Legends or myths about their founding always accompany the creation of cities. Many stories circulate about Tskhaltubo, a city intertwined with truth and fiction. One such tale recounts how, upon discovering warm water rising from the ground, a shepherd found relief for his weary legs in its warmth, experiencing its miraculous power. He then shared this discovery with others. Another story attributes the discovery of the waters to the noble Ioselani family, while others speak of ancient hunters using the warm water to treat wounds of hunted animals.

Many years ago, the esteemed Georgian poet, publicist, and public figure Akaki Tsereteli drew a comparison between the quadrangular shape of Kutaisi Boulevard and Imeretian Khachapuri (a Georgian pastry) due to its shape. Furthermore, because of the constant socio-political passions and heated debates that regularly unfolded in “Bagiskide” (translated as “The Edge of the Garden”), the boulevard was affectionately nicknamed “Parliament of Kutaisi,” a name that has endured to this day.

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“Kutaisi demonstrated a reading culture. True masters left their imprints on every edition of “Meotsnebe Niamorebi” (Dreamer Wild Goats) and “Kirchkhibi”(Cancer)…” – this was the assessment of the books published in the city located along the banks of the Rioni River made by Shalva Apkhaidze, impartial chronicler of the literary group – Tsisferkantselebi (Blue Horns) a century ago. Kutaisi has never been indifferent neither to the literary processes nor the names of the participants of these processes and also to the books published in this city. It is worth mentioning that according to the facts provided in the governor’s report, in 1905 there were 3 libraries, 3 bookstores, 2 book sheds, and 5 printing houses, and in 1913 – 8 printing houses in Kutaisi. Moreover, these editions, bought by Kutaisians, passed from hand to hand, were high-quality printed books. They have been preserved completely in old book stacks, their pages are not yellowed and torn and not even the backs of the books are torn! The ancestors knew the value of books! They did indeed!

An excellent example of monumental art – the large ceramic panel “Kolkheti” (Colkhis), which has been adorning the center of Kutaisi since 1995 and is referred to affectionately by the city dwellers as “Franz’s Panel”, is one of the last works of the famous Georgian artist Bernard (Franz) Nebieridze (1939-1987). This work is particularly outstanding in terms of genre and scale.

“The city where Ertaoz set off is not marked on all maps up till now, and even today it is referred as a Various Settlement. From the houses built of thick-layered limestone or Eklar stone as they call it locally, sad guitar sound could always be heard. Half of the population in the city invaded by vineyards was drunk, and the other half was drunker, or the other way around … The renowned tragedian, fellowless Hamlet, was teased on the stage by wine bugs coming from the cellar like an open wine carboy. Horse riders were strolling on the sidewalk. They loved the words: “Geniuz” (genius), “Graduzi” (degree), “Essence”, “Balzac” – we read in “The Eccentrics” (original name “Sherekilebi”) by Rezo Gabriadze, and even though the author never once mentions the name of the city, we know for certain that this city is Kutaisi.

Have you ever heard how much the development of commerce and international economic relations of Kutaisi and the entire West Georgia in the 19th and 20th centuries relied on the Georgian Jews? Some interesting facts can be found in the paper by Ilya Papisimedovi, “On the history of Jewish commerce in Georgia”: it turns out that back in 1866, 62 Jews living in Georgia obtained permission to travel abroad for commercial activity, while in 1867 this figure comprised 44. Based on the surviving records, residents of Kutaisi were the most numerous groups on the list. The Iakobishvili, Eligulashvili, Enukashvili, Tavdidishvili, and Khananashvili families stood out among the first and the second guild traders and on numerous occasions, traveled to Istanbul, Trabzon, Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Odesa, Kharkiv, Rostov, Warsaw, Lodz, and other large cities.