Sunny Georgia: Tbilisi, Batumi, Telavi, Kutaisi, Mtskheta
Georgia has opened its borders to tourists since March 1 - Russians can officially enter the country with a negative test result for COVID-19.
Entry is free for everyone (including Russians) who has already undergone a full course of vaccination with any vaccine. Since June 1, the land borders of Georgia have been opened.
Direct flights with Georgia are still closed (information as of September 2021), so the Russians will have to get through transit airports.
Georgia is multifaceted and beautiful: this beautiful and hospitable country can be endlessly admired, taste its delicious cuisine, listen to music and dance national dances.
Georgia is wonderful at any time of the year. It is interesting that a trip, for example, to the sea or to the mountains can always be combined with a visit to the iconic historical and cultural sights of the state.
Speaking of the sea. The main Black Sea resort of the country - the city of Batumi - attracts tourists with delicious dishes of national cuisine, beautiful nature, clean and warm sea.
In winter you can go skiing - you are waiting from November to May. For example, be sure to go to the oldest ski resort of the Caucasus, Bakuriani, at an altitude of 1700 m above sea level. Gudari is located on the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus Range, to it from Tbilisi you need to drive 120 km along the Georgian Military Road. In Gudauri there are conditions for freeride, snowboarding and heli-skiing. Goderdzi is the highest point of Adjara, a modern resort in a picturesque place.
Georgia also treats with mineral and thermal waters, clean air, amazing nature. Borjomi - the birthplace of the well-known mineral water - is also famous as a comfortable balneological resort, which is reliably protected by mountains from bad weather. In Borjomi you can see architectural monuments, for example, the monasteries of the X century St. George and St. Spyridon of Trimifunt.
Akhtala is a unique mud-cure resort, and in addition, next to it is the famous Alazan valley and the ancient cities of Gurdjaani and Signaghi with a fortress of the XVIII century.
Shawy mineral waters are popular, which are taken for diseases of the respiratory, digestive and nervous systems. Nearby there is a beautiful lake Uijiro, which is called bottomless.
A trip to Mtskheta is a kind of time travel, because the city became the spiritual capital of Georgia, it adopted Christianity in 327 AD. Tourists get acquainted with the ancient Fortress of Bebristsikhe, admire the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and strive to the Samtavro Monastery, the oldest monastery complex in Georgia.
Sights of Tbilisi
The Peace Pedestrian Bridge over the Kura River was opened in 2010. It serves as a connection of Old Tbilisi quarters with Rike Park. This bridge has a unique architectural structure. A tent rises above the bridge. At evening illumination, you see that it is not a bridge, but waves that splash out on the banks of the river. It's a fabulous sight! But the wizard has a real name - Italian architect and designer Michele de Lucchi. The roof of the bridge resembles an openwork metal web. The magic of light that literally pours plastic contours of the transparent ceilings of the Peace Bridge is the work of designer Philippe Martino.
On the Peace Bridge you can see the beautiful, ancient church of Metekhi. At its foot stands an equestrian monument to the founder of Tbilisi, Tsar Vakhtang Gorgasal. And on the opposite side of the river, the Peace Bridge will take you to Rike Park, which has a modern cable car.
The monastery of the Holy Cross or Jvari, is located in the area of the city of Mtskheta, located near Tbilisi.
According to historians, the monastery was built where the first Christian community was founded by a woman missionary named Nino. According to legend, after the prayer "Nino" stuck the cross in the ground, where the church of Jvari was later built, the second temple was built nearby, presumably between 586 and 605 years.
The style in which the Jvari monastery is built is a fusion of Western and Eastern cultures adapted to local conditions.
Today, a significant part of the monastery is destroyed, but despite this, various religious festivals and rituals are held there.
Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi is the center of the capital, the length of the street is 1.5 km. This street appeared in the middle of the 19th century. The avenue is named in honor of the Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli. There is a border between the old and new parts of the city. There is a lot for tourists: restaurants, cafes, cultural buildings, observation decks.
What exactly can you see here? The Rustaveli Cinema, as well as the Rustaveli Theatre, the park on April 9, a variety of museums, the Rose Revolution Square. There is also a metro station for comfortable travel. There is an avenue near the Kura River.
Scientists still cannot say the exact date of its construction. According to one version, Narikala was built before the appearance of the city, and according to another, it was built by the residents of Tbilisi. It is located on a steep hill, between sulfur baths and botanical gardens. The fortress itself consists of two wall sections. On the lower courtyard you can see the Church of St. Nicholas, built in the 12th century. Visiting the fortress of Narikala you can enjoy not only the beautiful landscapes of Tbilisi, but also get acquainted with the historical past of the city.
The fortress can be reached in two ways: on foot along the streets-stairs of the “rock district” of Kldisubani or with the help of the famous Tbilisi cable car, whose lower station is located on the left bank of the Kura, on the outskirts of Rike Park.
