Tour: Borjomi – Akhaltsykhe – Vardzia

    

 

In the moring drive from Borjomi to recently reconstructed Akhaltsykhe fortress, the motherland of Charles Aznavur, the ancient center of Catholicism in Georgia. In the complex, together with Orthodox Church of St. Marina, are placed mosque, catholic church and monastery of Benedictine Sisters, synagogue and Armenian church. Visit of Vardzia cave monastery complex (XII- XIII c.) – 19 stepped rock town. For 900 m along the left bank of Kura river, in the plumb wall of the mountain, around 600 buildings are cut out – churches, chapels, parrocks, pantries, baths, libraries. There preserved secret passages, remains of plumbing, and irrigation system. Vardzia – is the site of the era of Golden Age. More than thousands of monks lived there, and when being attacked, to 20 thousand of people could shelter there. Return to Borjomi.