Description of the attraction
Pitiunt is the name of the ancient city of the ancient era, once located on Cape Pitsunda in Abkhazia. The area is also known as Colchis and this immediately suggests the idea of Odysseus and his adventures, sung by Homer, about the Golden Fleece and the trip to Colchis by the ancient Greeks. Even written mentions of Pitiunt date back to the 2nd century BC in the annals of Artemidor of Ephesus, and they may not be the first! According to the researchers of the Black Sea region, the ancient city got its name from the pine forests growing along the entire coast of these places. By the way, the Abkhazian name sounds like Amzara, which is translated as “pine grove”.
The Pitsunda complex is now part of the historical and architectural reserve "Great Pitiunt". The center of this complex is a majestic temple, according to historians, dating back to the 10th century, surrounded by powerful walls made of local limestone on lime mortar. The three-aisled, cruciform architecture of the temple still impresses tourists and believers today. As a result of excavations at the beginning of this century on the territory of the complex, the foundations of the residence of the Bishop of Pitsunda were discovered, who, according to chronicles, took part in the Ecumenical First Council of Nicaea in 325. The fortress wall encircling the complex was completed and fortified many times, the last time during the invasion of the Turks in the XIV century.
Among the excursion objects of the complex, the current chapel of the 18th century stands out today, an ancient stone dolmen - a sarcophagus for burials and, of course, a unique organ in sound and size, the third largest in the territory of the former Soviet Union. In addition, on the territory of the complex there is a museum of the history of Pitsunda, examining the exposition of which you can get a vivid idea of the rich history of this region.