The Cathedral of Sioni was named after the sacred Mount Zion in Jerusalem. The first sacred building on this site dates back to the sixth century, the initiator of the construction was King Iberius Vakhtang the First Gorgasali. It lasted several centuries. As a result, it was destroyed by the Arabs. In 1122 David the Builder ordered the temple to be rebuilt. After that, many times the temple was destroyed by raids, earthquakes, ancient frescoes and iconostasis were lost. Only in 1980-1983, a major restoration was carried out, and the Cathedral of Zion received the appearance of the medieval period. On the facades appeared bas-reliefs, inside – new frescoes belonging to the painter Gagarin.
But the main value of the cathedral is the cross of St. Nino. According to legend, it was gifted by Nino the Virgin before being sent to Georgia. Nino's vine and hair are woven into the cross. The temple has preserved the memory of a significant event – the wedding of Alexander Griboyedov and Nino Chavchavadze.
Attractions Batumi
Batumi embankment on the Black Sea coast of Georgia is one of the decorations of the city with a length of 7 km and it is clearly divided into old and new parts. Walking through it is a pleasure. The famous Primorsky Boulevard serves as the hallmark of the capital of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, reflecting the breadth of the soul of the local population.
The embankment looks as large and wide as the well-known Georgian hospitality. Always well-groomed and pleasing place, and most importantly - the neighborhood with the sea, decides everything. It should be visited, if only to look at the art object, which is a moving figure of a couple of people.
In the morning, you can see athletes and those who are engaged in accelerated walking, and in the evening – people dancing at the fountains to sentimental music and a light breeze.
Batumi Port (Georgia) is a sea trading port of the capital of Adjara. It is located in the southeast of the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus and in the southern part of the country. Coordinates of modern high-tech container-ferry type and general cargo port: 41.651° / 41.6545°.
Currently, the historic building of the sea station and the marina for small shipping, including boats and yachts, is one of the most important city attractions for tourists. The port is especially attractive in the evening and night hours.
Love is a great word and feeling, which they decided to depict in the form of a sculpture in Batumi. The sculptural composition by Georgian sculptor Tamara Kvesitadze represents the power of love, which has no boundaries.
The history of sculptural prototypes is the plot of the work of Kurban Said “Ali and Nino”, dated 1937.
Drama is the best description of a relationship that has arisen between two people, but in order for people to know about it, they needed a symbol that would become a memory.
Every year millions of people want to see it with their own eyes, you can find this majestic structure in the city of Batumi, after which you need to find Rustaveli Avenue, then turn to Gobebashvili Street. But the main landmark is the Ferris wheel, where you can easily find a unique project dedicated to the great love story.
Argonauts Square, otherwise called Europe Square, is located in the very center of Batumi at the intersection of Mamed Abashidze and Nikolai Baratashvili streets. It is named after the participants of the campaign to Colchis under the leadership of Jason from the myths of ancient Greece. The square is decorated with a bronze statue of the Colchis princess Medea, holding a golden fleece in her hand. The statue was erected in 2007 and is considered a visiting card of Georgia. There is also a large stand with information about the Argonauts. Not so long ago, a clock stylized in antiquity and a fountain in the form of the European Union flag appeared on the square.
Batumi is the most popular city in Georgia. Here you can see both 19th century buildings and modern skyscrapers. It is a super beautiful seaside resort that is located near the border with Turkey.
Clean and well-kept beach, refreshing sea, high mountains, elite restaurants, night discos - all this is about Batumi. The temperature here is very high, and what could be better than swimming in the cool sea in the heat?
This is a real entertainment center, there is and will be something to do both day and night. The city is filled with interesting sights and friendly people.
Attractions of Telavi
Alazan Valley in Georgia (Telavi) is a slope of the Tsivi-Gombor ridge. Thanks to an elevation of 500 m above sea level, magnificent views of vineyards and majestic mountain peaks open from this point in the format of a monolithic natural monument.
The main attractions of the territory are represented by the monastery and the cathedral "Alaverdi", the castle "Gremi", the fortress walls "Nekresi", the factory buildings "Marani", the monastery in Shuamta and the city of Love Signaghi, as well as the lakes of Lopota and Kvareli. From the metro "Isani" to the valley in Telavi can be reached by taxi and personal vehicles.
Near the Georgian village of Alaverdi there is a monastery complex with a majestic cathedral. The Church of St. George rises to a height of 50 meters on the territory of an active male monastery. Monastery buildings are shaped like a cross. On the territory of the monastery, part of the land is devoted to the “museum of grapes”, where about 500 varieties of grapes are grown. The complex of the monastery is complemented by: the bishop's palace, the bell tower, the refectory.
You can get to the monastery by taxi from Telavi (only 20 km) or from Tbilisi (in 2 hours).
