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Scenic spot
Batumi
Gürcistan
Priority Stop
FamilyBatumi Seaside Boulevard is a palm- and magnolia-shaded promenade park that stretches roughly seven kilometres along the Black Sea shore and has become the emblem of the city.
History & Significance
Its history begins in 1881, when A. Smekalov, governor of the Batumi district, conceived the idea of a seaside park; in 1885 the French gardener Michael D'Alfons was appointed chief gardener and shaped the grounds in the French landscape tradition, later joined by German landscape architects. After decades of gradual expansion, a 1200-metre modern extension designed by the Spanish architect Alberto Domingo Cabo was added in 2009, dividing the coastline into an 'old' and a 'new' boulevard and bringing the total length to about seven kilometres.
Notable Landmarks
The boulevard's most celebrated work is the kinetic sculpture 'Ali and Nino', created in 2010 by the Georgian sculptor Tamar Kvesitadze and inspired by the eponymous novel of the writer Kurban Said; the two metal figures, rising up to eight metres, rotate toward one another every eight to ten minutes until they merge, symbolising love and the meeting of cultures. Just behind the promenade lies the Italianate Piazza square, completed in 2010; designed by the architect Vazha Orbeladze after Florence's Piazza della Signoria, it is adorned with a clock tower echoing the San Marco campanile, stained-glass windows by the Estonian artist Dolores Hoffman, and a vast marble mosaic of millions of tiles by the artist Natali Amirejibi.
Visiting, Access & Tips
In the evenings the dancing fountains, restaurants, cafés and the glowing modern towers turn the boulevard into a lively social hub. This is precisely why Turkish agencies favour Batumi on their Black Sea circuits: lying only about 15 kilometres from the Sarp border crossing, with affordable hotels, casinos and nightlife, the boulevard is the first indispensable stop for groups crossing the frontier. The average visit lasts two to three hours; guided programmes usually schedule a late-afternoon stroll, a meal on the Piazza, and the Ali and Nino display timed to sunset. Nearby stand Europe Square, the Batumi cable car, the Alphabet Tower and the botanical garden. The best photo spots are the Ali and Nino statue, the Piazza arcades and the pier corridors. The ideal season is May to September, with Turkish tourist density peaking in summer.
Visit & Logistics
Visit & Logistics- Getting thereAbout 15 km from the Sarp border crossing; walking distance from the city centre. Easy access by shared minibus (marshrutka), taxi and tour coach; bicycle and e-vehicle rental points along the boulevard.
- ParkingPaid car parks and street parking around Europe Square and the new boulevard side; occupancy is high in summer.
- Coach accessTour coaches can drop off and pick up along the wide avenues near the new boulevard and Piazza; vehicles cannot enter the pedestrian zone, requiring a short walk.
- AccessibilityMost of the boulevard is flat, wide and paved in asphalt/concrete, making it suitable for wheelchairs and strollers; the Piazza square and promenade are accessible.
- Photo spotsThe Ali and Nino kinetic sculpture (timed to sunset); the arches and clock tower of Piazza square; the pier corridors and palm-lined promenade; the dancing fountains; the modern tower skyline.
- Suggested routeThe first evening stop on day one of Black Sea-Georgia tours entering via Sarpi: arrival in Batumi after Gonio Fortress, a free stroll on the boulevard, dinner on the Piazza and the Ali-Nino sunset display.
Nearby Places
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No published tour features this place just yet — but we can build one around you, with no obligation. 