Ushguli, St. George’s church of Nakiphari and St. Barbara’s church of Khe

Time: all day

Ushguli is the legend of Upper Svaneti. Its characteristic architecture against the background of Mt. Shkhara (highest summit of Georgia) adorns the list of UNESCO World Culture Heritage. The village is only 48 km away from Mestia, but it takes about 1.5-2 hours to get there by car. There is a marked walking trail around the historic part of Ushguli that you can follow. On the trail you can visit the so-called treasury of Chazhashi (state-owned museum displaying medieval art-pieces formerly kept in Ushguli’s churches), a private ethnographic museum representing a traditional Svaneti household in Zhibiani, and Lamaria monastery to the north of Ushguli. On the way to Ushguli (or possibly on the way back, depending on when the key-keepers are available) you will visit St.Barbara’s church of Khe in Kala Community (10th century building and 13th -14th century frescoes), and magnificent St.George’s church of Nakiphari (9th century building and 12th century frescoes attributed to Royal Painter to King David the Builder, Tevdore).