Batumi: Bourgeois Batumi. Architecture at the Crossroads of Civilizations

At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, Batumi became a true crossroads of civilizations — a “Black Sea Babylon.”
The port city grew rapidly thanks to oil transit and international trade.
Its streets echoed with conversations in dozens of European languages, and this multicultural symphony was reflected in architecture — in residential houses, public buildings, entertainment venues, and banks influenced by global trends of the era.

We'll take a walk through the cozy streets of old Batumi, discovering hidden witnesses of that fascinating time.
We’ll reflect on how these buildings were transformed by time — and what the future might hold for this unique architectural heritage.

During the tour “Bourgeois Batumi. Architecture at the Crossroads of Civilizations”, you will see:

 The city's first cinema, where laughter echoed louder than in comedies
 A house built by one of the richest families in the world, where many Batumians were born
 An old post office, now hiding a casino behind its historic façade
 A bank building transformed into a palace straight out of a Disney fairy tale