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Photo: Zangala at Georgian Wikipedia, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
A fortified fantasy castle and Georgian orthodox cathedral upon a large rock in front of the mountains with a church on top. The cathedral was erected in 1565 by King Levan. The frescos are from 1577. Built from bricks and simultaneously being a fortress, the cathedral has three entrances, a western, southern and northern one. Before it was built, the tower, still there today as bell tower and detached from the rest, was the only thing standing there.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Rents bicycles for self-guided trips through the nearby vineyards of Gremi.
The residential palace of the Chavchavadzes family. It has a charming garden of a medium size.
St. Mariam Church / წმინდა მარიამის სახელობის
ვაჩნაძიანის ყველაწმინდა
The Church of the Mother of God built in the 9th century with a complex architecture. It combines a three church basilica and the central building with a high dome. Based on this type of building, many Georgian churches were built starting from the 11th century.
Georgian: ალავერდი, ალავერდის მონასტერი, ალავერდის ტაძარი
Built in the 11th century by the order of King Kwirike III. (King of Kakheti), reaching 50 m into the sky, this is the second highest cathedral and third highest church in Georgia (after the Sameba cathedral and the Svetitskhoveli cathedral, respectively). Before it, another monastery was standing here, built during the 4th century by Ioseb Alaverdeli (Ioseb of Alaverdi).
The wine harvest festival is happening all around Alaverdi Monastery every September. It takes place several days and reaches its peak on 28th September, the day of the holy Ioseb Alawerdeli (Joseph of Alaverdi). This festival has been a tradition and popular for centuries and even survived the Soviet Union.