Kakheti and the city of love
Kakheti is often called the heart of Georgia. It adorns the east of the country and combines everything that’s so Georgian - perennial vine culture, hectares of vineyards, magnificent polyphony, impressive architecture, and delicious dishes. Coming to the table here is a pleasure, here you will hear "Mravaljamieri", "Chakrulo", taste such wines as “khashmi”, “mukuzani”, “kindzmarauli”... you will taste "Chakapuli", "Mtsvadi" and other local dishes. Kakheti is an incomparably beautiful region. The Caucasus overlooks the Alazani Valley from the north. It is in this valley that the harvest from which the famous Kakhetian wine is made comes.
In the middle of this valley, Alaverdi is located. The cathedral is raised 50 meters high and its dome overlooks Gombori. Exalted by the local wine, this sight will doubly enchant and captivate you. You will become a part of this place, like the main character of Guram Rcheulishvili's story "Alaverdoba" - "He thinks: where does this vitality come from and answers: it is in me..."
The route continues in the direction of Sighnaghi. The name is of Turkish origin and means "shelter", however, it happened that the city acquired a new essence and became a "lover's refuge" - Sighnaghi is often called the city of love. The city has preserved its original appearance, the castle walls built by Erekle II, which once protected the royal city from enemies, now dazzle the visitors and create an unforgettable atmosphere for them.
Not far from Sighnaghi is the Bodbe Monastery, which is an outstanding place for Christians - Saint Nino, the educator of Georgians, rests here. All the kings took care of this monastery, moreover, it was so respected that even the Mongols left it untouched. Bodbe Monastery was also an educational center, as since the seventeenth century there was a seminary here. Over time, misfortunes also passed, but in 1991 it was restored and today, it has almost returned to its original appearance. Along with the tomb of Saint Nino, one of the greatest relics of the monastery is the miraculous icon of Our Lady of Iveria (Panagia Portaitissa). According to legend, the icon was used as a table in the X-ray room in the monastery converted into a hospital, during the communist era. The Mother of God appeared to a nurse and ordered the icon to be moved to its place - with such miracles It kept itself for centuries.
The next stop is Telavi, the main city of Kakheti. During the reign of Achill II, when the residence moved here from Gremli, the city became a literary center. Telavi is embellished with Alazani river and Tsiv-Gombori range, which are witnesses of many cultural changes. The most important among them is the creation of the Ikalto Academy, founded by Arsen of Iqalto. Many important texts were translated and written here and it was one of the main educational centers in Georgia. This is where Shota Rustaveli, the author of "The Knight in the Panther's Skin", received his first education before going to Byzantium.
There is a lot to see in Telavi: the house-museum of Alexander Chavchavadze in Tsinandali, one of the first European-style decorative garden planted on eighteen hectares, for which Alexander specially brought here European architects. The garden is decorated with exotic plants from many countries. Here you can visit an alley of love, in which if a couple can walk blindfolded, their love will be eternal.
You can also visit the palace of the distinguished Georgian king, Erekle II, right in Telavi. His Castle used to be a residence, and today, together with the entire complex, it is part of the historical museum of Telavi, which definitely will interest all the visitors.
It is impossible to discover Georgia without Kakheti. Here you should enjoy the architecture built by nature and a man and at the same time grasp the surrounding atmosphere. Take in the richness of this place and look over the fertile Alazani Valley. You will be pleasantly surprised!
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