Georgian Wine and Cuisine

Wine is inseparable part of Georgian feasts. Georgia is one of the oldest countries in the world wine making wise. Archeologists proved that people were producing wine up to 8000 years ago.  The way of wine making is truly unique in Georgia. Wine is kept in clay vessels called “Kvevri” and  kept under the ground which gives wine an unforgettable flavor. Thanks to this technique of Georgian wine making and fermenting grape juice in clay vessels, the country’s ancient t...

Unesco Heritage Sites

Our current UNESCO heritage sites include the ancient capital city of Mtskheta, the massive cathedral complexes Gelati, and the mountain region of Svaneti. The Gelati Monastery, whose main buildings were erected between the 12th and 17th centuries, is a well-preserved complex, with wonderful mosaics and wall paintings. The cathedral and monastery represent the flowering of medieval architecture in Georgia. The historic churches of Mtskheta, former capital of Georgia, are outstanding examples of ...

First Europeans

Recent excavations of Dmanisi have revealed an extraordinary record of the earliest hominid dispersal beyond Africa (1,75 million years ago). Several hominid individuals along with abundant well-preserved remains of fossil animals and stone artefacts have been found. The Dmanisi specimens are the most primitive and small-brained humans found outside of Africa to be attributed to Homo erectus sensu lato, and they are the closest to the presumed Homo habilis-like stream. It is widely recognized th...

Flora and Fauna

Georgia is one of the most ecologically diverse countries in the world, with climatic zones ranging from subtropical to high alpine to semi-desert. Georgia is also home to vast expanses of completely unspoiled wildernesses, including one of Europe’s largest national parks. Our pristine wetlands and mountain aeries make this country a Mecca for bird watchers worldwide. Bears, lynxes and even leopards can be found in Georgia’s dense forests of Caucasian fir-the tallest trees in Europe....

Argonauts

Colchis was the ancient name of West Georgia. In Greek mythology, Colchis was the location of the Golden Fleece sought by Jason and the Argonauts in Apollonius Rhodius’ epic tale Argonautica. Princess Medea and the Golden Fleece are believed to be of Georgian origin, from ancient Aia. Numerous golden artifacts have been found here during excavations. The incorporation of the Golden Fleece into the myth may have derived from the local practice of using fleeces to si...

Alphabet

There are only 14 alphabets in the world and one of them is Georgian. Nowadays Georgians use 33 letters and 33 corresponding sounds. Georgian belongs to Iberian-Caucasian language family. Georgian alphabet was created in 3rd c B.C. although the earliest script about martyr Shushanik dates back to the 5th c A.D. There are 2 more languages in Georgian apart of Georgian itself. These are Megrelian and Svanetian, although only Georgian is the spoken and written as well. This is our o...