CAVE TOWN OF VARDZIA

You can take the tour on your own, but a guide will show you all the secrets of the labyrinths and galleries of the troglodyte town of Vardzia. The first caves were once stables. On the floor, you'll notice terracotta water pipes dating back to the ^13th century. Spring water was supplied via a 3.5 km-long tunnel. Next to the bell tower, you'll see the remains of the pipes that redirected the 160,000 liters of water per day. Food was stored in the back of the caves (cool in summer, warm in winter).

The town's central monument is the superb Church of the Assumption, half-cut into the rock, half-built. Its double-arched portico is a famous image. Unfortunately, the front of the church has collapsed, but the remaining half is superb. According to tradition, the church's former bell tower, which was made of gold, stood next to the building and was taken away by the Persian Shah Tahmasp ^I. Its frescoes are admirable (1184-1186, the same dates as the church's construction). At the entrance to the church, the Virgin carrying Jesus, between the angels Michael and Gabriel. But the most famous and one of Georgia's most important frescoes is that of Queen Tamar as a young girl, dressed as a man before her marriage. This can be seen from the fact that she wears neither jewels nor a wimple around her neck). To the right of her drawing, the inscription "King of the kings of all the East, daughter of Guiorgui, Tamar, long may she live". Next to the queen, or rather the king, as he is called in great respect, is her father Giorgi III. To his right, the inscription "The King of Kings of all the East, son of Dimitri, George, King of Kings".

In the church, you can buy candles to go to the spring just to the left of the church. If you watch your step and your head (apart from candlelight, there's no illumination), you'll come to a source of drinking water (9.6^m3 for a flow of 52 liters of water per day). This is the "Tears of Tamar", where Orthodox vows are made. You can exit via a gallery to the left of the altar (a monk can open the door). You can then continue along the caves to the left. To return to the parking lot, go back down the opposite side of the climb. Small staircases leading to another unlit gallery will take you straight down to the bottom of the site. A must-see!