Sighnaghi
Sighnaghi (Signagi) (Georgian: სიღნაღი) is nestled atop a vine-covered hillside in the heart of Georgia’s wine country. The territory surrounding the modern-day town has been settled since the Paleolithic period and was known as Hereti in the Middle Ages, and as Kiziqi after the 15th century. The town has an area of 2.978 km² with 24.3% being residential. It is a walled city of hidden treasure known for its charm, beauty and romance. Sighnaghi is one of the country's smallest towns (population of 2,146 as of the 2002 census) and its economy is dominated by production of wine and traditional carpets. The town and its environs are also known for their landscapes and historical monuments. Sighnaghi has recently undergone a fundamental reconstruction program and has become an important centre of Georgia's tourist industry.Steeped in history, and now meticulously restored to its former glory, Sighnaghi offers the elegance of the 18th century, as well as the comfort and luxury one would expect from any first class holiday destination. This lovely hilltop town is famous for its stunning landscapes, winding streets, hilltop gardens and beautiful skyline.
Sighnaghi (literally, "harbor" in Turkish) is first recorded in the early 18th century as a settlement. In 1762, King Heraclius II of Georgia sponsored the construction of the town and erected a fortress to defend the area from marauding attacks by Dagestan tribesmen. In the 1770 census, Sighnaghi was settled by 100 families, chiefly craftsmen and merchants. When Georgia was annexed by Imperial Russia in 1801, Sighnaghi was officially granted town status and became a centre of Signakh uyezd within Tiflis Governorate in 1802. The town quickly rose in size and population and became an agricultural centre under the Soviet Union. The severe economic crisis in post-Soviet Georgia heavily affected the town, but a major reconstruction project launched by the Government of Georgia and co-funded by several international organizations intends to address increasing tourist interest and modernize infrastructure.Sighnaghi is home to several historical and cultural monuments and has been specifically protected by governmental entities since 1975. The town is famous for its massive, 4.5-kilometer stone wall, which encloses over 40 hectares, one of the longest extant town walls in the world. Verdant gardens stretch out beneath the town’s defensive wall, as imposing today as it was when it was built centuries ago. Polyphonic music from world-renowned choirs echoes around ancient churches, and traditionally produced wine flows from the vineyards that surround the town. There are two Georgian Orthodox churches in the town itself - one dedicated to St. George and the other to St. Stephen. The venerated Bodbe Monastery is located 2 kilometers from Sighnaghi and is a place of pilgrimage because of its association with St. Nino, the 4th-century apostle of Georgia. The Ethnographic and Archaeological Museum, dating from the 1950s, was upgraded and developed into a modern-standard exhibition - the Sighnaghi Museum - in 2007.Sighnaghi is approximately 113 km southeast of Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. Sighnaghi is situated in the eastern foothills of the Gombori Range, a watershed between the Iori and Alazani valleys, in a productive agricultural and fruit-growing region. At the elevation of 790 meters (2,590’)above sea level, the town overlooks the Alazani Valley and faces the Greater Caucasus mountains
