KAKHETI IS OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH AWESOME WINE AND THE MAJESTIC SLOPES OF THE CAUCASIAN MOUNTAINS. THIS REGION IS HOME TO VARIOUS LANDMARKS, BUT IN ORDER TO FULLY FEEL ITS CHARM, YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY VISIT SIGHNAGHI, THE “MUSEUM-TOWN” THAT SITS PROUDLY ATOP THE COLD GOMBORI MOUNTAINS.

SIGHNAGHI

With good touristic infrastructure, comfy hotels and cozy restaurants oriented to gourmet family food, Sighnaghi is a wonderful place to spend the weekend. The city has kept its authentic historical and architectural look- narrow and cobbled streets follow a slope and houses are located on terraces. House roofs dating back to the XIX century also add special charm to the city.

Sighnaghi is one of Georgia’s smallest and most beautiful tourist centers. With a population of approximately 2,000 people, the city and its surroundings are picturesque with their stunning landscapes, historical monuments, wine cellars and the Ethnographic Museum. One of Sighnaghi’s best-loved features is the longest fortress-wall in Georgia (4.5 km long), which harmonically blends in with the urban space. Sighnaghi fortress is the biggest among historical buildings of Georgia, spread across 40 hectares in an uneven location, following as it does the mountain relief, before slipping down into a deep ravine. In historical sources Sighnaghi as a town first appears in accounts of the XVIII century. Before this, the territory was known as Kambechovani and later Kiziki. There was no serfdom in Kiziki and people subordinated only to a king. It is very interesting to visit St. Stephan’s church (1762) in Sighnaghi,built into the tallest tower of the wall, from which you can enjoy a splendid view of the city and Alazani Valley. In Sighnaghi’s Archeological-Ethnographic Museum, located at # 8 Rustaveli Cul-de-Sac, you can check out paintings of the world-famous Georgian primitivist painter Niko Pirosmani. The artist was from Kakheti and his art, especially in its first phase, was inspired by the region. At different times the same museum has hosted exhibitions of Pablo Picasso, John Wurdeman and Lado Gudiashvili.

And don’t miss a chance to visit Sighnaghi’s Wedding House, a beautiful architectural monument which was built in the XIX century.

Sighnaghi is also home to various folk festivals throughout the year.

There are a number of remarkable cafes and restaurants in Sighnaghi, often serving gourmet dishes made of organic products. There are also over ten hotels suitable for all types and tastes of visitors.

Near Sighnaghi, in Kedeli village, you can visit the beautiful Bodbe Nunnery, where the tomb of St. Nino can be found. St. Nino, enlightener of Georgia, passed away in 338. The first church near her tomb was constructed in the IV century.