Mestia: Home of Medieval Stone Towers
Mestia is the capital of Upper Svaneti, Georgia. One unique characteristic of this town is that it is composed of ten hamlets, which all have imposing towers used to fortify the area during the Middle Ages. Aside from these structures, various medieval monuments are also scattered all over the city. Some of them have been listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites due to their historical and cultural significance. Mestia is also known as a base for mountaineering tourism in the area.
Best Time to Visit
Tourists frequent this town during the summer and winter seasons, so expect Mestia accommodations to be full of mountaineers or skiers. For visitors who just want to stroll around the town and bask in its beauty, the autumn season offers a colorful floral display.
What to Do & Area Attractions
Travelers in this town should drop a visit at the Mestia Historical-Ethnographic Museum, which showcases artifacts such as manuscripts, pieces of jewelry, coins, and weaponry from the 10th-14th century. Visitors who are here during the winter should not skip hiking the Chaladi Glacier. This picturesque would only track 5-6 hours of round-trip trekking, so it is an activity that visitors can squeeze in their itinerary. For accommodation needs, Hotel Svaneti is conveniently located a mile away from the airport and is also just a few minutes away from a ski resort. Alternatively, tourists can also stay at the Hotel White Mountains, which is close to two of the major museums in this area.
