Kutaisi - is the legislative capital of Georgia, and its 3rd most populous city, located along both banks of the Rioni River, at an elevation of 125–300 metres above sea level.It is the capital of the western region of Georgia - Imereti and historically one of the major cities of Georgia. Kutaisi was the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Colchis (VI-V BC).Several historians believe that, in Argonautica, a Greek epic poem about Jason and the Argonauts and their journey to Colchis, author Apollonius Rhodius considered Kutaisi their final destination as well as the residence of King Aeëtes. It served as the capital of the Kingdom of Georgia in the Middle Ages (From 978 to 1122 CE), and later, from the 15th century until 1810, as the capital of the Kingdom of Imereti. The Parliament of Georgia moved to Kutaisi in 2012, in an effort to both acknowledge the status of the city, and to decentralise the Georgian government. Kutaisi is surrounded by deciduous forests. The city centre has many gardens and its streets are lined with high, leafy trees. Kutaisi, with its ancient cultural tradition and history, is considered to be one of the distinguished cities in Georgia and and serves as a popular destination of tourism.