Day 3 April 23, 2026 Tsinandali Estate Georgia
Much to the surprise of our guide, the day is beautiful and the mountains can be seen in the distance. This is a rare event so the bus stopped so everyone could take pictures,
The original start of the day was a stop at Bodbe Monastery. Originally built in the 9th century, it has been significantly remodeled, especially in the 17th century. The monastery now functions as a nunnery and is one of the major pilgrimage sites in Georgia, due to its association with St. Nino, the 4th-century female evangelist of Georgians, whose relics are shrined there. Nuns still live here. They keep a close eye on visitors. The chapel has many frescos so photos are not allowed. You can get a very strong scolding if you fail to follow the rules. We did not get scolded. It’s a beautiful peaceful place. The nuns raise some of their own food and sell hand made items.
Another city walk around the town of Sighnaghi. Lots of hills and cobblestone streets. This is definitely a tourist town. The bus was met with large electric golf carts offering city tours. We walked. No special rides for the older generation. The streets are only about one car wide so drivers must be on their toes. We ate lunch at a local restaurant.
After lunch we went to the estate of Aleksandre Chavchavadze. This is the ancestral summer home where he entertained and spent time in Georgia. The history of the Tsinandali Chavchavadze complex originates in the 17th century when Heraclius I resettled the ancestors of Chavchavadzes from the village of Chavchavadze, to strengthen the village. The first building was built in 1818, and in 1831 the second. In 1829, the water pump was built. The site also contains 12 hectares of the wooded area, where the garden-park was made in 1835 by European decorators. In 1840, Alexander Chavchavadze built a winery. Its name is associated with the introduction of new vines and the implementation of technological innovations in winemaking, the highly regarded dry white Tsinandali, is still produced there. Picture taking was not allowed inside the manor house. We did not get scolded for taking pictures here.
Spoffords Travel 