General facts about Georgia

• Location: Georgia is situated in the South Caucasus and is located at the meeting point of Europe and Asia. It is bordered by Russian Federation from the north, by Azerbaijan from the East and from the South-West by Turkey and Armenia. It’s western boundary is formed by the Black Sea
• Area: 69,7 km².
• Land boundaries:1461 km.
• Coastline:315 km.
• Population: 4,693,892 (July 2004 est.)
  
• Religion: Main religion is Christian Orthodoxy (70%). Other confessional are Muslims, Catholics, Armenian Gregorians, Judaists, etc. 
• State language: Georgian
  
• National currency: Georgian Lari (GEL)
  
• Time zone: GMT +04:00

Main Cities:

Tbilisi
Capital of Georgia is one of the ancient cities of the world, situated in the valley of the river Mtkvari. The bridges connect the right and left banks of the city. The place was populated since ancient times, as far as four thousand years BC. The territory of Tbilisi and its suburbs populated since IV century B.C. There are a lot of churches and historical monuments in the Old City, as well as many museums, narrow streets and old houses with the characteristic wooden balconies, wide and open.

Mzkheta
Situated upon the confluence of the two rivers, Aragvi and Mtkvari, from the IV BC to V AD Mtskheta was the capital of Iberia (name of ancient Georgia). Still today Mtskheta remains the centre of Georgian Orthodox Church. Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and Jvari Monastery are among the most esteemed monuments that represent Georgian culture and architecture.

Kutaisi
The Imereti region is one of the most beautiful parts of Georgia. Kutaisi was 3500 year-old capital of ancient  Colchi  which used to be the capital of united Georgia 1000 years ago. The City has always been an educational, cultural and tourism center of West Georgia.

Batumi
Lying on the Black See coast, Batumi is the largest city in Georgia’s most beautiful region - Adjara. The name is derived from the Greek “bathys limen” meaning “deep harbour”. Its graceful white architecture and subtropical vegetation make it unique among Georgian cities and magnet for foreign visitors and Georgians alike.

Telavi
Town is the administrative and cultural centre of  Kakheti region. The town sits on a hilltop above the Alazani valley with the Caucasus Mountains in the background. In earlier times, it was the capital of the Kakheti Kingdom and its royal castle of Batonistsikhe since XVIII century  still dominates the heart of the town.

Borjomi
Town is famous for its mineral water “Borjomi” and now is a popular resort and the centre of a nature reserve of dense forests harbouring hundreds of varieties of plants and animal species.

Gori
Small town, located in the very heart of Georgia. The name comes from the Georgian word “hill”. Gori is known to have been besieged by the Roman general Pompey in 65 BC. City is also birthplace of Joseph Jughashvili, known as Stalin and the travelers can visit his home-museum.

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Entry Visa for Georgia

Citizens of the listed Countries do not need VISA to stay in Georgia for 90 days:

- All countries of the European Union
- Nationals of CIS Countries (except Russian Federation and Turkmenistan)
- United States of America
- Canada
- Japan
- Switzerland
- Lichtenstein
- Norway
- Israel
- the Holy See
- Republic of Turkey       
- Republic of China (tourist groups)
- Principality of Andorra
- San-Marino
- Republic of Iceland
- United Arab Emirates
- State of Kuwait
- South Korea
- State of Qatar
- Kingdom of Bahrain
- Oman

Also passengers on cruise ships which stay for less than 72 hours do not require a VISA.

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Chronology of Georgian history

  BC

• 1.800 000 - A relic of the first human migration has been found in Georgia at Dmanisi.
• 5000 - Georgian Neolithic kingdom.
• 1200- 1100 - Foundation of Georgian kingdoms Diaokhi and Kolkha
• XI-VII - Wars against the king of Assyrian Tiglathfileser .
• 400 - Formation of Iberian kingdom.
• 299- 234 - The reign of first king of Georgia Parnavaz. Creation of Georgian script.
• 65 - Pompeus defeats the king of Georgia Artag. According to treaty with Rome Georgia became a friend of Rome. The king Artag sent to Roman EmperorGolden throne, table, chairs.

