Svaneti and Samegrelo Attractions: Mountains and Sea

Samegrelo and Svaneti are two northwestern regions of Georgia, completely opposite each other. The flat foothills of Samegrelo are densely populated, while Svaneti, located deep in the mountains, is considered Georgia's most attractive region, attracting numerous travelers. They stop briefly in Samgerlo, only to rest before continuing on to the mountains.

Do you know which city is as important to Georgia as Troy was to the Greeks? It's Nokalakevi, or Archeopolis, located in the Senaki region and formerly the Byzantine capital of Egrisi, and, according to some sources, also one of the oldest kingdoms of the Bronze Age (35th/33rd–13th/11th centuries BC) – Colchis. Pottery from that period has been found there.

You won't find numerous medieval monuments, churches, or temples here. Monasteries aren't as numerous as in other regions, but you should definitely see the unique ancient Megrelian monastery of Chkondidi, located near the town of Martvili, with its exquisite stone carvings that have survived to this day. It was the center of the region's scientific and cultural life, like Gelati Monastery.

Chkondidi became the burial place of the Abkhazian kings. Also worth visiting near Zugdidi are the Rukhi Fortress and the ancient Anaklia Fortress, where the mountain river Inguri flows into the sea. Samegrelo has access to the sea and is also home to Georgia's main port, Poti, and nature lovers will appreciate the Kolkheti National Park.

The Land of a Thousand Towers

After exploring the sights of Samegrelo, feel free to head to Georgia's highest point, Svaneti. Almost all of the region lies above 1,000 meters above sea level, and slightly more than half of the region is above 2,000 meters. At approximately 2,500 meters above sea level lies the highest inhabited village in Europe, Ushguli, in Upper Svaneti.

The climate, the people, the architecture, the culture, and the way of life itself—everything in Svaneti is exotic and unusual. Serfdom and nobility were unknown to the people who once lived here. The Svans, the inhabitants of Svaneti, never participated in wars aimed at seizing foreign territory; only in the early 19th century did the people of this region learn of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Svans are well acquainted with the tradition of blood feuds, which continues to this day. The Svans are an unusual, proud, and very freedom-loving people, even compared to other regions of Georgia. It's no surprise that Georgians themselves regard them with some wariness, considering them different, foreign.

Svaneti received the nickname "Land of a Thousand Towers" for its ancestral Svan towers, 10–20 meters high, built during the golden age of Svaneti, during the reign of Queen Tamar. Unfortunately, only a few remain: for example, Mestia has 48, while the village of Gobi has only one remaining in all of Lower Svaneti. They were built as hidden fortifications to shelter residents during enemy attacks.

You'll never miss a visit to Svaneti if you love majestic mountains and the incredible beauty of their landscapes, their peaks capped with eternal white snow and glaciers. There are numerous mesmerizing waterfalls here, flowing into turbulent mountain rivers. You'll also find small villages nestled right on the cliffs and pastoral meadows with grazing cattle. Mestia, with a population of about 1,600, is actively developing a ski resort, for which purpose an airport was designed and built in 2011, its architecture no less stunning than the mountains.

Northwest Georgia is one of the few places on the planet where you can experience unique experiences and vibrant emotions. So don't miss the opportunity to combine the mountains and the sea in one day, first skiing down the mountains and then relaxing by the sea.

Read more interesting information about Georgia's resort towns in Madloba's directory. We strive to provide detailed and understandable information about everything important to tourists!

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• Senaki: A Military Town and Its Rich History