Telavi
Town, railway station, 568 m. above sea level, population - 28 000, the former capital of the Kingdom of Kakhetia. Telavi became the capital of Kakheti after the devastation of Gremi by the Persians. The name of the town is derived from the Georgian word "tela", which means "elm". Indeed there are many ancient elms and plane trees in the town and its environs.
Telavi was the capital city of the Kakhetian kingdom from the 16th to 18th centuries, and is spread out along the Gomborsky Range.
Today it is the largest city in Kakheti. The town itself includes the imposing citadel itself, the ruins of older fortifications, and a royal palace. The latter was reconstructed in the 19th century; it contains a small art gallery and a historical museum.
Not far from the citadel gate is a monument to Irakli II, one of the last Georgian kings.
The historic part of the city has long been declared a preserve and is protected by the state. High-rise residential building is carried out at a distance from the city's ancient centre.
South of Telavi lies the David Gareja Desert, a wild and remote spot with rare plants and animals. Here, one can also find the David Gareja Monastery, said to be the holiest spot in Georgia. A world famous school of fresco painting thrived here and many of the surviving frescos date back to the 9th century.
The Kakhetians are known for their conviviality and rare is the visitor who can stay sober for long.
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