Tourist Agency "Visit Georgia"

KAKHETI – The Best Place to Taste Wine Is in
the Cradle of Wine-Making

In this country of wine-lovers, everyone agrees that the very best wines come from the fertile easternmost part of Georgia, called by Dumas “the garden province of Kakheti.” In some ways, little has changed since his time – horse-drawn carts are a frequent sight on the quiet country roads, the fields are dotted with hayricks, the rivers wind untrammeled through green pastures and the sweet grapes are still harvested by hand.
 But wine is not all that Kakheti has to offer – the rich history of the region has bequeathed to us some of Georgia’s finest examples of church architecture. Add to this the friendliness and easy-going hospitality of the people and you will understand why a visit to Kakheti is always a pleasure.

                                                HIGHLIGHTS

The Town of Telavi David Gareja Cave Monastery Ninotsminda Monastery Bodbe Monastery of St Nino Kvelatsminda Church

Alaverdi Cathedral Shuamta Complex Gremi Church Nekresi Monastery  Ikalto Academy

The Town of Telavi is the administrative and cultural centre of the region. In earlier times, it was the capital of the Kakhetian kingdom and the 17^th century royal castle of Batonistsikhe still dominates the heart of the town today.
Bodbe Monastery of St Nino (4^th century) holds the tomb of St Nino, the Cappadocian maiden who converted the Georgian people to Christianity as early as 337AD.
David Gareja Cave Monastery was founded in the 6^th century by David, one of the 13 Syrian Fathers who preached Christianity to the Georgian people. Its painted caves look out over a starkly beautiful landscape of striated valleys and windswept ridges giving stunning views over to neighbouring Azerbaijan.
Nekresi Monastery complex includes several buildings worthy of interest, notably the 4^th century church which is one of the oldest in Georgia, and the unusual 7^th century “three-church basilica” - three churches for the price of one!
Ninotsminda Monastery is named after St Nino. The ruined 6^th century church contrasts with the Persian-style belltower built a thousand years later.
At 50m, Alaverdi Cathedral (11^th century) is the tallest in Georgia. It stands in a fertile river valley, its surrounding walls silhouetted against the backdrop of the Caucasus Mountains and enclosing the monastic refectory, wine-cellar and bath-house as well as the 17^th century governor’s residence from a time when Kakheti was under Islamic rule.
Kvelatsminda Church (8^th – 9^th centuries) is dedicated to All Saints. Its twin cupolas make it unique in Georgian church architecture.
Ikalto - A peaceful walled garden encloses the 6^th century monastery buildings and the famed academy, added in the 12^th century by King David the Builder. This is where the great national poet Shota Rustaveli studied, no doubt drawing inspiration for his work from the beautiful landscape of the Kakheti countryside.
Shuamta or “between the mountains” is the name given to two monasteries – Akhali (New) Shuamta, a 16^th century monastery now once again in use, and the isolated Dzveli (Old) Shuamta with its three early churches dating to the 6^th –7^th  centuries set among forested hills.
Gremi - On a crag overlooking peaceful meadows and a few romantic ruins are the 16^th century church and tower of Gremi - all that remains of the once flourishing capital of Kakheti.