  

Chronology of Georgian history AD

• I c. - Two Apostles of Christ, Simon Canaanite and Andrew preached Christian religion in Georgia and It is believed that the tomb of the latter is located in west Georgia, by the Black Sea in the ancient side of Nikopsia.
• I - II - Strengthening of Iberian kingdom: The emperor of Rome Anthony Pius invited Georgian king Parsman II with his family in Rome. He, in the honor of Georgian king, set up his statue in one of the greatest church of Rome.
• 337 - The Christianity was declared as a state religion by king Mirian.
• V - The reign of Vakhtang Gorgasali. He founded Tbilisi and according to his will the capital of Georgia was moved here from Mtskheta.
• 523 - Invaders from Iran captured Kartli (Iberia) and the king of Kartli was protected by Roman emperor.
• VI - In Georgia was spread Zoroastrian religion, by force of Iranians.
• VI-VII - Syrian fathers arrived in Georgia and a lot of magnificent monasteries were built at this period.
• 780-1801 - Bagrationi, the Georgian Royal family rule Georgia.
• 975-1014 - The king Bagrat III unifies Georgia.
• XI - Svetitskhoveli, Alaverdi and Bagrati, three greatest churches of Georgia were rebuilt in this century.
• 1027- 1072 - The reign of Bagrat IV , Seljuk –Turks first invades Georgia. The daughter of Bagrat IV Marta (Maria ) was wife of roman emperor.
• 1089-1125 - The reign of David IV, named for his creative political activity “ David the Builder”. Overcoming the separation of his nobles, he completed the consolidation of the country, Under David the Builder a regular army was set up and he drove out the Turks from Georgia and most part of TransCaucasus. He paid attention to culture and learning and founded the monastery and academy of Gelati. He is buried in Gelati.
• 1121 - The Battle at Didgori, the so called dzlevai sakvirveli ” wonderful victory” : The combined army of Seljuk- Turks and Persians were defeated by smaller Georgian force including 100 crusaders .
• 1122 - David the builder recaptured Tbilisi after 400 years conquered and ruled it by Arabs, he made Tbilisi the capital of newly united Georgia.
• 1184-1213 - The reign of Queen Tamar. She was a first woman who came up to the throne of feudal Georgia. Her rule was the summit of development of feudal Georgia, her armies were remarkably successful, winning major victories against Muslim forces at the battles of Shamkori (1195) and Basiani (1202) , then a mighty state stretched from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea, from the North Caucasus to Persian Azerbaijan and Erzerum. 1204 Tamar created the depended Trabzon Empire and gave the throne to her relative Alexi Komnen. The greatest work of the art of Tamar’s reign was the epic poem “ the knight in the tiger’s skin” by Shota Rustaveli.
• 1314- 1346 - The reign of George V the Brilliant. Revival of Georgia.
• 1386-1403 - Tamer lane invaded country eight times.
• XVI - Shah Abas the I invaded Georgia several times, he exiled 200000 Georgians in Fereidan in Iran. After 400 years this Georgians preserve their language and culture in Iran and never forgot their homeland.
• XVIII - Vakhtang VI. Economic and cultural revival of east Georgia. Vakhtang VI was the creator of the new written public and private law in Georgia.
• 1879- 1801 - George XII, last king of Georgia.
• 1801 - Georgian kingdom was annexed by Russian empire.
• 1918- 1921 - Georgia is independent and democratic state.
• 1821 - Annexing of Georgia by the Soviet army. Georgia became the part of the Soviet Union.
• 1989 - 9 April Rebellion against the Soviet Rule.
• 1991 - Declaration of Independence.
• 1992-1993 - War in Abkhazia.
• 1992 - Georgia became the member of United Nations.
• 1999 - Georgia became the member of Council of Europe.