Piazza Square

Piazza Square sits in the very heart of Batumi's old town, just a few blocks in from the Black Sea, an Italian-inspired courtyard square covering roughly 5,700 square metres.

History & Architecture

Designed by the celebrated Georgian architect Vazha Orbeladze, it was built in 2009 and opened in 2010, drawing open inspiration from Florence's Piazza della Signoria; its arcaded galleries, columns, bell towers and pastel facades create the convincing illusion that the visitor is strolling through a small Tuscan town. The architectural focal point is the clock tower, part of the Piazza Boutique Hotel, whose bells chime every hour and beneath which dancing figurines appear every three hours in the afternoon. The floor of the square holds the largest figurative marble mosaic in Europe: a composition of about 106 square metres designed in 2010 by Georgian-Swiss artist Natali de Pita-Amirejibi and executed at the Fantini Mosaici workshop in Abu Dhabi, assembled from more than 88 million cut stone elements each measuring one square centimetre and sourced from fifteen countries. The mosaic depicts marine deities encircling a small mermaid, symbolising the sea and its eternal movement.

Cultural Significance

Culturally, the Piazza has become an emblem of the rapid urban renewal Batumi underwent in the 2000s; stained-glass windows, frescoes and Italian-style street lamps combine with live music and restaurant terraces to make the square a lively evening gathering point. Turkish agencies routing Black Sea-Georgia tours across the Sarp border crossing programme the Piazza as an almost obligatory stop because it is compact, walkable, photogenic and ideal for free time after dinner.

Visiting, Access & Tips

The average visit lasts 30-45 minutes, usually combined on guided tours with an early-evening walk along Batumi Boulevard and Europe Square. Nearby within walking distance are Europe Square with its Medea statue, Batumi Boulevard, the Ali and Nino moving statue, the Astronomical Clock and the lanes of the old town. The best photographs are taken from the arched passage beneath the clock tower, from the upper-floor cafe terraces overlooking the mosaic, and from the centre of the square during the evening illumination. Because the square is paved with broad Italian stone and has no steps, it is accessible to wheelchairs and prams. Mild spring (April-June) and early autumn (September-October) are the most comfortable seasons, while July-August is the peak period when the square grows crowded in the evenings.