Martvili: history, sights and housing

History and character

The town was formerly Chkondidi; from 1936 to 1990 it was called Gegechkori. In the Middle Ages the monastery was Samegrelo's spiritual centre and a bishop's seat. It stands on the highest hill, where tradition places a pagan shrine with a great oak.

A church of St Andrew was built here in the late 7th century, and the main cathedral was rebuilt in the 10th century after invasions. Frescoes of the 14th–17th centuries survive. Martvili became a town in 1982.

What to see

Monastery and canyon, with waterfalls around.

• Martvili monastery — a 7th–10th-century complex on the hill above town, with 14th–17th-century frescoes.
• Martvili Canyon — a natural monument on the Abasha River: a boat route of about 300 m, a 700 m trail with bridges and viewing platforms, and a visitor centre in Inchkhuri.
• Kaghu, Oniore and Toba waterfalls — with small beaches and cafés, per georgia.travel.
• Martvili local history museum.

Life and economy

The Agency of Protected Areas gives April to October as the canyon's active season, but its page dates from 2014, so check hours and fees. georgia.travel puts the canyon in a one-day route from Kutaisi; no visitor numbers are given. By car it is about 2 h 30 min to Batumi and 3 h 45 min to Tbilisi. The municipality had 44,627 people in 2002, 33,463 in 2014 and 29,533 in 2024.

The housing market: what is known and what is not

There is no public data on housing prices in Martvili; rely on current listings and a local agent. There are no overnight-stay figures either: the canyon is sold as a day trip, so judge lodging demand on the spot. The buying procedure is on our "How buying works" and "Property taxes" pages. Check:

• who owns the plot and whether its boundaries match the documents;
• distance to the canyon and the road, and seasonality of demand (April–October);
• water, electricity and sewerage;
• what similar properties nearby really ask, not one listing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources: Wikipedia (ru): Martvili · Wikipedia (en): Martvili · Wikipedia (en): Martvili Monastery · Agency of Protected Areas of Georgia: Martvili Canyon · Georgian National Tourism Administration: Martvili · CityPopulation.de (Geostat census data): municipalities of Georgia

Other Cities

Before you buy

Rules that apply across Georgia, whichever city you pick: