Georgia is a country with picturesque scenery, delicious food, premium wines, joyful people, cultural riches and a turbulent history. It attracts many visitors and then treats them as special guests.

Located in the Caucasus Mountains and washed by the Black Sea, the country boasts a diverse flora and impressive landscapes.

Start your journey in the capital – Tbilisi. It is a European city with a specific, Asian charm. Take a walk through the narrow, cobbled streets that wind their way between the colorful houses. Discover the secrets of the neighborhood where layers of cultures, historical periods, and the customs of different peoples are recalled while you are becoming friends with the locals.

Here, within a 15 minute walk, you will find some amazing historic sites. The Anchiskhati Basilica of St Mary is the oldest surviving church in the city. It belongs to the Georgian Orthodox Church which dates from the sixth century. The Armenian Church (The Church of the Holy Mother of God of the Men’s Monastery, also known as Pashavank. The Great Synagogue - also known as the Georgian Synagogue, was built between 1895 to 1903 in an eclectic architectural style by Georgian Jews from Akhaltsikhe who migrated to the city in the late 19th century. A Mosque, the last surviving one in Tbilisi, was built in 1895. A Zoroastrian Fire-worshiper’s temple which is believed to have been built between the 5th and 7th centuries. Later it spent some time as a mosque but still kept its old name as “Ateshgah”.

The townsfolk are proud of their cosmopolitan capital and often tell the legend of King Vakhtang Gorgasali who founded Tbilisi in the 5th century. According to the legend, the king was hunting one day and shot a pheasant. The wounded bird felt into the hot sulphur spring and was healed. The king was amazed and decided to build a town near the springs. The name Tbilisi derives from Georgian word tbili meaning warm and those hot springs are still running through traditional bathhouses today. In fact the archaeological evidence indicates a Neolithic culture in the area. By the end of King Vakhtang’s reign the city was part of the trade routes between Greece, Rome and the East. It was he who moved the capital from Mtskheta.

Being a UNESCO World Heritage site, the city of Mtskheta is of special interest for its religious and historical background. The fertile soil of the area, its mild climate and strategic location at the confluence of two rivers contributed to it being an early human settlement in 3000-2000 BC. Today the city is considered to be the religious centre and the most sacred place in Georgia, because it is home to Svetitskhoveli, ( literally meaning "the Living Pillar Cathedral") which is a Georgian Orthodox cathedral. Built in the 11th century by the Georgian architect Arsukisdze, Svetitskhoveli contains the grave of Sidonia, who was said to have been buried holding Christ’s robe. It was also the burial and coronation place for Georgian kings.

Don’t leave the area without going to the Jvari Monastery. It is set on the top of the hill overlooking the ancient capital. The monastery is a 6th century cross cupola church built on the sight of the wooden cross which was, according to the legend, erected by Nino, a girl from Cappadocia who came to Georgia to spread Christianity in the 4th century.

Don’t leave the country without taking a day trip (or longer) to the Caucasus Mountains. The Kazbegi region is the closest one to Tbilisi, and the road taking you there is just splendid. The Georgian Military Highway was the main road connecting Georgia to Russia and today it’s used by the neighbouring countries to export their goods to Russia. The road takes you through beautiful gorges and valleys until you arrive at the town of Stepahntsminda (former Kazbegi). The city centre is a nice starting point for trekking to Gergeti trinity church, beautifully located on the top of the hill with views of Stepantsminda on one side and Mount Mkinvarstveri (Kazbegi) on the other. It was built in the 14th century and is the only cross-cupola church in Khevi province. The separate bell tower dates from the same period as the church itself. It’s isolated location on top of a steep mountain surrounded by the vastness of nature has made it a symbol for Georgia.

You can stay overnight in the town or move south to the Gudauri ski resort, which was built by Austrians. It is the perfect location for extreme sports. Perched in the heart of the Greater Caucasus and is surrounded by a views of dramatic peaks and breathtaking gorges.

But wherever you decide to go, eating a Georgian meal and drinking Qvevri wine is one of the travelling pleasures in Georgia and the best way to discover its culture. The ceremonial dinner, “Supra” is a frequent occurrence in Georgian homes and is a highly ritualized event that forms a direct link to Georgia’s past and its traditions. On such occasions, the toasts drunk only with wine are accompanied by poems, songs, myths, memories and sayings and, while the dinner extends long into the night, the people gathered at the “Supra” become friends.

Qvevri wine is made mainly in Kakheti area in the eastern part of the country. It is a strong, rich in tannin wine made by the traditional Georgian method, aging the grape juice with its skins and seeds in Qvevri - a big clay vessel, instead of oak barrel. Qvevri is buried in the ground, where the temperature stays the same during the whole process and cools the liquid dawn while in the fermentation process.

Qvevris date back to the 8000 BC and are still in use nowadays. Some old examples can be found in the 6th century cave complex of Davit Gareji. This Georgian Orthodox monastery was hewn out of the rocks and is located in the Kakheti region of Eastern Georgia, on the half-desert slopes of Mount Gareja. The complex includes hundreds of cells, churches, chapels, refectories and living quarters.

Today most of the monasteries are inactive, some were destroyed by the Russian troops and the others are extremely difficult to reach, but those that are accessible, like Lavra and Udabno, are both an absolutely must to see. Organically carved out of a sandy stone hill and beautifully decorated with wall paintings, these monasteries are relaxing and inspiriting at the same time. The view that opens up on the top of the hill is well worth the effort of a one and a half hours trek as it’s vista includes an endless valley stretching between two Caucasian countries – Georgia and Azerbaijan.

Currency

The Georgian Lari is the currency of Georgia. The currency code for the Lari is GEL. Click on our currency URL to see the current exchange rates.

Getting There

The National Carrier - Georgian Airways fly from Tbilisi to Vienna, Amsterdam, Moscow, Kiev, Tel-Aviv, Odessa and Kharkov. They also fly from Batumi to Kiev and Moscow.

There are direct flights from other European Countries including the U.K., Germany and Turkey.

Many thanks to Nini Murvanidze of Redix Travel in Tbilisi, Georgia, who wrote this article for us. To find out more information about visiting Georgia please click on their web address http://www.redixtravel.com.