Sukhumi fortress, Ancient fortress in Sukhumi, Georgia
Sukhumi fortress is a stone fortification along the Black Sea coast, with walls that cover a substantial section of shoreline in a strategically important location. The site contains multiple layers of architecture from different periods that you can explore as you walk through the remains.
Roman forces founded this fortress in the 2nd century and called it Sebastopolis to secure their presence on the Black Sea. Over the centuries, different powers took control, which explains the many architectural changes visible across the site.
The fortress walls display inscriptions from different peoples who ruled here, including Greeks, Romans, and Ottomans, which you can still see today. This layering of texts reveals how many civilizations made this place their own.
You can enter the fortress from Dioskurov Embankment without paying an entrance fee and explore the remaining walls freely. Wear good shoes because the ground is uneven and some sections are tricky to navigate.
Parts of the original fortress now rest underwater in Sukhumi Bay, where divers encounter submerged walls and ancient objects. These underwater remains show how much larger the structure once was.
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