Became a Russian possession in 1878 following the Treaty of San Stefano. It was granted official city status on 28 April 1888. The port was declared a free port until 1886.
Batumi
Established by botanist Andrey Krasnov and officially opened on 3 November 1912
Batumi Botanical Garden
Created in 2006 (formerly known as Tsiskara Reserve), and inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2021 as part of the Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands.
Mtirala National Park
Referenced by Pliny the Elder in the 1st century AD and in Appian’s accounts of the 2nd century AD; a thriving Roman settlement during that period. Ottoman rule began in the 16th century, lasting until 1878.
Gonio Fortress
Recognized as a small townlet in Adjara since Soviet-era administrative organization; traces indicate settlement since the Middle Ages, and a medieval fortress nearby.
Shuakhevi
Fully organized as a townlet (daba) in 1964. However, the area shows continuous human occupation from the Bronze Age, with medieval churches, castles, and bridges marking the Middle Ages.
Khulo
This natural feature has no clear "founding date" per se, but it is accompanied by a medieval arched bridge built during the 9th–10th centuries. The waterfall has become one of Adjara’s most popular attractions today.
