Hello there!
I’m not good at writing at all and therefore, I’m not an active blogger here but I often visit ‘WordPress’ because it is one of the best source of information about people, their lives, places where they live and overall, about their cultures. I have been thinking for a long time to make so called ‘online travel guide’ for those people who travel around the world and are interested in cultures of different countries. So, now I decided to make it real, I will try give you as much information as possible and arouse your interest about my country – Georgia;
For those who don’t know – Georgia is a sovereign country in Caucasus, located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe. It is bounded to the west by Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the south by Turkey and Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan.
The Georgia (Sakartvelo) is one of the oldest countries in the world and Georgian language is one of the oldest living languages in world, therefore this country with great history, culture and traditions has left to us a lot to see – churches, fortresses, historical monuments and etc. I won’t continue talking about Etymology, Geography, Climate and so on…
‘Katskhi pillar’ is located in Imereti, Western part of Georgia, near the Chiatura city; Someone called it ‘Stairway to Heaven’. The unique church of Katskhi pillar sits on top of a rock formation which towers 130 ft high. The high church is estimated to have been built in between the 6th and 8th centuries, a Georgian monk had been living in it for 20 years.
The cave city of Vardzia is a cave monastery dug into the side of the Erusheli mountain in southern Georgia near Aspindza on the left bank of the Mtkvari River. It was founded by Queen Tamar in 1185. The monastery was constructed as protection from Mongols and consisted over six thousands apartments in a thirteen story complex. The city included a church, a throne room, and a complex irrigation system watering terraced farmlands. The only access to the complex was through some well hidden tunnels near the Mtkvari river.
An earthquake in Samtskhe destroyed approximately two thirds of the city in 1283, exposing the caves to outside view and collapsing the irrigation system.
‘Svetitskhoveli Cathedral’ (the Living Pillar Cathedral) is a Georgian Orthodox Cathedral located in the historical town of Mtskheta.
Svetitskhoveli, known as the burial site of Christ’s mantle, has long been the principal Georgian church and remains one of the most venerated places of worship to this day. It presently functions as the seat of the archbishop of Mtskheta and Tbilisi, who is at the same time Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia.
The current cathedral was built in the 11th century by the Georgian architect Aruskidze, though the site itself is even older dating back to the early 4th century and is surrounded by a number of legends associated primarily with the early Christian traditions.
The Shatili Village is a historic highland village in Georgia, near the border with Chechnya. It is located on the northern slope of the Greater Caucasus mountains, in the historical Georgian province of Upper Khevsureti, which is now part of the modern-day region (mkhare) of Mtskheta-Mtianeti.
Narikala is an ancient fortress overlooking Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, and the Kura River. The fortress consists of two walled sections on a steep hill between the sulphur baths and the botanical gardens of Tbilisi. On the lower court there is the recently restored St Nicholas church.
The fortress was established in the 4th century as Shuris-tsikhe (Invidious Fort). It was considerably expanded by the Umayyadas in the 7th century and later, by king David the Builder (1089-1125). The Mongols renamed it “Narin Qala” (i.e., “Little Fortress”). Most of extant fortifications date from the 16th and 17th centuries. In 1827, parts of the fortress were damaged by an earthquake and demolished. 
Ushguli is a community of villages located at the head of the Enguri gorge in Upper Svanetia.
There are a lot of more fortresses,churches and historical sites in Georgia and if anyone wants I can give an additional information.
few other photos…
Photos weren’t taken by me, I have founded those in Google! This is the first time I making this kind of thing so I encouraged only with basic information, who are interested, I can give you an additional photos and information about places.
Thanks.
