Gonio Fortress (Region of Adjara)
Gonio-Apsaros Fortress (Georgian: გონიოს ციხე, აფსაროსი) – The fortress was a Roman outpost on the shore of the Black Sea (IV-III centuries BC),.Historical sources confirm that the name Gonio is of relatively late origin and that Gonio from ancient times was called – Apsari (Georgian: აფსარი). The Gonio Fortress had a unique strategic significance. It guarded the entrances to the Chorokhi and Achariskali valleys, connecting southwestern Georgia and its regions with the Black Sea coast. It was due to this location that Gonio Castle first became one of the citadels of the Roman, and then Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. Accordingly, during its existence, the castle was rebuilt many times and includes several layers of construction: Roman (IV-III centuries BC), Byzantine (VI-VII centuries) and Ottoman (XVI century).
Archaeological excavations have uncovered the remains of barracks from the Roman period, glassware, coins, as well as the remains of a bathhouse from the second half of the first century, where water reservoirs from that period were located, the paving stones of the castle grounds and the mosaic of the bathhouse are represented on a rather large area. The mosaics mainly consist of alternating pink and dark-colored ferrite stones. Various types of geometric ornaments, mainly chess and rhombic, are represented. Various architectural traces of the three empires, exhibits dating back to the ancient era – all of this is collected in the historic fortress where one of Christ’s apostles, Matthew (Georgian: მათე მოციქული), is traditionally buried. According to legend, Apsaros, the son of King Ayet, killed by the Argonaut Jason, is also buried on the territory of the village Gonio.
Gonio village (Georgian: სოფელი გონიო), Batumi Municipality (Georgian: ბათუმის მუნიციპალიტეტი)