About Sights – Davit Gareja
Founded in the 6th century by St. David Garejeli, Davit Gareja (Georgian: დავითგარეჯის სამონასტრო კომპლექსი) is a Georgian Orthodox monastery complex located on the slopes of Mount Gareja in the Kakheti region of eastern Georgia. The complex includes hundreds of cells, churches, chapels, refectories and living quarters hollowed out of the rock. Part of the … Continue reading
About Sights – Tbilisi’s Traditional Architecture
Tbilisi’s traditional houses, with their wooden and wrought iron balconies, are undeniably beautiful and one of the city’s best known historical features. Many of the houses date from the 19th century as much of the city was destroyed by the devastating Persian invasion of 1795. Closer inspection often reveals weathered beams, peeling paint and potentially … Continue reading
About Events – Khelaoba
“Khelaoba” is held annually in Chargali village in Dusheti on 25 January and commemorates the anniversary of the death of Georgian poet Mikha Khelashvili (1900 – 1925) (Georgian: მიხა ხელაშვილი). An anti-Soviet, he was shot and killed in Chargali village on his birthday. “Khelaoba” commemorates the anniversary of the death of Georgian poet Mikha Khelashvili … Continue reading
About Sights – Mutso
Mutso (Georgian: მუცო) is one of the former Khevsur strongholds of the historic Georgian province of Khevsureti (now part of Mtskheta-Mtianeti region) in north-eastern Georgia. Its medieval fortified dwellings and towers are arranged on vertical terraces above the Mutso-Ardoti gorge. Recent restoration work by the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation will help to preserve … Continue reading
About History – Photographs of Tbilisi in 1976
In 1976, the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic was part of the USSR. During the Soviet rule, the country’s capital, Tbilisi, became more industrialised and its population grew significantly. The following black and white photographs, taken in Tbilisi in 1976, reveal glimpses of city life during Soviet times. Photo source: Tbilisi Week CLICK on the logo to visit GEORGIA … Continue reading
About Sights – Pastel colored houses and balconies of Tbilisi’s Old Town
Tbilisi’s Old Town (Georgian: ძველი თბილისი) is renowned for its picturesque pastel colored wooden and traditional brick houses with open, carved balconies. The houses are mainly 19th century as much of the city was destroyed by the devastating Persian invasion of 1795. Much of the Old Town has been restored under a scheme introduced by … Continue reading
About Sights – Tbilisi’s Old Town District
Tbilisi’s Old Town (Georgian: ძველი თბილისი) is one of the oldest parts of the city and nestles on the mountainside under Narikala fortress (Georgian: ნარიყალა). The Old Town is part of the Tbilisi Historic District and contains a number of officially designated monuments, churches, cobbled streets and picturesque pastel colored wooden houses with open, carved … Continue reading
About Celebrations – Independence Day 2015
Georgia celebrates Independence Day (Georgian: დამოუკიდებლობის დღე) on 26 May each year. On 26 May 1918, in the midst of the Russian Civil War, Georgia declared independence and The Democratic Republic of Georgia was created. The day is a national holiday and celebrations are held throughout Georgia and by Georgians living overseas. In the nation’s … Continue reading
About Celebrations – Victory Day in Tbilisi
Victory Day was commemorated in Georgia on 9 May. 2015 marks the 70th anniversary (Georgian: ფაშიზმზე გამარჯვების 70-ე წლისთავი) of the formal surrender of Nazi Germany to the Soviet Union in Berlin in May 1945. Georgian veterans and their families gathered at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Vake Park in Tbilisi to honor those … Continue reading
About Sights – Bethlemi Hut
Located at a height of 3,653 m on Mount Kazbegi (Georgian: ყაზბეგის მყინვარწვერი), Bethlemi Hut is the highest located building in Georgia. Originally constructed of wood in 1933, it was designed as a shelter for climbers. In 1941, a stone building replaced the wooden one and served as a climber’s shelter and meteorological station. Annually, … Continue reading
About History – The First Printed Book in Georgian
The first printed book in Georgian was published in Rome in 1629 by Niceforo Irbachi (Nicholas Irubakidze-Cholokashvili) (Georgian: ნიკოლოზ ჩოლოყაშვილი; ნიკოლოზ ირუბაქიძე-ჩოლოყაშვილი), a Georgian Orthodox priest, politician and diplomat. The book was a Georgian Alphabet with prayers, which was later accompanied with a Georgian – Italian dictionary. CLICK on the logo to visit GEORGIA ABOUT on Facebook and see photos … Continue reading
About Events – The 1984 Voyage of the Replica “Argo”
British explorer, historian and writer Tim Severin commissioned a replica of the Greek mythological galley “Argo” and in 1984 retraced the voyage of Jason and the Argonauts. Severin and his crew rowed and sailed from northern Greece, through the Dardanelles, across the Marmara Sea, and through the Straits of Bosphorus to the Black Sea coast … Continue reading
About Sights – Poti Lighthouse
The lighthouse in the port city of Poti (Georgian: ფოთი) in Georgia’s Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region is one of the oldest navigation facilities on the coast of the Black Sea. Made of cast iron, it was constructed in England and transported by steamship to Georgia in 1864. Ships approach Poti harbor from the north, parallel to … Continue reading
About History – Freedom Square in Tbilisi
Freedom Square (Georgian: თავისუფლების მოედანი) in the center of Tbilisi has undergone several name changes in its 200 year history. Built in the early 19th century in a neo-classical style with Moorish architectural elements, it was originally named Pashkevich-Erivanskaya Square (Georgian: ერევანსკი მოედანი) in honor of Ivan Paskevich, a Ukrainian general of the Russian Imperial … Continue reading
About Food – Vintage Georgian Tea Tins
By the late 1920’s Georgia had become the main supplier of tea for the whole of the Soviet Union and in the subsequent decades production rose to 400,000 tonnes annually. Colorful tins with the description of the tea, its quality and its manufacturer, written in Russian and Georgian languages, kept the tea fresh. CLICK on the … Continue reading
About Sights – Romanov Palace in Likani
The Romanov Palace (also known as Likani Palace) was designed by Leopold Bilfeldt as a summer mansion for Grand Duke Nicholas Mikhailovich of Russia. Built by the famous architect Leonti Nikolajewitsch Benois (Leon Benoise) between the years of 1892-95, the palace is situated on the bank of the Mtkvari River in Likani (Georgian: ლიკანი) in Samtskhe-Javakheti region. … Continue reading
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