Category: ATTRACTIONS

Ancient Urbnisi (Region of Shida Kartli )

Ancient Urbnisi (Georg. ურბნისის ნამოსახლარი)– extinct city of Georgia, once located on the right bank of the Kura River, on the so-called Khizanaant-Gora  Mountain. From the 2nd century BC  – the city, the second most important in Iberia after Mtskheta. In the Georgian chronicles it is mentioned as a significant fortified center of the eastern Georgian kingdom of Kartli (Iberia), which in ancient times became a city as a result of the unification of several settlements: Urbnisi proper, Ruisi, Khizanaant-Gora, Kvatsela, etc., where settlements existed since the Eneolithic era … As a result of recent archaeological excavations, the remains of structures of the same type as in Mtskheta have been revealed, dating back to about the 4th century. BC .

The city was surrounded by a wall and well developed. In 500, a basilica was built there. This is the only thing that is now left of Urbnisi. In 736, the Arabs razed Urbnisi to the ground. Systematic excavations have been conducted since 1953. Monuments from the Eneolithic to the late Middle Ages have been discovered. Among them: the remains of powerful walls with towers made of adobe bricks and the surrounding moat, as well as an ancient canal, quarters of ancient and early feudal times, necropolises. A rich and varied archaeological material was obtained, which characterizes the high level of local handicrafts and broad economic ties with the cities of Georgia and other regions of the Caucasus, as well as with other countries.

Ushguli (Region of Svaneti)

Ushguli (Georg. უშგული) Community of villages located at the head of the Enguri gorge in Upper Svaneti, Georgia. Altitude claims vary from 2,086 to 2,200 metres, thus Ushguli is considered to be the highest inhabited village in Europe. The Ushguli villages contain buildings that are part of the UNESCO Heritage site of Upper Svaneti.

Nowadays in Ushguli area are living about 70 families (about 200 people), yet enough to support a small school. However, the life here is not the easy one – the area is snow-covered for 6 months of the year, and often the road to Mestia is impassable. By visiting Ushguli one will have unique opportunity to feel the spirit of life in such a remote area, to get to know incredible architecture (typical Svanetian protective towers are found throughout the villages), to meet locals, and no doubt – to enjoy stunning mountainous landscape.

Ancient Vani  (Region of  Imereti)

Vani (Georg. ვანი) – the most important town of Antique era Colchis. The town was composed of many settlements available around. In the history of Antique Vani two periods can be sorted out: VI-IV centuries and III-I centuries BC. On the first stage Vani was the center of administrative entity of the Colchis Kingdom (Skeptukhia) and residence of governing elite. Wooden cult and domestic fixtures, diverse ceramics (black-polished, black and red figurines, clay and metal utensils) and rich burial sites (diadems, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, pendants, heraldic images and cups) which prove close trade, economic and cultural ties with the Greek world, belong to this epoch.

In the second stage Vani became a big temple center. Archeological excavations discovered fence walls, round temple, buttress construction, seven-step alter, figurines for cult and ritual worship, local and Greek ceramic artefacts. In I century BC the Antique town ceased to exist.
The most well-known archeological find in Vani is a collection of 100 gold ornaments dating back to the 5th-3rd centuries BC. Analysis of the gold showed that it was excavated in the Caucasian rivers. The ornaments were made by local masters. Traditional depictions of birds and animals were used in the decorations.
A collection of Colchian gold is exhibited in the Georgian National Museum.

Vanis-kvabebi Caves  (Region of Samtskhe-Javakheti)

Vanis kvabebi  (Georg. ვანის ქვაბები). A few sources give little information about what he was founded in the VIII century, and in 1204, in Vanis-kvabebi was built a protective wall whose remains you can see there now. Huge boulders in the human growth defended the modest life of the monks from the incursions of the Turks. In the IX-XI centuries, in the middle of the desert was  hewn the Church of St. George and a new group of cave cells. A strong earthquake destroyed part of the cave with its church. By 1191 it was the court monastery and Vanis Kvabebi reconstruction began in the reign of Queen Tamar.  The gate of St. George’s temple, a bell tower and the church of hall type was built in 1265. These places were destroyed  by the Persians and  by the Ottomans, after which  monastic life completely ceased.

Vanis Kvabebi represents hundreds of caves carved into the rock in sixteen floors. The monastery complex consists of three churches, rooms, carved in the rock, cave, shelter, vault – a tomb and places for economic pursuits . On the cave walls of the upper floors, are the remains of the XV century inscriptions made by women who took refuge here. They transferred fragments taken from ancient Georgian poetry and prose. In Georgia there are many places about which existence you could even not suspect and which throughout many centuries in a wonderful way manage to remain in the shadow of time and human attention. Such place is Vanis-Kvabebi who has been based more than 1000 years ago and is manned to this day.With it came the construction of the more famous cave monasteries in this district.

Сave city of Vardzia  (Region of Samtskhe-Javakheti)

Vardzia (Georg. ვარძია) Complex carved in the rock (1156-1203) stands in Javakheti,  on the left bank of river Mtkvari. Vardzia monastery has the width of 0,5 km and is arranged on 13 floors. It consists of 2 parts: rock village of Ananauri (X-XI cc.), monastery itself built in 5 stages: on the first stage, during the reign of Giorgi III (1156-1184), first cells and a church were carved. On the second stage, during the reign of Queen Tamar (1184-1185), in the center of the monastery was carved a hall church of Assumption of Virgin Mary with stoa.

