Racha is a very beautiful place and considered to be one of the ‘must-see’ places In Georgia. Here you can see picturesque views of humid subtropical mountain forests and mountain meadows. About 200 kinds of various plants can be found on this territory. Lovely beech, oak and pine forests, as well as vineyards are extended throughout the region, which is also very popular for production of popular red wines.
The center of the region is the town of Oni. Racha is inhabited mostly by Georgians-Rachvelians. Among the important sightseeing places are Nikortsminda (11th c.), The Sori Church (14th c.), The Church of St. George Mravaldzali (11th-19th c.), Mindatsikhe (10-11th c.), Kvari Bugeyuli Fortress (14th-15th c.), Patara Oni (11th c.), Labecini (12th century), Medieval: Basilica Chiori, Baraconi, Hotevi Tsidro, Tsori, Tsedizi Fortress, Hotevi, Himby, Kldisubani and Ambrolauri. In Racha there is a village of Khvanchkara where the wine of "Khvanchkara"- one more reason to come to Racha- is produced.
In Racha you will find churches of not only Orthodox confession. In Oni there is a synagogue built in 1895. It is here that the center of the Jewish community in Georgia is located. In addition to the synagogue mentioned above, travelers will be interested to see the museum of local lore, which will tell you the story of the city of Oni, once the capital of the whole Racha. Expositions of the museum are very diverse - from archeological findings to fragments of ancient temples, built back in the 10th century, at the dawn of the Middle Ages. Another town, which is also a very popular tourist destination, is Ambrolauri. In the 17th century, a residence of Imeretian kings was located here. Museum of Fine Arts is also one of the places of attraction.
Nikortsminda - one of the most beautiful temples is located in one of the villages of the Racha region and stands on a small hill. Its main part was built in 1010-1014, during the reign of Bagrat III, its southern and western porches - a little later. Outside, it has a shape of a right cross, inside - it is five-apsidal. The inner space is visibly elongated. Façade is covered with well-hewn stone and represents processed continuous arches.
Barakoni - Church of the Mother of God of Barakoni, a monument of the old Georgian dome architecture, is located in the village of Tsesi. The local lord Rostom from the architect Avtandil Shulavreli commissioned Barakoni in 1753. The construction has a form of a cross with straight angles, without attachments. The dome of the church stands on the walls of altar corners and two other columns. Outside, the walls of the building are richly decorated with patterned stone carvings, the oldest examples of which are in the niches of the eastern facade. The church itself stands on a steep cliff at the base of which the rapid river Rioni flows and merges into the river Lukhuni. In the yard of the church you will find a rural cemetery.
Utsera Resort is located in the Racha region in the valley of the Rioni River, 2020km from Tbilisi, and 13 km from the regional center of Oni.
Moving towards the Main Caucasus Range, along the Rioni River, firstly you will see the Utsera resort, located at an altitude of 1120 meter above the sea level. Utsera is a medical centre. The resort is famous for its mineral springs, but they are not the only local landmark. Obviously, the mineral springs attract a lot of people who want to undergo treatment, strengthen their health and prevent various diseases. Here is a popular sour water spring - ‘Black Water’. But people visiting Utsera every year are attracted not only by its springs and therapeutic possibilities, but by its indescribable beauty of mountains, rivers, snow-capped peaks of the Caucasus, flowering meadows, clear lakes and, of course, many historical monuments.
Utsera is located in the valley, surrounded by mountains covered with pine forests. Air is saturated with the flavor of pines. The climate is warm, moderately humid, with numerous sunny days. Here functions a medical-diagnostic center, which includes a clinical diagnostic laboratory, a laboratory for biochemical studies of blood, gastric juices, bile and pancreatic juice. X-ray and endoscopic departments are also represented in the base. In the balneotherapeutic department patients take mineral baths with carbonic acid hydrocarbonate-sodium and ferruginous hydrocarbonate-sodium-calcium water. There are special pump houses for its drinking. In addition, water is used for intestinal lavage. Therapeutic complex treatment is prescribed by a doctor depending on the nature of the disease of the digestive organs and ,especially, in relation to the time when gastric or intestinal hemorrhage was transferred.
