Pitsunda, Black Sea coastal town in Abkhazia, Georgia
Pitsunda is a coastal town in Gagra Municipality, Abkhazia, Georgia, that stretches along the Black Sea shore and is surrounded by dense pine forests. The town has a long pebble beach that extends near the mouth of the Bzyb River and is bordered by low hills in the hinterland.
Greek settlers founded the colony of Pityus in the 5th century BC at this location, which later became a Roman military post. King Bagrat III of Georgia built a cathedral in the 10th century that still stands today and contains wall paintings from later centuries.
The name Pitsunda comes from the Greek word for pine and reflects the wide forests that shape the town and reach down to the shore. Locals walk along the waterfront promenade, while fishermen spread and repair their nets on the pebble beach in the early morning.
Travelers reach the town by land border from Russia after passing through the Psou checkpoint, with the nearest major airport arrival in Adler near Sochi. The pebble beach stretches for several kilometers and offers plenty of space for swimming, while the paths through the pine forest provide shade on hot days.
Genoese merchants maintained a trading colony called Pezonda on this coast in the 13th century, connecting with other Black Sea ports. Decades later, the place became a preferred vacation spot for Soviet leaders who sought rest in the sanatoria among the pine trees.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
