Giorgi Janjgava, Ambassador of Georgia to Turkey, recommends guests where to go for a touch of gold and history.

SIMON JANASHIA NATIONAL MUSEUM 

Georgia’s beautiful capital is a real cultural hub! Firstly, I would name the Simon Janashia National Museum, which unifies several leading museums in Georgia. The unique ancient masterpieces, such as the icons, various metal vessels (mainly gold and silver), samples of ceramic items, and jewelry pieces are exhibited there.

The museum holds a golden fund of finds that reveal the history of Georgia from the Bronze Age (3500-1200 B.C.) to 19th century. One can find there numerous of samples of the Caucasian national culture.

THE NUMISMATIC DEPT. AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM

I'm a numismatist myself and am very interested in studying and collecting currency, including coins, tokens, paper money, and related objects. Accordingly, the numismatic exhibitions are very important for me. The number of numismatics is rapidly increasing throughout the world and in Georgia as well. 

Recently, the new Numismatic Department was opened at the National Museum of Georgia, where visitors can enjoy an excellent exhibition hall and various samples of currency.

THE MONEY MUSEUM IN KVARELI

The museum is located in the Georgian National Bank building in Kvareli in the Kakheti region. The museum houses materials describing the history of money from 6th c. up to 20th c. The museum itself is also very beautiful and well-arranged, and attracts many tourists.

THE RENOVATED MUSEUM IN RABATI, AKHALTSIKHE

The newly renovated museum is Akhaltsikhe, Samtskhe-Javakheti region, is also a very interesting place to visit. The Samtskhe–Javakheti History Museum was founded in 1923. In its current renovated form, the museum was opened in 2012 as part of the Georgian National Museum network. It is located on the territory of the reconstructed fortress of Akhaltsikhe, known as "Rabati".

A coin from my collection which I lent the National Museum of Georgia, is currently exhibited there. The coin was made in the 16th century in Artanudji, the oldest town of Klarjeti, after the Ottoman invasion. This is quite a rare coin.  

GONIO FORTRESS & MUSEUM

Adjara is a great tourism destination. The region is currently experiencing a tourism boom.  I, as a person interested in arts and history, would first recommend visitors to the region visit the Gonio Fortress, a Roman fortification, and the museum arranged inside. The museum in the Gonio Fortress promises quite interesting artifacts to discover.