Telavi - Heritage

Heritage

Telavi and its surroundings are rich by historical, architectural and natural monuments. The most important heritage monuments preserved within the city limits include:

  • "Dzveli Galavani" (old walls) - fortress of the first Kakhetian kings (9-10th centuries, AD);
  • Church of the St. Mary (16th century, AD);
  • Church of the Holy Trinity (6th century, AD);
  • Fortress "Batonis Tsikhe" (fortress of master) built in 17th century, AD - this is the only well-preserved medieval royal palaces in Georgia;
  • "Korchibashishvilebis Tsikhe" - castle of local noblemen Korchibashishvilis (16-18th century, AD);
  • "Vakhvakhishvilebis Tsikhe" - castle of local noblemen Vakhvakhishvilis (18th century, AD).

Telavi is the only city in Georgia, where four fortification monuments from different historical periods remain relatively intact. Due to this reason, architects, scholars and art historians consider Telavi as the most "medieval" cities in the country. Another curious sight in Telavi is a 900-year-old sycamore (45 meters high, 12.4 meters around the trunk).Other notable landmarks around Telavi include the Alaverdi Cathedral (11th century AD) - the second highest cathedral in Georgia after the newly built Tbilisi Sameba Cathedral, the Ikalto Academy (8-12th centuries AD) - where the famous Georgian writer Shota Rustaveli studied, the Church of St. George (dedicated to the patron saint of Georgia; it is said that in Georgia there are 365 churches in the name of St. George), ruins of the city and castle of Gremi (the former capital of Kakheti from the 15-17th centuries AD), Shuamta - a complex made up of three churches of different periods - 6th, 7th and 8th centuries in a highland forest, Akhali Shuamta ("New Shuamta" in English) - the monastery close to Dzveli Shuamta ("Old Shuamta" in English), built in the 16th century, the stunning Tsinandali Gardens (the residential Palace of Noblemen Chavchavadzes family) and many others.

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Famous quotes containing the word heritage:

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    —Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961)

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