Imereti: Caves, Culture and Regional Cuisine

Discover caves and landscapes

The Imereti Caves Protected Areas cover 504.6 hectares. They include the Sataplia Nature Reserve, covering 330 hectares; the Sataplia Managed Reserve, covering 34 hectares; the Prometheus Cave Natural Monument, covering 46.6 hectares; and 17 other natural monuments. This variety alone makes caves and nature an important focus for a stay in Imereti.

Prometheus Cave is 1.8 kilometres long and lies 40 metres below sea level. Its one-hour visitor route passes through the halls of the Argonauts, Colchis, Medea, Love, Prometheus and Iberia. It can end with a 15-minute trip along the underground course of the Kumi River, on foot or by boat. Guided group tours are offered on site at Sataplia Cave.

The Okatse Canyon offers a different nature experience: The visitor route takes two to three hours, passes through the historic Dadiani Forest and follows a 780-metre-long hanging walkway to a viewpoint. If you plan to visit, you can take the walkway’s length and the stated duration into account when organising your day. The 40-metre-high Katskhi Pillar, with a small church at its summit, adds another striking feature to the landscape.

Archaeology, monasteries and distinctive buildings

Vani was an ancient temple city in the lowlands of Colchis, dating from the 7th to the 1st century BC. The Vani Archaeological Museum displays a statue of Nike dating from the 2nd to the 1st century BC. The depiction of the Greek goddess of victory is considered a cultural treasure of great significance. Imereti is an important cultural landscape, where archaeologists have discovered numerous significant treasures dating back several thousand years.

Monasteries, too, tell the story of different forms of sacred art. Gelati Monastery houses a 12th-century mosaic depicting the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child and the Archangels Michael and Gabriel. Ubisi Monastery includes a four-storey tower dating from 1141; its frescoes depict the twelve Great Feasts of the Church, including the Last Supper and Saint George. They were painted by Damiane and his student Gerasidze. At Mghvimevi Monastery, the Church of St Catherine is carved entirely into the rock face; the monastery’s main cave is 35 metres deep.

Regional cuisine and wine

Imeretian khachapuri combines thin, tender dough with Imeretian cheese. In some villages in Imereti, it is traditionally baked on a ketsi, a clay pan placed over hot embers. Wine is another regional discovery: Tsitska-Tsolikauri and Krakhuna are associated with natural effervescence and a comparatively full-bodied structure.

At the Churi Chinebuli winery in Meore Sviri, visitors can see the churi vessels buried in the ground, learn about the production of amber wine, and taste churi wine alongside classic wine. Tetra Cave also has a wine cellar where visitors can sample wine. At the same time, the cave is known for its stalactite formations: it contains stalagmites, stalactites, columns and suspended calcite formations. Excavations have uncovered around 15,000 artefacts, including pieces from the Palaeolithic period.

Day trips and choosing the right location for your holiday apartment

The Navenakhevi Cave has a visitor centre, cafeteria, amphitheatre and attractions for children. The paved road there is suitable for all types of vehicles. This makes it possible to consider it as a separate destination without grouping it together with visits to other caves.

Which holiday apartment in Imereti suits your trip depends on the experiences you want to prioritise. Focus your search on the places that matter most for your trip: caves and nature trails, archaeological finds and monasteries, or regional cuisine and wine. For a broader overview of the region, you can also consider Sairme, Kutaisi, Zestafoni, Kursebi, Motsameta, Meore Obcha, Vardzia, Chkvishi, Terjola, Kveda Kinchkha, Etseri, Chiatura, Alaverdi and Tskaltubo.

For the general travel overview: Georgia.