The fortress of Kvareli in Georgia (Telavi) was built in the 18th century and is a landmark of the Kvareli municipality of Kakheti - the land of famous vineyards and winemakers. The defensive structure is located on the territory of the magnificent Alazan valley.
The Kvarel fortress is an unremarkable, but historically significant wall of dark gray color. The courtyard of the fortress contains an improvised football field. To get to the attraction, located in the historic central part of the city near the square of May 26, you can take a taxi.
Attractions of Kutaisi
On a mountain drowning in greenery, in the vicinity of Kutaisi, the ancient Georgian monastery of Saints David and Constantine is located. The temple was built on the ruins of a church burned in the 8th century.
The ark with the relics of the Grand Dukes David and Constantine (who were tortured by the Arab conquerors for their faith) is kept in the main temple. Rumor has it that if you crawl along a low passage around a crayfish with relics three times, all cherished desires will be fulfilled.
The observation deck at the temple overlooks the picturesque canyon.
You can reach the monastery from Kutaisi (only 7 km) by taxi or on foot.
The majestic temple of Bagrat on the mountain amazes with its scale. The effect is enhanced by the fact that the temple is located on the mountain, so it can be seen from anywhere in the city.
The history of medieval temple architecture of Georgia is impossible to imagine without Bagrat temple. It was built in the XI century. For almost 700 years the temple stood in its original form, but in 1691 the Turks almost destroyed the temple, especially its upper part suffered.
On the dome of the temple is now a huge bronze cross 2 meters high and weighing 300 kg. This temple is impressive in its scale. The architecture is also impressive. Huge stone blocks distinguish it from other temples. The temple is surrounded by fortress walls that once served as a fortification of the city.
How to get there: From the center of Kutaisi can be reached on foot or by car. Bagrati street leads to the temple.
The Kvirila River originates in the gorges of South Ossetia, and despite this, most of it flows in Georgia. In the ancient world, people believed that the Kvirila was the most important river in Georgia, from which the tributary of Rioni flowed. In fact, the opposite is true, and not far from the village of Vartsihe, Quirila flows into Rion.
The length of the river Kvirila is about 140 km. From its very beginning, the river passes through a fairly large number of settlements, such as Tbet, Pereu, Zastafoni and many others. Most tourists from neighboring countries like to come and enjoy the beauty of the area.
Distance from Tbilisi is 165 km; from Gori-83 km; from Java -33 km.
Attractions of Mtskheta
The Aragvi River is translated from Georgian as “fast”.
There is a legend: two sisters lived happily in the mountains, dark and light. They met a guy, the girls fell in love, but his choice fell on the blonde. Then the brunette rushed into the river with grief and a river with a black scythe appeared - Black Aragvi. The light sister with grief rushed into the river after her - so White Aragvi appeared. The young husband did not survive the loss and also died - Pshavskaya Aragvi is named after him.
Geography. The river begins at the Main Caucasian Range. The river has an amazing color - at first it flows along the limestone, which gives the water a white color (White Aragvi). Black shales make the water dark (Black Aragvi). By the time the river drains, it has two colors. In the city of Mtskheta, Aragvi flows into Kura.
The temple and monastery in Jvari is the first Georgian World Heritage Monument dating from the 7th century.
Located near the city of Mtskheta, on the top of the mountain, where the rivers Kura and Aragvi merge.
The word Jvari translates as a cross. With the description of this place begins the poem by M. Y. Lermontov “Mtsyri”.
According to legend, the Holy Cross of Nino of Cappadocia was erected here, marking Christianity in Georgia. Later, the Church of the Holy Cross was built under the cross.
The temple is designed in the form of a cross, made and the oldest stone rocks. Inside everything is strict and ascetic - in the middle of the cross, several icons, part of the mosaic has been preserved.
The panoramic view from the Temple is fascinating - on the confluence of rivers and the city of Mtskheta.
Svetitskhoveteli Church for many years was the Main Georgian Orthodox Church, an object under the supervision of UNESCO.
Here was baptized the first Georgian king - Mirian. According to legend, the temple keeps the memory - Heaton of the Lord Jesus Christ. Saint Sidonia asked her brother, Rabbi Elioz, to bring her a piece of Christ from Jerusalem. On the day of Christ’s execution, Elioz bought the Lord’s chiton and brought it to Mtskhet. Sidonia pressed the chiton to her chest and died. At the place of burial of the Svet ogre, a mighty cedar, and later the first church in Georgia was built there.
In its original form, it was a wooden building that has not survived to our times. Later, in the 11th century, a new stone church, walls, frescoes, burials, icons, a font for baptism, a cloak of Ilya’s vice, have survived to this day.
Svetitskhoveli is located in Mtskheta, it is visible from anywhere in the city.
Photo by Evgenia Lysenkova, pixabay, free source
Text: personalguide
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