Pitsunda facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pitsunda
Пицунда
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The view of Caucasus mountains from Pitsunda cape.
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Location of Pitsunda
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 Pitsunda
Location in Abkhazia
Pitsunda
Location in Georgia
Pitsunda
Location in Black Sea
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| Country |  Georgia |
| Partially recognized independent country |
 Abkhazia |
| District | Gagra |
| Population | |
| • Total | 4,198 |
| Climate | Cfa |
Pitsunda (Abkhaz: Пицунда, Russian: Пицунда) or Bichvinta (Georgian: ბიჭვინთა) is a popular resort town. It is located in the Gagra District of Abkhazia/Georgia.
Greek settlers first founded Pitsunda in the 5th century BC. Over time, it grew into an important center for politics and religion. This was true during ancient times and the Middle Ages. Since the Soviet era, Pitsunda has been one of Abkhazia's main vacation spots.
Contents
History of Pitsunda
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Pitsunda was once known as Pityus in ancient times. It was a large and wealthy Greek city. A writer named Pliny wrote in AD 77 that the city was attacked by the Heniochi people.
The Romans later built a fort at Pityus in the early 2nd century. A group of Roman soldiers, called Legio XV Apollinaris, was stationed there. The city had strong defensive walls. The fort itself had a second line of defense built around AD 250.
Archaeologists found remains of three churches from the 4th century. They also found a bathhouse with beautiful mosaic floors. The old harbor of "Great Pityus" is now a small lake in the town.
Attacks and Changes
The Goths attacked Pityus in 255 AD. They had taken the Bosporan fleet before this. The Roman soldiers, led by Successianus, fought them off. However, the Goths returned the next year. They captured the city and then went on to attack Trebizond.
Saint John Chrysostom was being taken to Pityus in 407. He was exiled, but he died on the way. Pityus stayed under Roman control. It was part of the Georgian kingdom of Colchis until the 7th century.
Later, the city came under Abasgian control. It became a major political and religious center. This was for the kingdom of Egrisi (also called Lazica). An archbishopric (a church district led by an archbishop) was set up in Pitiunt in 541.
Medieval Times and Beyond
In medieval Georgia, the town was called Bichvinta. In the late 10th century, King Bagrat III of Georgia built the Pitsunda Cathedral there. This cathedral still stands today. It has old wall paintings from the 13th and 16th centuries.
Bichvinta was also the home of the Georgian Orthodox Catholicate of Abkhazia. This was until the late 16th century. At that time, Abkhazia came under the control of the Ottoman Empire. In the late 1200s, a short-lived trading colony was set up here. It was by the Genoese people and was called Pezonda.
Pitsunda was a favorite vacation spot for Nikita Khrushchev. He was the leader of the Soviet Union. In October 1964, he was on vacation in Pitsunda when he lost his power. Khrushchev once suggested building a large dam on the Bzyb River. But experts told him it would cause serious beach erosion in Pitsunda. So, the dam was built on the Inguri River instead. This river had much less impact on the coastline.
How Pitsunda is Governed
Becoming a Town
On February 7, 2007, Pitsunda officially became a town. This happened after many people living there asked for it. Lawmakers hoped this decision would help Pitsunda grow as a resort. Since becoming a town, the Mayor of Pitsunda is chosen directly by the President of Abkhazia. Before, the mayor was chosen by the Governor of Gagra District. On January 29, 2016, Pitsunda's town status was officially added to Abkhazia's constitution.
Recent Developments
A large resort complex called The Gosdacha was built near Pitsunda. It was built between 1958 and 1961 for Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev. This complex covers more than 180 hectares of land. It was used by high-ranking officials of the Communist Party. After the Soviet Union broke up, it remained under the control of the Russian Federal Protective Service.
In December 2023, a law was signed to lease this resort to Russia for 49 years. This agreement caused some protests. People demonstrated against it, asking for changes to the resort's boundaries.
See also
In Spanish: Pitsunda para niños
