The church of the Saviour stands in Mestia, the main town of Upper Svaneti. Matskhovari is how the name of the Saviour sounds in Georgian, and that is the dedication of this church.
Mestia is made up of several old quarters, and Svan towers rise above the roofs everywhere, which is what most visitors come for. Roads run from here to Ushguli and to the Hatsvali and Tetnuldi lifts, while the town itself holds two more churches: St Nino about a kilometre away and the church in Pusdi a little further.
The church is small and stands among dwelling houses, so behave as a guest would: no noise, shoulders and knees covered, a headscarf for women. Svaneti grows dark early in winter and the lanes between the quarters can be slippery, so a walk round the churches is better planned for daylight.
📜 Facts
- Matskhovari, the Georgian name of the Saviour
- Mestia, the main town of Upper Svaneti
- Two more churches in town, St Nino and the one in Pusdi
🚗 Getting there
- Landmark: the centre of Mestia; about a kilometre to the church of St Nino
- The Build Route button will take you to the spot
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