Category: ATTRACTIONS

Green Monastery  (Region of Samtskhe-Javakheti)

The Chitakhevi church of Saint George  (Georg. მწვანე მონასტერი) – medieval church in Georgia, located in the Borjomi valley in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region. It is popularly known as the Green Monastery. Abandoned for more than two hundred years, the monastery was restored to Christian use in 2003. It is a popular site of tourism and pilgrimage. The monastic church and bell-tower are inscribed on the list of the Immovable Cultural Monuments of National Significance of Georgia.

The Monastery consists of a three-nave basilica, stylistically dated to the late 9th or 10th century, and a two-storey bell-tower, likewise dated to the XV or XVI century. There are remnants of old monastic cells and some accessory structures nearby. A bell-tower stands a few metres southeast of the church. It is a two-storey structure. The ground floor houses a small chapel; the upper floor is a belfry with arched, parallel-sided apertures supported on massive columns.

Gremi Fortress (Region of Kakheti)

Gremi Fortress (Georg. გრემი)  is a 16th century architectural monument – the royal citadel and the Church of the Archangels. The complex is what has survived from the once flourishing town of Gremi and is located east of the present-day village of the same name.Gremi used to be not only political but also economic and cultural center of Kakheti. Complex of All Angels was isolated by a fence. It had a stone-paved secret exit toward river Intsobi. In the eastern citadel of Gremi is located the church of All Angels having the form of a cross with a dome .

On the western wall of the interior of the cathedral, church wardens’ portraits are represented. In the Royal residence there were Royal Palaces, a building with a fountain, eight-angle tower, brick royal bath supplied with water through an aqueduct linked with river Lopoti. The town never regained its past prosperity and the kings of Kakheti transferred their capital to Telavi in the mid-17th century. In 80-ies of the XX century a local history museum was opened here. On December 12, 1999 religious life was revived in Gremi. Gremi is presented for inscription on UNESCO World Heritage List.

Gudarekhi Monastery (Region of Kvemo Kartli)

The monastery complex of Gudarekhi (Georg. გუდარეხის მონასტერი), is part of the remains of a medieval urban settlement and one of the oldest architectural monuments. The monastery complex contains several buildings: the Main Temple, bell tower, chapel, fence, gate, palace, stable, and other buildings. The monastery is built of well-cut stones, with richly inlaid and decorated facades.

The main temple of the Gudarekhi monastery complex was built in 1222. The blocks that make it up have two colors – a light beige and a darker one, which is why the temple resembles a chessboard. On the southern wall there is a special block with text carved on it in the Georgian script – “Asomtavruli”(Georg. ასომთავრული). Fragments of the ornamented iconostasis of the Gudarekhi Church are kept in the Georgian Art Museum.

The bell tower of the Gudarekhi monastery complex is one of the most famous such structures among all Georgian architects. The lower floor of the building is a walk-through; there is a stone staircase along which you can climb to the second floor, which at one time was divided into two parts by special ceilings. In addition to the temple and bell tower, the Gudarekhi monastery complex also includes several dilapidated stone structures.

Gudauri resort (Region of Mtskheta-Mtianeti)

On the south slopes of the Greater Caucasus Range to a wonderful nook of the Caucasus located at an elevation of more than two kilometers, is a modern and actively developing ski resort of Gudauri (Georg. გუდაური). Thanks to magnificent snowy vastness of Cross Pass leading from the Terek River Valley to the Aragvi River Valley and wonderful sunny weather during the whole season of skiing,

The infrastructure of Gudauri is constantly developing, that is why today it is one of the most comfortable and technically equipped districts of the Caucasus suitable for downhill skiing. All marked tracks located on the slopes of the mountain Kudebi (3006 meters) and Sadzele (3307 meters) are situated above forest level and equipped with safe chairlifts of a famous Austrian company Dopplemayr. The vast region of skiing offering many variants of slopes is connected by five lines of chairlifts for 3 and 4 skiers – the lower station of the chairlift is at an elevation of 1990 meters and the upper station is at an elevation of 3270 meters.

The length of the longest slope is 7 kilometers with height drop about 1000 meters. The ropeways work independently of the quantity of skiers and close only in case of bad weather conditions – very bad visibility and strong wind. In case of electricity disconnection all ropeways are equipped with emergency diesel engines. At night special snow packing machines – ratracs – prepare tracks around ropeways for safe skiing and the best sliding of skies and snowboards.

Gvalashara Canyon (Region of Samgrelo )

Gvalashara Canyon (Georg. გვალაშარას კანიონი) attracts many wildlife, diversity and adventure lovers. The canyon is located near the village of Mukhuri, in the Chkhorotsku municipality, in the gorge of the Gvalashara river. There are 4 waterfalls in the Gvalashara canyon, the maximum height of the waterfall is 10 meters. It will take 3-4 hours to walk the entire canyon.

