About History – Tbilisi Trams
The story of the tramway in Tbilisi began in 1883 with the first horse-drawn tramcar. These were replaced in 1904 by an electrified tramway line. By the close of the Soviet era Tbilisi had more than 100 kilometers of line and about 300 tramcars. In 2004 the Tbilisi electric tram network celebrated its 100-year anniversary but … Continue reading
About Sights – Gelati Monastery
Gelati (Georgian: გელათის მონასტერი) is a monastic complex near Kutaisi in Imereti region in western Georgia. Built between the 12th and 17th centuries, it contains wonderful mosaics and wall paintings and is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. David IV “the Builder”, also known as David II (Georgian: დავით აღმაშენებელი) founded the monastery and is … Continue reading
About History – The ‘Spirit Wrestlers’ of Georgia
The Doukhobors (Russian: Духоборы) living in the Ninotsminda District of Samtskhe-Javaheti region of Georgia are a religious community exiled from Russia in the mid-19th century. The word Doukhobor means ‘spirit wrestler’ in Russian. Considered to be heretics by the Orthodox Church in Russia for their rejection of church ritual many Doukhobors chose exile in the Caucasus region … Continue reading
About Sights – Khertvisi Fortress
Khertvisi fortress (Georgian: ხერთვისის ციხე) is situated in the Meskheti region of southern Georgia. Its strategic location guards the road connecting the towns of Akhalkalaki and Akhaltsikhe. A fortification was first built on the site in the 2nd century BC but was reputedly destroyed by Alexander the Great. The present fortress dates from the fourteenth century. … Continue reading
About History – The Yerevan Square “expropriation”
An audacious and bloody robbery, involving Joseph Stalin, took place in Tiflis (old name for Tbilisi) in 1907. Organized by the Bolsheviks, it netted the equivalent of 4 million US dollars in today’s money. In April 1907 leading Bolsheviks, including Lenin and Stalin, met in Berlin to discuss a robbery to obtain funds for their revolutionary activities. … Continue reading
About History – The Photography of Dmitri Ermakov
Dmitri Ivanovich Ermakov was born in Tiflis (the old name for Tbilisi) in Georgia in 1846. After graduating from the military topographic academy in Ananuri he opened his own photographic studio in Tiflis and by the end of the 1870s he was a renowned photographer, winning awards in many exhibitions in Moscow, Italy, Turkey and … Continue reading
About History – Three days in a balloon
On 22 January, 1927, Georgian ballooning enthusiast Vladimir Garakanidze set off from Moscow in a homemade balloon. His intention was to fly to the town of Gorky. It was not a long journey and Vladimir expected to arrive before nightfall. The balloon did not have a gondola. Dressed in an army greatcoat and boots to … Continue reading
About History – Photographs of Vittorio Sella
In 1889-1896 the famous mountain-climber and pioneer of photography, Count Vittorio Sella made a number of climbs in the Caucasus Mountains in the Svaneti region of Georgia. Over his lifetime, Sella photographed many of the major mountain ranges all over the world and his pictures were exhibited by the Royal Geographical Society. In his earliest climbs … Continue reading
About History – “Oath and Silver Eaten”
Hidden away from the outside world and only accessible by road for five to six months a year is the extraordinary land of the Khevsurs – Khevsureti. It is a place where ancient pagan traditions survive, and medieval fortress towers stand testament to centuries of conflict with neighbors and peoples of the North Caucasus. The practice of raiding each … Continue reading
About Architecture – Restoration of Dartlo Village
Earlier this year the Municipal Development Fund of Georgia (MDF) launched a project to restore the vernacular architecture of the medieval village of Dartlo village in Tusheti. The initiative is part of a larger project, called “Kakheti Regional Development Project” that is developing tourism in Kakheti. Dartlo village is one of the most beautiful villages in Tusheti. Situated … Continue reading
About History – The Last of the Crusaders?
In his book, “Seven League Boots”, published in 1935, Richard Halliburton described a curious event that occurred in Tbilisi in 1915. On page 162, in the chapter ‘The Last of the Crusaders’ Halliburton wrote: “In the spring of 1915, some months after Russia’s declaration of war against Turkey, a band of twelfth-century Crusaders, covered from head … Continue reading
About Sights – Svetitskhoveli (The Life Giving Pillar) Cathedral
Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (Georgian: სვეტიცხოველი) in the old capital of Mtskheta (Georgian: მცხეთა) stands on the site chosen by St. Nino as the place for the first church in Georgia. Situated at the confluence of the Aragvi and Mtkvari rivers, the cathedral was built by architect Arsukidze in the early 11th century and is the place where Georgian kings … Continue reading
About Sights – Shatili
Shatili (Georgian: შატილი) is an historic highland village located in the deep Arghuni gorge on the northern slope of the Greater Caucasus mountains near the border with Chechnya. Once part of the historical Georgian province of Upper Khevsureti, it is now part of the modern-day region of Mtskheta-Mtianeti. The village is actually a cluster of fortified flat-roofed stone dwellings and … Continue reading
About History – The Oldest Europeans
A series of stunning palaeontological discoveries is challenging the conventional view that Africa is the sole cradle of humankind. Scientists have found a number of ancient human skulls at an archaeological site near the village of Dmanisi (Georgian: დმანისი) in Georgia that suggest a Eurasian chapter in the evolutionary story of mankind. Experts believe the fossilized bones date to … Continue reading
About History – Land of the Golden Fleece
Georgia has long been associated with the legend of Jason and the Argonauts and their quest for the Golden Fleece (Georgian: ოქროს საწმისი). Greek legends tell of a fabulously wealthy land called Kolkheti or Kolkha from which Jason stole the Golden Fleece from King Aieti (Georgian: აიეტი), helped by the king’s daughter Medea. Monument in Batumi, Georgia, … Continue reading
About Sights – The Cave City of Vardzia
Vardzia (Georgian: ვარძია) is a spectacular cave monastery site in southern Georgia, dug out of the Erusheti Mountain on the left bank of the Mtkvari River in Samtskhe-Javakheti region. It was the easternmost bastion of Christianity and holds special significance for Georgians because it is associated with King Tamar, the most famous woman in Georgian history (she was crowned king, … Continue reading
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