1992–1993 as well. In 1993, there were located administration of the first President of Georgia Zviad Gamsakhurdia and the Supreme Council of the Republic of Georgia as well. Architecture and landmarks Dadiani Palace Dadiani Palace, built in the 19th century, was home to the final ruling family of the Principality of Samegrelo. The complex includes the palace of Ekaterine Dadiani of Samegrelo; a residence for her son, Niko Dadiani; a monastery; and what is now the Zugdidi Botanical Garden. Today, the palace operates as a museum and is open to visitors. It underwent renovations from 2015 to 2018. Botanical Garden Zugdidi Botanical Garden was established in the 19th century by the Prince of Mingrelia David Dadiani and Queen Ekaterine, near the residential palaces. Currently, the garden is a branch of Tbilisi Central Botanical Garden and is administered by the Georgian Academy of Sciences. The garden covers 26 hectares. Shalva Dadiani Zugdidi State Academic Drama Theater This theater's first performance, Molière's Le médecin malgré lui (The Doctor Despite Himself), was staged on 11 April 1869 by Anton Purtseladze. The Drama Theater was founded in 1932. in 1959 the theater was named after the famous Georgian novelist and theatrical actor Shalva Dadiani (1874–1959). Other landmarks Chakvinji fortress Tsaishi cathedral Climate Zugdidi has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) under the Köppen climate classification. Demography and population Historically Zugdidi is known as a distinctly mono-ethnic city with a vast majority of Georgians. By the 2002 state census 98.97% (166,039) of its total population (167,760) were ethnic Georgians (for both city and municipality). In the second half of the 1850s, due to the short Ottoman occupation, the town population decreased from 2000 to 800. The 1950s-1970s were an important period for Zugdidi's development, which affected the growth of population, while the last 20-year growth was mainly caused by refugee displacement. After the Russian-Georgian war in Abkhazia (1992-1993) a large number of internally displaced peoples from Abkhazia were forced to move to Zugdidi. As a result of this, according to the 2002 state census, Zugdidi became the fifth most populous city in Georgia, ahead of Sokhumi, Poti, and Gori. As of the 2014 national census, the population of Zugdidi decreased to 42,998 inhabitants, making it Georgia's sixth most populous city after Gori. Historic population of Zugdidi: Education Zugdidi is a regional center of education. Institutes of higher education are: Shota Meskhia State Teaching University – the