Gvalashara canyon is especially often visited by canyoning enthusiasts. These places impress the visitors with their beauty. If you are a canyoning lover or just looking for an unusual adventure, then you should visit the Gvalashara Canyon. The beautiful gorge, pristine nature and waterfalls are an amazing sight and are one of the most unique and attractive for tourists.

Khatsvali Resort ( Region of Svaneti)

Khatsvali (Georg. კურორტი ჰაწვალი) – the first ski-resort in Svaneti, and it is a powder-mecca in disguise. The resort is northfacing, and it is located on a ridgeline just above Mestia. The tree skiing in Hatsvali is particularly good, and there are plenty of runs in the pine-forest, as well as open chutes and fields that provides excellent free skiing. In addition there are great back country opportunities from the top of the lift, where you can follow the ridgeline and find your own back country-zone. The resort has one chairlift that serves the three runs, and the vertical drop of the resort is 482 meters. At the top there is a restaurant where you can enjoy the view of Ushba, Tetnuldi and all the other magnificent mountains in Svaneti.

Ancient Imiri  (Region  Kartli)

Mount Imiri (Georg. იმირის გორა)– not far from the village of Imiri (municipality of Marneuli), the oldest (VI millennium BC) settlement of the Neolithic era, the oldest grape seeds dating from the VI millennium BC were discovered. According to morphological and ampelographic characteristics, they belong to the cultivated variety of the vine vitis vinisfera sativa. The National Museum reports that as a result of a comprehensive study, it was established that for the first time a man domesticated a wild vine on the territory of Georgia, and then he insisted wine from a cultivated vine.

Since 2014, an expedition has been carried out within the framework of the project “Study of the Georgian vine and wine culture”. As a result of the work carried out, residential buildings, various tools, dishes, household pits, etc. were identified. The results of processing and paleo-botanical studies of the found materials will create a clearer picture of the culture of wine-growing in Georgia. Along with Georgian scientists, researchers from the universities of Pennsylvania, Montpellier, Milan, Copenhagen, Toronto, the Israel Weisman Institute, and the Montpellier Institute of Agricultural Research are participating in the project.

Ikalto Monastery  (Region of kakheti)

Ikalto Monastery (Georg. იყალთოს მონასტერი). Late in the 6th century Saint Zenon, one of the “Syrian Fathers”, founded the  Monastery 7-8 km west of the town Telavi.  The Monastery was famous as one of the most significant cultural-scholastic centers of Kakheti as well as of the whole of Georgia because of the Spiritual Academy in which outstanding Georgian philosopher Arsen Ikaltoeli used to live and work.

Archaeological excavations revealed numerous workshops, wine-cellars, a smithy, store-rooms and other household rooms grouped around the Academy building. The Academy of Ikalto trained its students in theology, rhetoric, astronomy, philosophy, geography, geometry,chanting, etc. Besides the theoretical courses, the students were skilled in pottery making, metal work, viticulture and wine making, pharmacology, etc.
Ancient Academy of Ikalto is also famous for the fact that Shota Rustaveli, the outstanding Georgian poet of the 12th century, used to study there. 

Jumah Mosque (The city of Tbilisi)

Apart from its endearing architecture, Jumah Mosque (Georg.ჯუმას მეჩეთი) is known as a place where Shia and Sunni worshippers pray together in a rare show of unity. Originally a curtain divided the mosque, with Sunnis worshiping on one side and Shias worshiping on the other. Today Sunnis and Shias have prayed together. This unique Sunni-Shia mosque of  Tbilisi remains a rare example of how two branches of one religion can share common space and coexist in peace.

Jumah Mosque of Tbilisi is built in 1911 of brick and stands on a steep incline. In 1998, major restoration works were carried out at the mosque. Its design incorporates aspects of both neo-Gothic and Islamic architecture and is noted for the arched windows which line its walls. At the gate is an eight-story minaret which captures the eye from afar and appears differently depending on the direction from which it is viewed. The charming mosaic exterior and interior of Jumah Mosque attracts many tourists, making it one of the most iconic sites in Old Tbilisi.

Jvari Monastery   (Region of Mtskheta-Mtianeti)

Jvari Monastery (Georg. ჯვრის მონასტერი) stands on the rocky mountaintop at the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers, overlooking the historical town of Mtskheta.  According to traditional accounts, on this location in the early 4th century Saint Nino, a female evangelist, credited with converting King Mirian III of Iberia to Christianity, erected a large wooden cross on the site of a pagan temple.

The cross was reportedly able to work miracles and therefore drew pilgrims from all over Caucasus. A small church was erected over the remnants of the wooden cross in 545 named the “Small Church of Jvari”. The present building, or “Great Church of Jvari”, was built between 586 and 605 . The importance of Jvari complex increased over time and attracted many pilgrims. In the late Middle Ages, the complex was fortified by a stone wall and gate, remnants of which still survive.

However, over the centuries the structures suffered damage from rain and wind erosion and inadequate maintenance. Unusual and varied relief sculptures decorate its facades, some of which are accompanied by explanatory inscriptions in old Georgian uncial script.

Jvari was listed together with other monuments of Mtskheta in 1996 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site