Mestia
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Settlement short description".Script error: No such module "Infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".Expression error: Unexpected < operator Mestia (Georgian: Script error: No such module "Lang". Script error: No such module "IPA".) is a highland townlet (daba) in northwest Georgia, at an elevation of Script error: No such module "convert". in the Caucasus Mountains.
General information
Mestia is located in the region of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti province (mkhare), some Script error: No such module "convert". northeast of the regional capital of Zugdidi. Mestia and the adjoining 132 villages form Mestia District (raioni). Its area is Script error: No such module "convert".; and its population is 9,316 (1,973 in the town itself), according to the 2014 Georgia census. It was granted the status of a townlet (Georgian: daba) in 1968.
Historically and ethnographically, Mestia has always been regarded a chief community of Zemo, or Upper Svaneti province. It was formerly known as Seti (სეტი). The population is mostly Svans, a cultural and linguistic subgroup of the Georgians. Despite its small size, the townlet was an important centre of Georgian culture for centuries and contains a number of medieval monuments, such as churches and forts, included in a list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Mestia is served by the Queen Tamar Airport, which is operated by the state-owned company United Airports of Georgia since 2010.
Architecture and attractions
The townlet is dominated by stone defensive towers of a type seen in Ushguli and Mestia proper ("Svan towers"). A typical Svan fortified dwelling consisted of a tower, an adjacent house (machubi) and some other household structures encircled by a defensive wall.
Unique icons and manuscripts are kept in Mestia Historical-Ethnographic Museum. Mestia is also a centre of mountaineering tourism.
The town is the starting point for the popular Mestia-Ushguli trail. Most hikers complete this route in four days, sleeping in guesthouses or in local farmhouses.[1]
Twin towns
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Born in Mestia
- Mikheil Khergiani (1932–1969), a mountain climber
See also
- Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti
- Tviberi Glacier
- Administrative divisions of Georgia (country)
- Lists of World Heritage Sites#Asia
References
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External links
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Script error: No such module "Coordinates". Script error: No such module "Navbox". Mestia is the host of the International Short and Mountain film festival.