Lying on the Black Sea Coast, close to the Turkish border Batumi is the largest city in the region and Georgia’s main port. The name is derived from the Greek “bathys limen” meaning “deep harbour”. Its graceful white architecture and subtropical vegetation make it unique among Georgian cities and a magnet for foreign visitors and Georgians alike. The city is also famous for its Botanical Gardens founded in 1912 and stretching over 120 hectares. The gardens are divided into nine geographical zones harbouring over 5000 different plant species brought here from all over the world.