Samegrelo

Also known as Mingrelia or Mengrelia, the region of Samegrelo is located in Western Georgia on the Black Sea. The pretty and fertile area overflows with exotic produce from mandarin groves and tea plantations to chilies and kiwi fruit.

History

Samegrelo is home to the Megrelians, a distinctive sub group of Georgians who have their own language and traditions. In ancient times Samegrelo was a large part of the Kingdom of Colchis, featuring in Greek mythology as the rim of the world and the mysterious country where the Argonauts sailed in pursuit of the Golden Fleece. It was also in Colchis that the first Georgian money was minted – the Colchian tetri. In the 16th century, Samegrelo was ruled by Georgian dynasty, Dadiani, their castle-like palace can still be visited in Zugdidi.