Getting There
It takes about 8 hours to drive to Svaneti from Tbilisi. (Local driver is recommended.)
You can fly from Natakhtari to Mestia as well. (Natakhtari is 1 hour drive from Tbilisi, capital.)
What to Expect
The museum represents over 4.000 items: archaeological objects discovered in Svaneti region, unique samples of engraved and painted icons (of special interest are X-XII c.c. icons), religious objects (I-XXIV c.c.), manuscripts (XI-XII c.c. New Testaments from Adishi, Labskaldi, Ienashi, Mestia), weapons and armor, iron and copper items, wooden ethnographic objects, adornments, silverware, textiles, etc.
History
The museum was founded in 1936 and houses historical artifacts from the Svaneti region, including unique icons and engravings, a rich collection of manuscripts, medieval weaponry, iron, silver, and copper ornaments, jewelry, pottery, and more. The Svaneti Museum recently underwent a major renovation, which included modernizing its exposition space and the creation of a restoration laboratory.
