Anaklia, Zugdidi Municipality, on the Black Sea coast, among the sights, entertainment and leisure spots. The name comes from the unusual shape of the tower's upper section: depending on the viewing angle, it resembles an eye or the face of an angry duck.
For more on the tower's history and the village of Anaklia, see the article on Anaklia Tower.
According to some sources, the tower was originally conceived as a lighthouse for ship navigation; other sources describe the project as a tourism centre with an observation deck and restaurant, with a futuristic design inspired by the shape of a pier or a spaceship. Either way, construction was never completed. Anaklia sits at the very northern edge of Georgia's Black Sea coast, roughly 300 metres from the Abkhazia separation line.
The area around the tower was once envisioned as a resort village that could rival Batumi: authorities began active development in 2010, but interest waned after a change of leadership in 2012. Hopes revived in 2016 for the country's first deep-sea port also failed to materialise, with the project halted in 2020 amid a dispute with the developer. Today the resort's boulevard is largely abandoned, and the tower itself, according to reviews, has become a draw for photographers, fans of abandoned architecture, and anyone seeking a quiet seaside atmosphere.
A few practical points are worth keeping in mind. According to reviews, the sunset view over the sea from the top is striking, and there are various levels and corners inside to explore. One visitor mentioned scaffolding on the tower, which may indicate periodic conservation work, so it's worth checking the current condition before visiting. One brief review also flags a warning: "you get short of breath," which may relate to stuffiness inside or the physical effort of the climb, though the exact cause isn't specified.