The best preserved is eastern part – 242 carved rooms (including a hall of 8 m x 5,6 m, assembly hall, Tamar’s room, feast room). In the western part is a refectory, in central part – asylum rooms. Tunnels were supplied from natural spring existing in the depth behind the main church (with the help of 3,5 km running water system).Vardzia is rich with fresco paintings. In the XII century church of Assumption of Virgin Mary there are images of donators: Giorgi III and Queen Tamari. There are also scenes from the New Testament.

Сave city of Vardzia is presented for inscription on UNESCO World Heritage List.

Troglodyte Monastery of Verangareja (David Gareja)

The monastery of Verangareja (Georg. გარეჯის ვერანგარეჯას  მონასტერი)  is located southeast of the David Gareja Lavra, on the plateau of the desert range. The complex is a church built of cobblestone and cave cells of monks. The cross-domed church had an entrance from the south, which was destroyed. At one time it was well plastered and painted. Next to the church is a wide chapel with flat niches built into the wall. One of them contains a fresco icon of the Mother of God of the 10th century.

Fragments of living quarters and entrance gates, near which the reservoir pit is located, have been preserved near the church. Beneath the church is a rock-cut stable and a tunnel filled with earth. Two hundred meters from the center of the monastery complex there is a three-chamber cave – a prayer niche with an altar. The monastery of Verangareja belongs to the early period of the monastic construction of the David Gareja complex and, like in the monasteries of Tsamebuli and Sabereebi, limestone buildings are not found in it.

Vorontsov Palace (Youth Palace) – (The city of Tbilisi)

National Palace of Georgian children and youth (Georg. მოსწავლე ახალგაზრდობის ეროვნული სასახლე). This luxurious Renaissance style building is the most beautiful architectural monument not only on Rustaveli avenue, but throughout the city. Built in 1868 under the government of Count Vorontsov, the palace embodied in its architecture and interior decoration the historical greatness and the importance of the Progressive Royal Governor in the life of Georgia. The magnificent elegance of the white building with a represented facade, with a sequence of curved windows, leaves an indelible impression on all those who see it for the first time.

The interior decoration simply immerses in an emotional shock with the beauty of the interiors and the luxurious richness of their design: golden decorations, original design of unusual chandeliers, exquisite furniture, elegant lamps – everything arouses admiration. The Persian room, designed in white tones, with stucco moldings inlaid with mirrors, creating a sensation of ephemeral lightness, is distinguished by its incredible beauty. The room is the undeniable pearl of the palace. After the establishment of Soviet power, the building was given in possession of children and young people. Now she is officially called the “House of Youth”.

Zanavi Fortress (Region  of Samtskhe-Javakheti)

Zanavi fortress  (Georg. ზანავის ციხე)was built on a high rock, as it were, its continuation. It is located in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region, in the village of Zanavi, Adigensky municipality. The history of the origin and life of this fortress has not been preserved. It is only known from the building layers that it was built in the late Middle Ages. It is obvious that the fortress was reconstructed several times and partially rebuilt. Behind the massive walls rises a three-story battle tower with loopholes on the top floor, which is a rounded continuation of the wall.

Through the arch of the southern wall we get into the courtyard. in which there is a stone pool with water. To the south there are two towers, inside one of which is the remains of a church. Behind a small stream there is a mosque, built on the site where an Orthodox church once stood, from which the pilaster capitals and a stone slab with a cross in a two-level frame have survived. The buildings are badly damaged. The walls of the impregnable fortress of Zanavi, standing on a steep cliff, offer wonderful views, which makes this place especially attractive for visitors. The fortress and its surroundings are especially photogenic in clear, sunny weather.

Zarzma Monastery (Region of Samtskhe – Javakheti)

Zarzma Monastery (Georg. ზარზმის მონასტერი) – great example of the early medieval Georgian church architecture. Throughout its history, religious building is going through difficult times. Construction, overlooking a picturesque river bank, has repeatedly been subjected to a variety of restorations. The earliest church on the site was built in the 6th century , by the monk Serapion Zarzmeli.

What has survived from the earlier monastery is the late 10th-century Georgian inscription inserted in the chapel’s entrance arch. The church that stands up to this day, was constructed in the first years of the 14th century. After the Ottoman conquest of the area later in the 16th century, the monastery was abandoned and lay in disrepair until the end of the 19th century. Currently, the monastery is functional and houses a community of Georgian monks.

Zedazeni Monastery (Region of Mtskheta-Mtianeti)

Zedazeni monastery (Georg. ზედაზნის მონასტერი). Founded in VI c. by the head of the 13 Assyrian Fathers – St. Ioane Zedazneli, monastery is located north-east of Mtskheta, on the slope of a hill covered with dense virgin forest. The tradition clames that St. John deliberately choose this place, where the heathen idol had once stood and did not abandon a small cave – modest place of his hermitry even after his disciple Tateh built a “real” monastery in close proximity of the cave. According to the original manuscript narrating the life and deeds of the saint father, after his death he was buried in the cave, as was his last will.

Shortly afterwards a small church was built over St. John’s grave, later incorporated into a larger church of St. John the Baptist, constructed in the end of VIII c. under the patronage of Patriarch Clementios. Up to now the church is the central building of the monastery. This three nave basilica with two pairs of roof-bearing columnsis built of mixed material – rubble stone, gallstone and brick. Eastern section of the northern nave incorporates the remains of the earlier, neatly hewn stonework structure with horseshoe shape arches. Here next to the northern wall, St. John Zedazneli’s grave is arranged. In 90-ies of the last century the monastery, abandoned for long time was brought back to life.