Telavi, Kvareli, and Sighnaghi – Republic of Georgia

October 5-7, 2019:

Chiatura to Telavi:

We last we were at Mgvimevi Monastery, near Chiatura. It’s a long drive to our next destination, Telavi, and we met some obstacles on the way…

Obstacles on the road to Telavi

But also some pretty scenery…

Scenery on the road to Telavi

And Ujarma Fortress…

Ujarma Fortress

And meeting the parents of our driver/guide, George Zardiashvili

Parents of our driver/guide, George Zardiashvili

TELAVI:

Telavi is located in the heart of Kakheti, the historical area of eastern Georgia, in the valleys of the rivers Iori and Alazani.

Our Guesthouse:

Breakfast in our Telavi Guesthouse

Sights in Telavi:

Batonistsikhe (“The Lord’s Castle”) Fortress, Telavi

Statue of King Erekle II, Telavi

Giant Plane Tree, 900 years old, Telavi

Giant snail sculpture, Telavi

Old Town House

Giorgi Chubinashvili Telavi Historical Museum

Downtown Telavi

Telavi Wine Festival:

Telavi Wine Festival

Free Wine Tasting – Telavi Wine Festival

Folk Dancing at the Telavi Wine Festival

NEAR TELAVI:

Birthplace of Wine Statue:

Georgia is considered the birthplace of wine, with evidence of grape cultivation and winemaking dating back to around 6,000 BC.

Birthplace of Wine Statue

House-Gardens of Prince Alexander Chavchadze:

Prince Alexander Chavchavadze (1786–1846) was one of the most colorful and influential characters in Georgian history, and the palace and gardens he created at Tsinandali are a don’t-miss stop on any Kakheti tour.

The palace tour takes you around half a dozen rooms restored in 19th-century style and relates interesting episodes from the family story. The park is beautifully laid out in the English style, with venerable trees and exotic plants such as ginkgo, sequoia and yucca.

House-Gardens of Prince Alexander Chavchadze

Tsinandali Winery wine tasting:

Tsinandali Estate is the cradle of classical winemaking in Georgia, the place where Georgian wine was first bottled.

Tsinandali Winery wine tasting

Dzveli (Old) Shumata Monastery:

Dzveli (“Old”) Shuamta Monastery is located in a small clearing in the middle of a deciduous forest on Tsivgombori Mountain near the city of Telavi.

Exterior of the Dzveli (“Old”) Shuamta Monastery

Interior of the Dzveli (“Old”) Shuamta Monastery

Akhali (New) Shumata Monastery:

The New (Akhali) Shuamta nunnery, was founded by the Queen Tinatin, the Princes of Guria, wife of King Levan (1520-1574). The Domed Cathedral of the Virgin Mary was one of the main cathedrals in this region.

Akhali (New) Shumata Monastery

Alaverdi Monastery:

Earliest structures of Alaverdi Monastery date back to 6th century. The present day Cathedral is part of an 11th century Georgian Orthodox monastery. The Monastery was founded by the monk Joseph [Abba] Alaverdeli, who came from Antioch and settled in Alaverdi.

Exterior of Alaverdi Monastery

Interior of Alaverdi Monastery

KVARELI:

Kvareli is a town in northeastern in Kakheti Province, Georgia. It is located in the Alazani Valley, near the foothills of the Greater Caucasus Mountains.

Public Service Hall:

Like many other towns in Georgia, the Public Service Hall in Kvareli is architecturally interesting.

Kvareli Public Service Hall

Kindzmarauli Wine House (tour and tasting):

Kindzmarauli Wine House (tour and tasting)

Drinking wine from Georgian horns (just kidding) – Kindzmarauli Wine House

NEAR KVARELI:

Lake Ilia:

Lake Ilia

I Love Kakheti Sign above Lake Ilia

Picking/Tasting Grapes:

Picking/Tasting Grapes

Nekresi Monastery Complex:

The Nekresi Monastery is a Georgian Orthodox monastery in the eastern Georgian region of Kakheti, founded in the 6th century.

Nekresi Monastery Complex

Nekresi Monastery winery

Nekresi Monastery Church interior

Gremi Monastery Complex:

Gremi is a 16th-century architectural monument – the Royal Citadel and the Church of the Archangels – in Kakheti, Georgia.

Royal Citadel and Church of the Archangels

Interior of the Church of the Archangels

Royal Citadel/Tower

Kakhetian Queen Ketevan – martyr for both the Georgian Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches for refusing to convert to Islam while being held hostage – ruled at Gremi

SIGHNAGHI:

Georgia’s “City of Love”, Sighnaghi is a scenic medieval town with beautiful mountain vista’s and cosy homestays.

Sighnaghi

Soviet era memorial (and April 9 memorial)

Saint Stephen Church

Saint George Church

Man on a donkey statue (based on Georgian artist Pirosmani painting)

View of Town Wall and Caucasus Mountains from our Guesthouse

Tamada (toastmaster) Statue

Walking the Walls

More Sighnaghi

NEAR SIGHNAGHI:

Small Georgian Winery:

Small Georgian Winery

Bobde Monastery:

The Monastery of St. Nino at Bodbe is a Georgian Orthodox monastic complex and the seat of the Bishops of Bodbe. Originally built in the 9th century, it has been significantly remodeled, especially in the 17th century.