Pitsunda

Christian town in a pine grove 

The town is an heir to the ancient settlement of Pitiunt, founded by Greek merchants from Miletus. The name stems from the Greek word pityus, or pine. The first historical mention of Pitiunt was made by the Greek geographer Artemidorus Ephesius (2nd-1st century BC). In the 2nd century AD, the Romans built a so-called castellum in Pitiunt, a rectangular fortress with towers on each corner. In the 6th century, when a majestic cathedral with gorgeous mosaic was erected here, Pitsunda became a major religious center, and remained one up to the 13th century.

The Abkhaz name for Pitsunda is Ldzaa, and the relict pine grove is called Amzara, which means "the ancient pine forest." Since the ancient times, it had been home to the Ldzaa-nykha pagan shrine, where, according to legend, the Abkhaz were baptized as they converted to Christianity. Archeologists have found the ruins of seven churches on Pitsunda's territory.

In 1967, seven hotel buildings 14 to 15 floors high were erected on Pitsunda Cape, along with restaurants and an administrative/commercial building. In Soviet times, Pitsunda had been the most popular vacation destination for Communist Party leaders, and for simple folks as well.