Samtskhe-Javakheti Region

Samtskhe - Javakheti is one of the largest regions of Georgia. Its total area comprises 6 421 km² and its capital and administrative center is the town Akhaltsikhe. To the north-west, the region is bordered by Guria and Imereti; to the north by region Shida Kartli; to the east by Kvemo Kartli; to the south by Armenia and Turkey and to the west by Adjara.

This region consists of six districts: Akhaltsikhe, Adigeni, Aspindza, Akhalkalaki, and Ninotsminda. The region is ethnically diverse with a mix of Georgians, Armenians, Greeks, Ossetians, Russians and Ukrainians.

Samtskhe-Javakheti is the oldest historic territory of Georgia and is considered as the cradle of Georgian culture. The ancient Georgian tribes dwelled in this territory. St. Nino of Capadoccia, the convertor of Georgia to Christianity, entered the country with a holy cross made of vine stems tied by her own hair via the misty mountains of Javakheti.

According to literary data and folk narrative, it is the birth place of the most famous Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli - the area where the unique masterpieces of Georgian culture were born.