Located in the capital of the Kakheti region, the Sighnaghi Museum was founded in 1947, followed by the Painting Gallery in 1967. The ethnographic collection is particularly interesting, featuring over 5,000 artifacts including textiles, copper and wooden domestic items, agricultural instruments, materials related to viniculture, goldsmith tools and products, and musical instruments. There are also archeological exhibits, a numismatic exhibit that displays 2,000 coins, photo and documentary exhibits.

The second floor houses the permanent exhibit of Georgia’s favorite and most famous painter, the self-taught Niko Pirosmanashvili (1862-1918), often known simply as Pirosmani. The second floor also hosts numerous temporary exhibits throughout the year – notably a Picasso exhibit in 2009 and a Western European exhibition in 2010.

Sighnaghi Museum was the first museum in Georgia to meet international standards for quality and visitor experience. Today, the museum represents a top-tier cultural, educational, and scientific institution.