This is Svaneti, the home of the Svans, the Georgian Olympus, a sunny land of work, songs and poetic inspiration. This is the home of the industrious, bold, cheery and indomitable Svans whom the ancient Greek authors called "Soanoi" or "Soanidoi". Svaneti is a land of people that were never enslaved, where a host shielded his guest with his own body, where women had equal rights with men at tribal gatherings. Svaneti was never separated or wrested from Mother Georgia. This age-old unity was somewhat weakened in the late medieval period, but even then the region remained Georgian in language, customs and frame of mind.

The Svanian tower is often referred to as "the enigma of ancient architecture". Most of the surviving towers date back to the 12th century A.D., but the oldest Svanian towers are dated to the 1st millennium B.C. The monolithic quality and form of the Svanian towers make them the pride of world architecture. The two hundred surviving towers and a hundred churches are said to crown the grandeur of Svanian scenery.
Latali, | Mestia, | Kala, | Ushguli , | Lagami

Svaneti is rich in woods, mineral resources, and in medicinal waters. It is also a region of mountain-climbing. All the world knows the name of the courageous mountaineer, Michael Khergiani whom the Queen of England called "the tiger of the rocks". Those who come to Svaneti for the first time are deeply impressed by the sight of the proud snow-capped whitish-mauve peaks of Ushba, Shkhara, Tetnuld, Shkhelda, Aulama, and Shota Rustaveli rising to elevations of 4695, 5201, 4851, 4369, 4544 and 4960 meters respectively.
Ushba, | Shkhara, | mountain

The interior of churches is adored with 9th-17th-century mural. These are works of the local school of painting whose originality is largely determined by its links with folk art and with pre-Christian beliefs. In Svaneti altar screens were also adorned with paintings. There you can come across frescoes of various artistic excellence, from primitive frescoes done by modest provincial painters, to highly artistic works of professional artists with vivid creative individualities. The originality of these works lies also in the color scheme based upon a combination of various tints of reddish brown, yellow and gray, enlivened at times by a brilliant turquoise-blue. The scenes, including hagiographic ones, are treated emotionally and with vivid imagery. The Archangel Michael, (14th-15th century), | Descent into Hell (14th-15th century), | Entry into Jerusalem (14th-15th century), | The Nativity (11th century), | The Baptism (11th century), | Triptych (12th century), | Altar barrier, | Detail of painting (XII century)

A fire number of Georgian icons dating from the 9th to the 16th century have survived in Svaneti; most of these are the works of local artist and show features typical of the local schools of painting. The works of folk artists are especially original and colorful. St. George (13th century), | The Savior Enthroned (13th century), | The Archangel Gabriel (13th century), | The Archangel Michael (11th-12th century), | The Virgin and Child (13th century), | The Archangel Gabriel (13th century), | The Crucifixion (12th century), | The Virgin(13th century), | Christ and John the Baptist (13th century), | The Raising of Lazarus (13th century), | The Archangel (13th century)

Svaneti is often referred to as "a living museum". Svanian goldsmiths, artists, and builders created masterpieces in early medieval times. These works include wood-carvings, icons and crosses, armour, chased work in gold, as well as other pieces of applied art. The interior of churches is adorned with 9th - 17th - century murals. Medieval Svaneti had her own workshops where chased metalwork was produced. Svans understood well the specificity of silver, the material they worked with, and achieved various artists c effects by applying gilding and niello. The chased cross from Mestia with representations of scenes from the life of St. George is a masterpiece of Georgian repose work. The Savior Enthroned (13th century), | St. George (10th century), | The Virgin Hodegetria (10th century) | The Archangels Gabriel and Michael (11th century), | St. Barbare (11th century)

other links: Flag | Legend | Ingury Dam | The Unique Monuments | The Svanian Headgear |
The Clothes | The Habits | Svaneti Today |

Created by Lika Mamulashvili