<strong>Mutso:</strong> Once Georgia's most impregnable stronghold throughout the Middle Ages, the fortified town of Mutso was restored and rebuilt in 2014.
Mutso: Once Georgia's most impregnable stronghold throughout the Middle Ages, the fortified town of Mutso was restored and rebuilt in 2014.
National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia
<strong>Mutso: </strong>In 2019, the town bagged the Europa Nostra Award, Europe's most coveted award in cultural heritage.
Mutso: In 2019, the town bagged the Europa Nostra Award, Europe's most coveted award in cultural heritage.
Georgian National Tourism Administration
<strong>Ushguli: </strong>Hidden deep in the Caucasian wilderness and snowbound for eight months of the year, Ushguli's isolation allowed it to preserve its millennium-old culture distinguished by bareback horse racing, animist rituals, and an unwritten 4,000-year-old language.
Ushguli: Hidden deep in the Caucasian wilderness and snowbound for eight months of the year, Ushguli's isolation allowed it to preserve its millennium-old culture distinguished by bareback horse racing, animist rituals, and an unwritten 4,000-year-old language.
Georgian National Tourism Administration
<strong>Vardzia:</strong> This<strong> </strong>nine-tiered cave complex rising above the parched foothills of Samtskhe-Javakheti was constructed as an elaborate bunker in the 12th century.
Vardzia: This nine-tiered cave complex rising above the parched foothills of Samtskhe-Javakheti was constructed as an elaborate bunker in the 12th century.
Georgian National Tourism Administration
<strong>Gelati Monastery: </strong>The interior of the Cathedral of the Virgin at Gelati Monastery is covered in a sea of well-preserved ancient frescoes.
Gelati Monastery: The interior of the Cathedral of the Virgin at Gelati Monastery is covered in a sea of well-preserved ancient frescoes.
Georgian National Tourism Administration
<strong>Gelati Monastery:</strong> Most frescoes in Georgian churches were whitewashed by Russian imperialists in the 19th century, so the fact they've survived is something of a miracle.
Gelati Monastery: Most frescoes in Georgian churches were whitewashed by Russian imperialists in the 19th century, so the fact they've survived is something of a miracle.
Georgian National Tourism Administration
<strong>Gergeti Trinity Church: </strong>A few black-cloaked monks live in the adjoining building; enter the church wearing shorts, a hat, or anything revealing, and you risk their ire.
Gergeti Trinity Church: A few black-cloaked monks live in the adjoining building; enter the church wearing shorts, a hat, or anything revealing, and you risk their ire.
Georgian National Tourism Administration
<strong>Gergeti Trinity Church: </strong>This church is one of Georgia's most impressive sights thanks to its dramatic hilltop position in the shadow of Mount Kazbek, Europe's fifth-highest summit.
Gergeti Trinity Church: This church is one of Georgia's most impressive sights thanks to its dramatic hilltop position in the shadow of Mount Kazbek, Europe's fifth-highest summit.
KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Ananuri:</strong> This castle complex on the Aragvi River in Georgia once served as the residence of the eristavis (Dukes) of Aragvi.
Ananuri: This castle complex on the Aragvi River in Georgia once served as the residence of the eristavis (Dukes) of Aragvi.
Georgian National Tourism Administration
<strong>Gomismta: </strong>Small rural region Guria, situated in western Georgia renowned for its tea plantations, egg-filled khachapuri (cheese bread), shrill yodeling (krimanchuli), and idyllic mountain retreats like Gomismta, where shepherds bring their sheep to pasture in the summer.
Gomismta: Small rural region Guria, situated in western Georgia renowned for its tea plantations, egg-filled khachapuri (cheese bread), shrill yodeling (krimanchuli), and idyllic mountain retreats like Gomismta, where shepherds bring their sheep to pasture in the summer.
Benjamin Kemper
<strong>Sighnaghi: </strong>Located in Georgia's Kakheti region, Sighnaghi is known for its natural wines.
Sighnaghi: Located in Georgia's Kakheti region, Sighnaghi is known for its natural wines.
Georgian National Tourism Administration
<strong>Dartlo: </strong>Clinging to a near-sheer mountainside, Dartlo is a time-warpy paradise of stone towers, wildflower-blanketed meadows, and charming old houses.
Dartlo: Clinging to a near-sheer mountainside, Dartlo is a time-warpy paradise of stone towers, wildflower-blanketed meadows, and charming old houses.
Benjamin Kemper
<strong>Dartlo: </strong>Keep an eye out for khatebi, the low stone huts on the fringes of town that the indigenous Tush people visit for worship and animal sacrifice.
Dartlo: Keep an eye out for khatebi, the low stone huts on the fringes of town that the indigenous Tush people visit for worship and animal sacrifice.
Georgian National Tourism Administration
<strong>David Gareja:</strong> Just three monasteries remain active today, presided over by an ever-shrinking cadre of Georgian Orthodox monks.
David Gareja: Just three monasteries remain active today, presided over by an ever-shrinking cadre of Georgian Orthodox monks.
Georgian National Tourism Administration
<strong>David Gareja: </strong>David Gareja monastery complex is a series of nearly 30 frescoed monasteries carved into sandstone.
David Gareja: David Gareja monastery complex is a series of nearly 30 frescoed monasteries carved into sandstone.
Georgian National Tourism Administration