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 Sights – Prometheus Cave
Discovered in Imereti region in 1984, Prometheus Cave is one of Georgia’s natural wonders providing visitors with breathtaking examples of stalactites, stalagmites, curtains, petrified waterfalls, cave pearls, underground rivers, and lakes. Khvamli Mountain is visible from Prometheus Cave and is the place where legend says that Prometheus was chained. The 1060 meter walking route through the … Continue reading
About Achievements – Restoration of Telavi
Celebrations were held in the town of Telavi in Georgia’s Kakheti Region to mark the completion of the first stage of the restoration of the town. Telavi (Georgian: თელავი) is the largest town in Georgia’s Kakheti region. Restoration works began in March of this year and stage 1 (the town center) was completed in September. An electric … Continue reading
About Sights – Uplistsikhe Cave City
Literally meaning ‘fortress of the lord’, Uplistsikhe (Georgian: უფლისციხე) dates back as far as the Iron Age and is one of the oldest urban settlements in Georgia. Situated 10 km east of the town of Gori on a rocky promontory above the river Mtkvari, the city stood directly on the path of the old Silk Road and was … Continue reading
About Art – “Statue of Love” in Batumi
A 7 meter steel sculpture of a man and a woman stands on the seashore boulevard of Batumi (Georgian: ბათუმი) on the Black Sea coast of Georgia. Created by Georgian artist Tamar Kvesitadze (Georgian: თამარ კვესიტაძე), the figures move toward each other and merge into one piece every 10 minutes. The Statue of Love sculpture (Georgian: სიყვარულის ქანდაკება) is inspired by the … Continue reading
About Sights – Okatse Canyon
Construction of a new tourist attraction at Okatse Canyon (Georgian: ოკაცეს კანიონი) in Imereti region in Georgia started this month. A 1km long walkway suspended along the edge of the canyon will enable visitors to explore this natural wonder and its beautiful waterfalls. The facilities will include a visitor center, exhibition hall, a café, and an … Continue reading
About Sights – Katskhis Sveti
Katskhis (Georgian: კაცხის სვეტი) is a limestone rock pillar located at the village of Katskhi in the western Georgian region of Imereti, close to the town of Chiatura. The 40 metres (130 ft) high rock has been venerated as the Pillar of Life, symbolizing the True Cross. It remained unclimbed by researchers until 1944. The location is not characteristic for churches … Continue reading
About Sights – Rabati Castle – A Jewel in the Crown
The President of Georgia described the recently restored Rabati Castle as a “crown of restoration in Georgia”. Built in the 13th century, Rabati castle developed under the influence of different cultures over subsequent centuries and this is reflected in its architecture. Within the 7 hectares castle complex there is a Church, a Mosque, a Minaret and a Synagogue. … Continue reading
About Celebrations – Bagrati Church Receives New Cross
August 17 was declared a one-off public holiday in Georgia’s second-largest city, Kutaisi. The cause for celebration was the placing of a 2.14 meter bronze cross on top of the recently restored dome of Bagrati Church (Georgian: ბაგრატი; ბაგრატის ტაძარი) in the city of Kutaisi, in the region of Imereti. President Saakashvili, Archbishop Kalistrate of the Georgian Orthodox Church … Continue reading
About News – Charles Aznavour sings at opening ceremony of restored Rabati Castle
On August 16, world famous French singer Charles Aznavour sang in a special concert as part of the opening ceremony of the recently restored Rabati castle in Akhaltsikhe, Georgia. The concert was followed by fireworks and the unveiling of a ‘star’ that will be placed inside Rabati castle, honoring the singer. Addressing the audience, Aznavour … 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 Fauna and Flora – Vashlovani National Park
Vashlovani National Park (Georgian: ვაშლოვანის ეროვნული პარკი) is located in south-east Georgia on the border with Azerbaijan. The semi–arid landscape is more like Africa than Europe and has a long history of land use by humans. Sheep farming is the key local livelihood and sheep are migrated annually by Tushetian shepherds between the mountains of Tusheti and their winter pastures, as they have for … Continue reading
About Development – Tbilisi Sea
Tbilisi is about 278 km (173 miles) from the sea but Tbilisians don’t have to travel that far to sunbathe on a beach – they go to Tbilisi Sea. Located to the north-east of the city, Tbilisi Sea (Georgian: თბილისის ზღვა) is a large artificial lake just 20 minutes drive from the city center. It is a … Continue reading
About Sights – Svanetian Towers
Svaneti (Georgian: სვანეთი) is situated on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus mountains in the northwestern part of Georgia. It is the highest inhabited part of the Caucasus. The characteristic landscape of Upper Svaneti is formed by small villages situated on the mountain slopes, with a natural environment of gorges and alpine valleys and a backdrop of snow-covered … 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 Sights – Sataplia Cave
The Sataplia Nature Reserve is located in Tskaltubo district, about 260 km. from Tbilisi. Established in 1935 to protect the Sataplia Cave and dinosaur footprints found in the area, this visitor attraction recently benefited from a very attractive refurbishment of its Sataplia Cave visitor center. Sataplia Cave is named after Sataplia Mountain, which gained its name … Continue reading
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