{"id":18784,"date":"2020-03-24T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-03-24T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/?p=18784"},"modified":"2023-07-28T12:47:54","modified_gmt":"2023-07-28T11:47:54","slug":"georgia-country-facts-never-knew","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/georgia-country-facts-never-knew\/","title":{"rendered":"9 fun Georgia country facts you probably never knew"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

The birthplace of wine, a cave city and a unique alphabet \u2013 for these and other fun and interesting Georgia<\/a> country facts, read on. Georgia may be little known but it certainly packs a punch when it comes to the bizarre and fascinating. We’d like to broaden your horizons before you visit this extraordinary country.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

1. But first, where is it?<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\"Ananuri<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Georgia sits at a strategic crossroads between Europe and Asia. Black Sea beaches and the soaring Caucasus Mountain Range are just some of the country’s natural charms.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

But it is Georgia’s strategic location on the ancient Silk Road trade route, which has had neighbouring countries and empires eyeing the destination for centuries.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Turkey, Russia and the former Persian empire all wanted a slice of the Georgian cake. Later, Russia annexed the country in the 19th century. It was only much later that Georgia gained its independence from the Soviet Union.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

2. The locals don’t call their country Georgia<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\"Georgian<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Peculiarly, the locals don’t call their homeland Georgia. The local Georgians refer to their country as Saqartvelo or \u10e1\u10d0\u10e5\u10d0\u10e0\u10d7\u10d5\u10d4\u10da\u10dd, in the local language.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The origins of the name Georgia are also largely unknown. One suggestion, however, is that, during the Middle Ages, Christians believed that St. George was the patron saint of the country. Evidently, the name stuck.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

3. It’s home to one of Europe’s oldest cities<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\"Kutaisi<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

That city is Kutaisi, in the west of the country. Today it’s one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

A very long time ago, Kutaisi was the capital of the Kingdom of Colchis from the second millennium BC. Needless to say, the city has survived the ravages of time and conflict.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

RELATED CONTENT:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>13 things to do in Georgia, 2020’s hottest travel destination<\/em><\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

4. It’s the birthplace of wine<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\"Kakethi<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Wine lovers rejoice! Georgian labels may not be lining your cellar, but the country is in fact considered the birthplace of wine. As far back as 8000 years ago, Georgians are said to have started producing wine, but in their own special way.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Word has it that the origins of their wine production were entirely accidental. Some lucky soul poured grape juice into a qvevri<\/em>, an earthenware jar, and buried it in a shallow pit. The result? A glass or two of Georgia’s finest.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Today, UNESCO has included this ancient Georgian tradition of Qvevri <\/em>winemaking on their\u00a0Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity List<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Oenophiles best make a beeline for the Kakheti valley, where 70% of Georgian grapes are grown.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

RELATED CONTENT:<\/strong> 8,000 years in the making, we have Georgia to thank for giving the world wine<\/em><\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u00a05. Explore a 6000-room cave city<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\"Vardzia<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Move over Cappadocia. Georgia has its own other-worldly cave town: Vardzia, a fortress-monastery-palace complex carved out of and under the Erusheti Mountain in the south.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

In the 13th century, Georgia’s Queen Tamar ordered the construction of the site as a refuge against the raiding Mongol Empire.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Upon completion, it boasted a staggering 13 levels of 6000 rooms (complete with bakery, church and wine cellars), a self-sustaining irrigation system and royal apartments.\u00a0Sadly, just a century later, an earthquake destroyed more than two-thirds of the city.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The good news, however, is that visitors can today explore the still-intact parts of the underground city. Don’t forget your camera \u2013 it’s truly remarkable.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

6. A trio of UNESCO World Heritage sites<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\"Gelati<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Small in size, but a giant in historic stature. Georgia has no fewer than three UNESCO World Heritage sites:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n