Telavi
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
Telavi is a main city of Georgia's eastern province of Kakheti, on the eastern slope of Tsiv-Gombori mountain-range. It was founded in the 8th century and served as the capital of the Kingdom of Kakheti after the disintegration of united Georgian Kingdom in the 15th century. Since 1762 Telavi was a capital of the united Kingdom of Eastern Georgia - Kingdom of Kartl-Kakheti. In 1801 Kingdom of Kartl-Kakheti was annexed to the Russian Empire. Last King of Kartl-Kakheti was Giorgi XII Bagrationi (1798-1800). Telavi is connected with Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, with two highways: the first one, that is longer (156 km) and less beautifl, runs through the rural areas of Kakheti, the other, trhough the highlands of Gombori, is shorter (136 km) and is really breathtaking by its sight, but now is less exploited due to the road reconstructions. Telavi and its surroundings are rich of historical and arcitectural monuments. Telavi boasts with the reamais of the Kings' Palace, the sole palace of its kind preserved in Georgia in a fine way. 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 genious 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) and the stunning Tsinandali Gardens (the residential Palace of the Chavchavadze). Telavi is wraped in picturesque landscapes from all sides: it faces the marvellous Tsiv-Gombori from the south and looks to the fabulous Alazani Valley and Old Kavkasion Range with eternally snow covered tops to the north. Telavi is a must to visit if one happens to be in Georgia.et:Thelavi ka:თელავი ro:Telavi
