Gagra

Gagra is a coastal town on the Black Sea in the Abkhazia region that extends along the shore for about 5 kilometers and sits at the foot of the Caucasus Mountains in a subtropical climate zone. The built environment consists of numerous sanatorium buildings, parks with palms and cypresses, and a waterfront promenade running the full length of the settlement.

The settlement began as a Greek colony named Triglite in the kingdom of Colchis before it received the name Nitica under Roman rule. In the 4th century, the Abaata Fortress was built, and in the early 20th century, the Prince of Oldenburg transformed the place into a modern resort.

The name originates from the ancient designation Triglite, recalling the Greek past of the region, while the sanatoriums and parks visible today from the Soviet era are still used by visitors for recovery. Along the promenade, health resorts designed according to the classic model of therapeutic stays continue to fulfill their original purpose.

Access to the beach and promenade is possible at several points, though some sections are connected to the higher parts of the town by steep staircases. The best time to visit is between May and October, when the weather is pleasantly warm and facilities remain open throughout.

The ruins of the 4th-century Abaata Fortress and the Prince of Oldenburg palace show the architectural evolution across different historical eras. Within the fortress walls stands a small church still used for religious purposes and considered one of the oldest Christian buildings in the region.