Telavi

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Kathedrale of Alaverdi

Telavi (Georgian: ) is a main city of Georgia's eastern province of Kakheti, on the eastern slope of the Tsiv-Gombori mountain-range. Telavi is mentioned in Greek geographer Ptolemeus as Teleda in the 2 century AD. As a large city and one of the political centers of Kakheti , Telavi transformed in the 8th century. From 10th to the 12th century Telavi served as the capital of the Kingdom of Kakheti. During the so called Golden Era of Georgian state (12-13th centuries), Telavi was one of the most important political and economic centers of the country. After the disintegration of united Georgian Kingdom in the 15th century, Telavi declined and became ordinal city of trade and crafts. From the 17th century, Telavi re-gains the political importance and from 1762 it becomes the second capital (after Tbilisi) of the united Kingdoms of Eastern Georgia and Kartl-Kakheti. In 1801 the Kingdom of Kartl-Kakheti was annexed to the Russian Empire. In the 19th century, Telavi is a center of small administrative unit of Russian Empire in Tbilisi Guberny. During that period, economic of the city is mainly composed of small-scale industry (leather painting, pottery production, wine-making, etc.), commerce and agriculture.

Telavi is connected with Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, with two highways: the first, one that is longer (156 km) and less scenic, runs through the rural areas of Kakheti, the other, through the highlands of Gombori mountain range, is shorter (96 km) and is breathtakingly beautiful, but now is less exploited due to the road reconstructions.

Telavi and its surroundings are rich in historical and arcitectural monuments. Telavi has the remains of the Royal Palace (17-18th centuries) - the sole palace of its kind preserved in Georgia in a fine way. Another important heritage monuments preserved in the city are: church of the St. Mary (16th centurt), church of Holly Trinity (6th century). Other landmarks comprise the Alaverdi Cathedral (the second highest cathedral in Georgia after the newly built Sameba (the Holy Trinity) in Tbilisi), the Ikalto Academy (where the famous Georgian writer and genius Shota Rustaveli studied), the church of St. George (the most admired and mighty saints for Georgians; it is said that in Georgia there are 365 churches in the name of St. George), ruins of Gremi city (the former capital of Kakheti in 15-17th centuries), Shuamta - complex of three churches of different periods - 6th, 7th, 8th centuries in the marvelous highland forest, Akhali Shuamta - New Shuamta - the monastery nearby Dzveli Shuamta uilt in 16th century and the stunning Tsinandali Gardens (the residential Palace of the Chavchavadze).

Telavi is wrapped in picturesque landscapes from all sides: it faces the marvellous Tsiv-Gombori from the south and looks to the fabulous Alazani Valley and Old Caucasus Range with eternally snow covered tops to the north.

Because of its beauty, history and monuments and what is the most important - hospitality and kindness of its residents, Telavi is a must to visit if one happens to be in Georgia.

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