About Sights – The Medieval Stone Bridges of Ajara
By the Middle Ages, Ajara (Georgian: აჭარა), in the south western part of Georgia, formed part of a strong feudal kingdom and many roads and stone bridges were built during this period. The beauty of Ajara’s medieval stone bridges makes them as significant as the mighty fortresses, monuments, and churches that are also spread around … Continue reading
About Sights – 19th Century Mosques in Ajara
Ajara (Georgian: აჭარა) is an autonomous republic of Georgia located in the southwestern corner of the country, bordered by Turkey to the south and the eastern end of the Black Sea. According to 2006 estimates by the Department of Statistics of Ajara, 30% of Ajara’s population are Muslim. Islam spread to Ajara as a consequence of the Ottoman Empire’s occupation … Continue reading
About Sights – Ujarma Fortress
Established by King Vakhtang Gorgasali in the 5th century, Ujarma Fortress (Georgian: უჯარმა ციხე) was the second capital of Georgia until the 8th century. King Vakhtang Gorgasali is believed to have died there after he was wounded in battle against the Persians. The fortress consisted of two parts: the Upper Fortress (the Citadel) located on … Continue reading
About Sights – St. George’s Church and Monastery complex in the village of Ubisa
St. George’s Monastery is situated in the village of Ubisa (Georgian: უბისა) in the Imereti region of Georgia. The monastic complex comprises the 9th-century St. George’s Monastery founded by St. Gregory, a tower and fragments of a 12th-century defensive wall. The four-storey tower was built by Simon Chkondideli in 1141. The monastery contains a unique … Continue reading
About History – “Savage Svânetia” by Clive Phillipps-Wolley
“Savage Svânetia”, by Clive Phillipps-Wolley, was published in 1883 and describes the author’s experience of travelling in Svaneti in the late 19th century. Though it has a hunting focus, the book also vividly describes life and culture in this mountainous region in the northwestern part of Georgia. The book has several wonderful illustrations of the mountains, … Continue reading
About Art – Vasil Roinashvili (ვასილ როინაშვილი)
Vasil Roinashvili (ვასილ როინაშვილი) (1879-1958) studied the basics of photography in the studio of the famous Georgian photographer Alexander Roinashvili before traveling to Europe and Russia. In 1905 he returned to his homeland, settled in Telavi and married Sophio Kazakhashvili. He built a house and made a photo studio on the first floor. He also created a garden that … Continue reading
About History – 19th Century Georgia in The Illustrated London News
Established by printer and newsagent Herbert Ingram The Illustrated London News was the world’s first illustrated weekly newspaper. The first issue appeared on Saturday 14 May 1842 and by 1863 the newspaper was selling more than 300,000 copies every week, a huge circulation in comparison to other British newspapers of the time. From about 1890 onward The Illustrated London News made increasing … Continue reading
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 Art – Ivan Petrovich Pranishnikoff
Ivan Petrovich Pranishnikoff was born in Kursk in Russia in 1841. During his life he was a painter, businessman, journalist, illustrator, cartoonist, translator, friend of Turgenev and friend and official painter of Tsar Alexander III. He fought for the unification of Italy alongside Garibaldi, and participated in the war of independence of Montenegro. Pranishnikoff was … 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
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