Historical sights near Batumi. Gonio Fortress-Apsaros and Schalta.

Gonio-Apsaros Fortress it had a very important strategic importance: She guarded the entrance to the valleys of the Chorokhi and Adjaristskali rivers, which connected the interior of Georgia with the Black Sea coast. It is for this reason that the Gonio fortress became one of the main citadels on the eastern Black Sea coast, first for the Roman Empire, and then for Byzantium. For the first time in historical sources, this fortress is mentioned by Pliny Secundus (I century) under the name Apsarunt. The Apsarunt fortress was a well-fortified and well-maintained fortress city, in which 5 Roman cohorts (3,000 soldiers) stood. Due to its strategic location, the fortress aroused great interest in Rome, Byzantium and Genoa. In 1547-1878, the fortress was controlled by the Ottoman Empire.

Since the XII century. the fortress is called Gonio. The fortress has the shape of a rectangle (195m.x245m.) and is built of stone. The fortress wall is reinforced with 18 towers. There are gates on each side. Several construction layers are visible on the fortress (III-IV centuries, VI-VII centuries, XVI centuries). The fortress is currently restored and, according to the Georgian scale, is a huge fortification. According to legend, it was here that King Ayet buried his son Apsaros, whom Jason killed, dismembered the corpse and threw the body parts separately into the sea. Also, according to legend, one of the apostles of Christ, Matata (Matthew), rests here.

The center of the Schalt Diocese - the Schalt Church is located in Adjara, in the Khuloi district. It was built in the XIII century . This domeless church is located on an elevated place and has a gable roof. The interior of the church and its exterior walls are lined with hewn stone. On the eastern facade there are crosses decorated with carved ornaments. The Shalt Church is an outstanding architectural monument of South Georgia.