About Sights – Signagi
Situated on steep hills overlooking the Alazani Valley and facing the Greater Caucasus Mountains, the town of Signagi (Georgian: სიღნაღი), in Georgia’s easternmost region of Kakheti, is a popular destination for tourists. In recent years, the town has been transformed by reconstruction and building.
The town of Signagi. Photo by Roberto Strauss via Flickr.
The town is known for its carpet weaving, wine production, metal crafting, ceramics, wood carvings and leather work.
The town of Signagi. Photo by Roberto Strauss via Flickr.
The town of Signagi. Photo by Roberto Strauss via Flickr.
The town was fortified in the mid-18th century by a 4.5 km wall, built by King Heraclius II to defend the area from attacks by tribesmen from Dagestan. The wall has 23 towers (each one named for a nearby town) and 6 gates.
Signagi’s 18th century walls. Photo by Roberto Strauss via Flickr.
A section of the wall has been restored and can be entered through the tower at the gate on the road to Sakobo/Tsnori.
18th century gate in Signagi undergoing restoration work.
The Signagi Museum has a permanent exhibition of the renowned self-taught Georgian artist Niko Pirosmani (Niko Pirosmanashvili) (Georgian: ნიკო ფიროსმანი). Pirosmani was born near Signagi in the village of Mirzaani in Kakheti.
‘Feast at Gvimradze’ by Georgian artist Niko Pirosmani
The Monastery of St. Nino at Bodbe (Georgian: ბოდბის წმინდა ნინოს მონასტერი) is located 2 km from Signagi. Associated with St. Nino, the 4th-century female evangelist, the monastery is one of the major pilgrimage sites in Georgia.
Bodbe Monastery. Photo by Roberto Strauss via Flickr.
How to get there? Minibuses run daily from Tbilisi’s Samgori station at 09:00, 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 17:00, and 18:00. Travel duration is 1.5 hours, cost 6 gel, with the same schedule returning.
A misty Signagi. Photo by Roberto Strauss via Flickr.
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Georgia About 
I’ll be visiting Georgia next week. What dates (sept/oct) are best for the wine harvest etc. to visit Sighnaghi?
Hi Maria. For more specific and expert advice on the timing of Rtveli harvest and celebrations in Kakheti I suggest that you contact the twin brothers Gia and Gela Gamtkitsulashvilis who run the ‘Twins Wine Cellar’ vineyard in the village of Napareuli in Kakheti region. In addition to offering visitor participation in the Rtveli harvest and celebration they have the only qvevri wine museum in Georgia. Email: info@cellar.ge and marketing@cellar.ge Phone: (+995) 551 74 74 74 or (+995) 322 42 40 42. This is a link to their website: http://www.cellar.ge/index.php?action=0&lang=eng