Martvili

Martvili (Georg.: მართვილი) is a district town of 4,400 people (2014) in the Mingrelia region of Northwestern Georgia. It is known for its extensive monastery complex, and for the nearby gorges, which are ideal for canyoning and rafting.

Understand

Martvili Monastery in winter

Since the Middle Ages, the town of Martvili has been a religious centre of western Georgia. Until 1936 the place was called Chkondidi (ჭყონდიდი) because of the nearby Chkondidi Cathedral. The city was called Gegechkori (გეგეჭკორი, named after Sascha Gegechkori) from 1936 to 1990. In 1990, Martvili received the current name.

After 1990, as in many regions of Georgia, the already modest industrial production almost completely collapsed, and the population now lives largely from subsistence agriculture.

Get in

By bus

With minibuses (marshrutkas) from Kutaisi , Samtredia or Senaki .

By car

From the ს 1 from Abasha via the regional road შ 4. Alternatively from Zugdidi or Mestia via the regional roads via Tschchorozku and from Kutaisi via Choni.

Get around

Marshrutkas go to most places in the region. The monastery is within walking distance from the centre. Taxis can also be chartered locally.

See

Main square of Martvili, above - up on the mountain - the monastery towers

• 1 Martvili Chkondidi Cathedral (მარტვილის მონასტერი) (on a hill above the city centre). The cathedral was built in the late 7th century, on the roots of an oak tree, according to a legend that there was a church on this site, as early as the 1st century CE. The apostle Andreas is said to have converted local people to Christianity under this oak tree, which is also the namesake of this monastery, Tschkoni (Georgian "oak") and didi (Georgian "big") = "big oak". Today's complex is surrounded by a wall which surrounds the main church, built in the 10th century and containing frescoes from the 14th-17th centuries, with a small side church and a free-standing bell tower, both of which are more recent.  
• 2 Martvili Canyon (Gachedili, გაჭედილი). A place of waterfalls, where you can swim, and the footprints of dinosaurs. But else just a sight of 20 min. 17.25 lari (parking 2 lari), boat 28 lari pp. (updated Sep 2019)
• 3 Dadiani summer palace, Salkhino (near Martvili). (updated Sep 2019)
• There is a local museum in the town centre.
• 4 Nokalakevi Archaeopolis (Tsikhegodgi fortress). (updated Sep 2019)

Do

• Canyoning and hiking in Dadiani Forest Park and Okaze Gorge: near Kinchcha village 15 km north of Martvili. There is a waterfall (near Kintschcha), a church (near Seda Gori) and two campsites (near Kintschcha and Rondisi). From Kutaisi, take a minibus from the bus station on Chavchavadze Street to the village of Gordi, 1 hour, 4 GEL.
  • Visitor centre, ☏ +995 577 101806 (Zaal Kvantaliani), +995 577 907272 (Lika Kalmakhelidze), zkvantaliani@apa.gov.ge. or info@apa.gov.ge (updated Apr 2022)
• 1 Nokalakevi Geothermal Park (Hot Springs) (catch a marshrutka to Nokalakevi village from Senaki or Martvili). A hidden gem in the middle of nowhere. Sulphur fountains, white cascades, and hot river pools. It is not frequented by many tourist, mostly by locals. But in 5 years time expect a paid car park and 10 lari entrance—promised! Bring a towel, and a shovel if you want to help. The great thing is the clean river nearby, which cools down the body after having had a hot bath or tested your strength under the boiling shower. (updated Oct 2019)

Buy

In the city there is a fruit and vegetable market, a supermarket and numerous smaller mini markets.

Sleep

There are about ten accommodations in the village.

• 1 Cha Cha Backpackers, ☏ +995 595 966 695. Built by backpackers for backpackers. Newly opened in 2023. Has private rooms, dorms, spacious front garden and back garden. The Abasha river runs directly behind the house, the same river that runs through Martvili canyon. (updated Aug 2023)
• Canyon Hotel, 12 Chavchavadze st, ☏ +995 577 50 80 90. Georgian good middle class with large double rooms. (updated Apr 2019)
• Guest House Boboti, District Boboti. (updated Apr 2019)
• Camping stand. Meadow near the waterfall, on the way to the canyon. Next door two guesthouses: Nana (on the main road) and Dali (a little way to the river). (updated Apr 2019)