Book Review of Hard by a Great Forest

Hard by a Great Forest, by Leo Vardiashvili, is a wonderful, horrible book. The book is wonderful in that it presents believable, likeable characters who are continually placed in extraordinary situations. We are compelled to root for them as they move from one to the other and as we turn page after page. The book […]

Fortress of Gonio: Georgia’s Roman Heritage

The Fortress of Gonio, located in Adjara, Georgia, is an ancient Roman fortification dating back to the 1st century AD. A strategic point along the Black Sea coast, over the centuries, it was expanded and fortified by the Byzantines and Ottomans. Today, the well-preserved remains of Gonio Fortress stand as an important cultural and archaeological […]

Tbilisi’s Museums: History, Art, and Science in the Georgian Capital

Welcome to Tbilisi, a city of amazing history, breathtaking creativity, and constant innovation. Showcasing this are an astonishing number of great museums. This guide will take you through some of the city’s best institutions – from well-known staples like the National Museum of History to off-the-beaten-path gems like the Pirosmani House Museum, to often overlooked […]

The Dadiani Palaces Historical and Architectural Museum

The Dadiani Palaces Historical and Architectural Museum is the preserved former home and museum of the House of Dadiani. The Dadianis once ruled the Georgian region of Mingrelia and their noble family traces its history back one thousand years. The Dadiani Palace is the de-facto center of Zugdidi, a relatively small city that is still […]

Soviet Mosaics in Georgia: Controversy, History, and Fascination

I can’t put my finger on what sparked my interest in Soviet-era mosaics, but at this point, I’m obsessed. As someone who grew up in the US, it’s a rather foreign thing to see the sides of entire buildings decked out in brightly colored scenes made of tiles. It also contradicts what many people believe […]

The Simon Janashia Museum of Georgia (The National Museum of Georgia)

The Simon Janashia Museum of Georgia is a great first stop in Georgia for an essential overview of the country’s place not only as a small country that has long lived at the crossroads of great empires but also as a modern nation with a layered millennia-old history unto itself. The museum shows the highlights […]

The Opera and Ballet Theater of Tbilisi

The Opera and Ballet Theater of Tbilisi has a rich history and offers a diverse range of opera and ballet performances – from traditional masterpieces to innovative contemporary offerings. Built in the late 19th century, the theater showcases a stunning blend of neoclassical and Moorish architectural styles as well as opulent interiors, creating a majestic […]

The Batumi Archeological Museum in Georgia

The Batumi Archeological Museum is centrally located on the main highway that runs through the city. It is a two-story stone building that houses a plethora of artifacts from Georgian excavation sites, bringing to life the story of the local people and their connections to European culture. History and Founding of the Batumi Archeological Museum […]

How to Change the Caucasus’ Image

The Village is a Russian-language publication in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Kiev that seeks to inform locals about their various cities, upcoming events, urban changes, and history. The following is an interesting entry from a series of articles which The Village introduces with the following statement: “Until recently, it seemed that everyone copied Moscow and St. Petersburg, and ultimately, everyone […]

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