Shovi Resort - it is truly a magic place, which treats not only with its mineral waters and fresh air, but its peace and quietness, serenity and good looks which will never leave you indifferent.
The center of the region is the town of Oni. Racha is inhabited mostly by Georgians-Rachvelians. Among the important sightseeing places are Nikortsminda (11th c.), The Sori Church (14th c.), The Church of St. George Mravaldzali (11th-19th c.), Mindatsikhe (10-11th c.), Kvari Bugeyuli Fortress (14th-15th c.), Patara Oni (11th c.), Labecini (12th century), Medieval: Basilica Chiori, Baraconi, Hotevi Tsidro, Tsori, Tsedizi Fortress, Hotevi, Himby, Kldisubani and Ambrolauri. In Racha there is a village of Khvanchkara where the wine of "Khvanchkara"- one more reason to come to Racha- is produced.
In Racha you will find churches of not only Orthodox confession. In Oni there is a synagogue built in 1895. It is here that the center of the Jewish community in Georgia is located. In addition to the synagogue mentioned above, travelers will be interested to see the museum of local lore, which will tell you the story of the city of Oni, once the capital of the whole Racha. Expositions of the museum are very diverse - from archeological findings to fragments of ancient temples, built back in the 10th century, at the dawn of the Middle Ages. Another town, which is also a very popular tourist destination, is Ambrolauri. In the 17th century, a residence of Imeretian kings was located here. Museum of Fine Arts is also one of the places of attraction.
Nikortsminda - one of the most beautiful temples is located in one of the villages of the Racha region and stands on a small hill. Its main part was built in 1010-1014, during the reign of Bagrat III, its southern and western porches - a little later. Outside, it has a shape of a right cross, inside - it is five-apsidal. The inner space is visibly elongated. Façade is covered with well-hewn stone and represents processed continuous arches.
Barakoni - Church of the Mother of God of Barakoni, a monument of the old Georgian dome architecture, is located in the village of Tsesi. The local lord Rostom from the architect Avtandil Shulavreli commissioned Barakoni in 1753. The construction has a form of a cross with straight angles, without attachments. The dome of the church stands on the walls of altar corners and two other columns. Outside, the walls of the building are richly decorated with patterned stone carvings, the oldest examples of which are in the niches of the eastern facade. The church itself stands on a steep cliff at the base of which the rapid river Rioni flows and merges into the river Lukhuni. In the yard of the church you will find a rural cemetery.
Utsera Resort is located in the Racha region in the valley of the Rioni River, 2020km from Tbilisi, and 13 km from the regional center of Oni.
Moving towards the Main Caucasus Range, along the Rioni River, firstly you will see the Utsera resort, located at an altitude of 1120 meter above the sea level. Utsera is a medical centre. The resort is famous for its mineral springs, but they are not the only local landmark. Obviously, the mineral springs attract a lot of people who want to undergo treatment, strengthen their health and prevent various diseases. Here is a popular sour water spring - ‘Black Water’. But people visiting Utsera every year are attracted not only by its springs and therapeutic possibilities, but by its indescribable beauty of mountains, rivers, snow-capped peaks of the Caucasus, flowering meadows, clear lakes and, of course, many historical monuments.
Utsera is located in the valley, surrounded by mountains covered with pine forests. Air is saturated with the flavor of pines. The climate is warm, moderately humid, with numerous sunny days. Here functions a medical-diagnostic center, which includes a clinical diagnostic laboratory, a laboratory for biochemical studies of blood, gastric juices, bile and pancreatic juice. X-ray and endoscopic departments are also represented in the base. In the balneotherapeutic department patients take mineral baths with carbonic acid hydrocarbonate-sodium and ferruginous hydrocarbonate-sodium-calcium water. There are special pump houses for its drinking. In addition, water is used for intestinal lavage. Therapeutic complex treatment is prescribed by a doctor depending on the nature of the disease of the digestive organs and ,especially, in relation to the time when gastric or intestinal hemorrhage was transferred.
Shovi Resort - it is truly a magic place, which treats not only with its mineral waters and fresh air, but its peace and quietness, serenity and good looks which will never leave you indifferent.
