Georgia: Vardzia Cave Monastic Complex
This site is incredible and probably blows away both Cappadocia and Mesa Verde – it’s a huge complex of dwellings and monasteries carved into a near vertical cliffs of the Erusheti Mountain along the Mtkvari River. The construction of Vardzia began in the 12th century during the reign of King George III and was completed under his daughter, Queen Tamar, who is often celebrated as Georgia’s greatest monarch, in the late 12th century. It was both a fortress and a monastic complex. The monastery suffered damage during the Mongol invasions in the 13th century, and later in 1283 a devastating earthquake caused substantial damage to the complex, essentially exposing many of the cave dwellings and making parts of the monastery inaccessible. Vardzia is amazing – an extensive network of tunnels, rooms, and halls carved directly into the rock. The complex originally consisted of about 6,000 rooms spread over thirteen levels, including living quarters, storage areas, and wine cellars. Other structures included the bell tower, the refectory, and various chapels, and many of these spaces are interconnected by narrow tunnels and staircases.it’s a real adventure to explore here, like a total exploration quest.
