About Georgia

 

This is Georgia - Georgia in the Caucasus, on the Black Sea, a part of Europe. We most kindly invite you to visit Georgia, the country famous for its hospitality, fabulous feasting traditions, ancient history and great cultural heritage - We believe that it is better to see once than to hear many times.
Georgia is a small country in the Caucasus, surrounded on the north by Russia, on the east by Azerbaijan, on the south by Armenia and Turkey, and on the west by the Black Sea. It occupies a territory of 69.700 square km-s. The population is approximately 4 millions. Over its three thousand years of statehood, Georgia's independence was lost several times but regained again. Georgia is at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, and the Great Silk Road once passed through the country. It has a very important geo-political location connecting the East to the West.

Georgia is a Christian country (adopted in the 4th century). The population is mostly Georgian orthodox, but other religious affiliations have traditionally had a presence here. Georgia is world-known because of its religious and ethnic tolerance. Many different Christian churches, a Mosque and a Synagogue co-exist peacefully in the center of the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi.

In 1991 Georgia declared its independence from the Soviet Union and after some hardship is beginning to build a democratic statehood. Georgia is a western-oriented country ruled by a president and democratically elected parliament. Freedom of mass media is guaranteed by the constitution and is widely exercised within the country. 

Those who know the myth about Argounauts might remember that leader of the Argounauts Jason traveled to Kolkhida in search of the Golden Fleece finally finding his beloved Medea. Kolhida was the name of the land which is now Western Georgia. Whereas the Eastern Part of Georgia was called Iberia. Yes, indeed, like that of Iberian Peninsula. 

One of the hypothesis highly speculated by the scientists and scholars stated that the Iberians were the tribes which migrated from the South Caucasus towards the West and some reached Iberian Peninsula, whereas some of them went to the North and came up as far s the British Isles.

There are some linguistic similarities between the Georgian and Bask languages, there are some toponims also resembling each other.

According to another Greek myth Prometheus was chained at the rocks in the Caucasus Mountains.

Ancient Georgia had contacts with the representatives of all civilization, Finikians and Greeks. 

It is proved that Georgian Statehood goes back into 4th -3rd centuries BC when Georgian tribes were united under the King Farnavaz. Georgian script which is unique among 14 world known one also dates from this period.

Throughout its troublesome history Georgia preserved its national identity fighting against Arabs, Mongols, Persians, Turks and others who permanently kept attacking the country. Georgia managed to defend its religion.


As Legend tells us, St. Nino from Cappadoccia came to Georgia carrying a cross of vine branches bound together with strands of her own hair. As a result of her mission in 335 king Mirian declared Christianity as an official religion of Georgia.


In fact religion was the first factor which played the most significant role in the fighting of Georgians to preserve their identity.

Georgia attempted many times to attract the attention of west European countries towards its problems but no respond followed. Therefore in 18th century Georgia intensively contacted with Russia.
But instead of comforting Georgia Russia took advantage of the weakness of its neighbor and occupied the country in early 19th century.

So Georgia was the part of Russian Empire for more than a century and later it also experienced the Soviet Communist rule since 1921 till 1991.

For a short while, however, from 1918 till 1921 Georgia was an independent country, but communist Bolsheviks took over lately.

Now Georgia is an independent democratic country, developing its economy towards free market principles.

Georgia is a member of the United Nations (since 1992), Council of Europe (since 1999). OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe), UNESCO, WTO, Partnership for Peace (under NATO aegis) and other international institutions, world Bank and International Monetary Fund carry out their activities in Georgia.


Georgia is a country of legends, emotions and toasts! One has first to try Georgia, but having done so you are contaminated and can become Georgia-addict!

One of the most popular legends the Georgian will tell you is about the God who was distributing lands to the different nations. Of course, Georgians came late because they were feasting - drinking toasts to the God- and so Georgians missed their turn. So the God gave them what was left the land which he had kept for himself!


You will be told many legends and toasts during Georgian feasting (Supra) and we can assure you will enjoy all of them.


 So Welcome to Georgia!