This city has been standing for 1,500 years and has been receiving visitors all this time.

Almost nothing has changed since the time it was founded to the present day: the same people, language, customs, fortresses, churches…

Only the taverns (dukhan) are now called restaurants. But who cares, the food and wine are just the same!

Oh, sorry, there has been one change, a cable railway was added in the 21st century.

However this…has been standing above the old capital since the 6th century…and is still as good as new!

And this one dates back to the 11th century, but inside it houses another small church. Like the one…

…of the 6th century. And this is called…Civilization!!!

About forty miles to the east you will find the Gareji Hermitage.

Monks have been living here…

in caves…since the 6th century.

Paintings began appearing on the walls in the 9th century…

and have survived in their original appearance…

although of course there have been attempts to spoil them: rain, wind, earthquakes, and enemy invaders. The Persians and Ottomans did their best, but nothing came of it.

And this is called Faith!

At the foot of the mountain range lies the Alazani Valley. This land has always played an important role in the history of Georgia. Alazani is the center of wineculture and winemaking—the oldest industries of these parts.

Ikalto is a 6th-century monastery, as well as a spiritual academy. In the Middle Ages, theology, philosophy, history, geography, rhetoric, and poetry were taught here. Shota Rustaveli, the author of The Knight in the Panther’s Skin, was one of its students.

And this is the monastery’s winery. How can a monastery exist without wine?!

This is the famous Alaverdi Monastery, where monastic service began in the 6th century. Alaverdi is a sacred site for all Georgians.

This is the Gremi Fortress built in the 15th century. In the Middle Ages, when Kakheti became a separate kingdom, it was the summer residence of the Kakhetian kings…with all the inherent attributes…

…such as this…

… and this…

And this is a 17th century winery in the village of Velistsikhe (Georgian for Fortress in the Valley). We often come here to make merry…

And this is the town of Sighnaghi, that is, kiziki—a free town that was not subordinate to the feudal lords. It has been entirely restored in keeping with the layout of the 19th century, a very attractive place

…and a small museum has opened here displaying paintings by Niko Pirosmani.

If you leave the Alazani Valley and go up into the mountains to the north, at an altitude of almost 10,000 feet, you will find Tusheti, a land beyond the clouds where contemplative shepherds reside…

…and genuine mountain dumplings (khinkali).

And if you go even further along the Great Caucasian Mountain Range to the northwest (we also offer such itineraries), you will reach Khevsureti—the land of knights and warriors.

And if you go even further along the Great Caucasian Mountain Range to the northwest (we also offer such itineraries), you will reach Khevsureti—the land of knights and warriors.

And in conditions like these since the 8th century.

Cattle graze in the mountain pastures, just as they did thousands of years ago…

While in the mountain streams…

people pan for gold, just like in the times of the Argonauts,

by throwing a sheep skin into the stream. It is the Golden Fleece itself! And this is called the Gifts of Nature!

If you have any doubts, here is proof

When you descend from the mountains, you find yourself on the seashore, in Anaklia…

…and further on is Batumi.

And this is called the Modern Day!

Meanwhile, in the south of the country…

in a modern flying machine…

we take off on another adventure.

We pass over medieval fortresses that defend the valley and…

mountain gorges.

And fly to famous…

Vardzia.

a 19-tier cliff dwelling

built here in the 11th-12th centuries.

This town, later destroyed by an earthquake, was one of the residences of great Georgian queen Tamara.

Frescoes of those times portraying queen Tamara next to her father have survived on the walls of the churches. The queen is not wearing the scarf that traditionally covered the women’s heads, leaving only the facial features open. This means that she was not married, still very young, just setting out on her great path in life.

This is from the 12th century. Georgian graphic painting (a school all on its own).

And this is the town of Akhaltsikhe (New Fortress in English) situated not far from Vardzia.

And this is Rabati, a fortress built in the pseudo-Mauritarian style in the 9th-15th centuries.

and renovated a few years ago.

But this cannot be renovated. And there is no need, because it is part of the Great Heritage of our little Georgia.

We have taken you on a journey to feast your eyes on the beautiful sights that exist in different regions of Georgia, but this is only a small part. Now we are flying home through the Borjomi Pass. Tomorrow new visitors are arriving, and we are off to greet them!