[2025 Sighnaghi Attraction] Travel Guide for St. George’s Church (Updated Jun)

Signagi is a small town in Kakheti Province in eastern Georgia, about 110 kilometers from the capital Tbilisi, about a 2-hour drive. It is famous for its nicknames such as "Love Town" and "Red Wine Town". It is a place full of romance and historical heritage. History and architecture of the town The history of Sighnaghi can be traced back to the 18th century, when it was ordered to be built by the last Georgian monarch, Erekli II, in order to protect local residents from the looting of Caucasian mountaineers and to attract merchants and craftsmen. The town's name comes from the Turkic language and means "fortified residence" or "fortress". It preserves 4.5 kilometers of ancient city walls and 23 towers, and is one of the largest fortifications in Georgia. Why is it called "Love Town"? Sighnaghi is known as the "Town of Love" for several reasons. First of all, there is a marriage registry that is open 24 hours a day, and many couples choose to register their marriage here. In addition, there are many romantic love stories circulating in the town, such as a woman who, after her husband died, cultivated the grape seedlings at the bottom of the cliff into vines, symbolizing loyal love. Wine Culture Georgia is one of the birthplaces of wine in the world, and the Kakheti region where Sighnaghi is located is an important wine producing area. The town's wine is made from snow-capped mountain water and is of extremely high quality. Every autumn, a wine festival is held here, showcasing a variety of wines and handicrafts. Tourist attractions • Ancient City Walls: Visitors can climb the city walls and enjoy stunning views of the Alazani Valley and the Caucasus Mountains. • St. George’s Church: This is the largest church in Sighnaghi, with a unique architectural style and precious ancient books and icons preserved inside. • Bodby Monastery: Just 2 km from the town, it is an important pilgrimage site in Georgia, housing the tomb and relics of Saint Nino. • Ethnography and Archaeology Museum: Displays artifacts from the Paleolithic period to the present day, including pottery, bronzes, and paintings. Sighnaghi has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Georgia with its romantic atmosphere, rich history and culture, and beautiful natural scenery.

📍Attraction address: Sighnaghi Ancient City Wall Located in the south of Sighnaghi, there are signs in the town indicating the entrance to the city wall. We can enter the city wall area from the tower of the Sakobo Tsnori gate, or ask the local restaurants, they will be very enthusiastic to guide the way. 🚗Attraction traffic: Public transportation: Take a minibus [Bus], at the Samgori subway station in Tbilisi, you can find a minibus to Sighnaghi. The one-way fare is about 10 lari, and the journey takes about 2 hours. Self-driving [Car]: It is more convenient from Tbilisi to Sighnaghi. Under normal road conditions, it can be reached in more than 2 hours, more than 110 kilometers. 👍️Must-visit attractions: 1. Ancient city wall: Witnessed the long history and cultural changes of Sighnaghi, with unique charm, the ancient architectural style and solid structure show the importance of defense in the past. 2. St. George's Church: This is the largest church in Sighnaghi, next to the ancient city wall. 3. Alazani Valley: Sighnaghi is a mountain city. Standing on the city wall, or the tower, or the hillside, you can overlook the vast Alazani Valley, and you can also look at the Caucasus Mountains, and the natural scenery is picturesque. 4. The statue of a man riding a donkey: Located on Baratashvili Street in Sighnaghi, it is to commemorate the popular Georgian actor Vagotang. 🎟️Ticket related: Free visit You can walk the entire city wall, remember to go to Baratashvili Street under the tower halfway 💗Other tips: The road on the city wall is narrow and only allows one person to pass. Avoid accidents when walking. When climbing the tower, hold the handrail and do not take dangerous photos. It has not been repaired for many years and there are no staff to maintain the scene.

📍Attraction address: Old Town of Sighnaghi Sighnaghi (Sighnaghi) is located in Kakheti Province in eastern Georgia. Due to the transliteration, both names refer to this beautiful town. 🚗 Transportation to attractions: Starting from Tbilisi, at the Samgori subway station, ask the locals to find the bus station where most tourists are. You can take the [Bus] minibus to Sighnaghi. The journey takes about 2 hours and the fare is about 10 lari. [!]It should be noted that there are not many trains going to Sighnaghi. If one is full, you may have to wait for two hours for the next one. It is best to arrange the round trip in advance. The old town of Sighnaghi is small and is best explored on foot. 👍️Must-see attractions: 1. Sighnaghi has a very famous marriage registry where people from all over the world can go through marriage procedures. As long as they bring all the documents, they can quickly register for marriage. This has attracted many couples to register and also earned Sighnaghi the title of "City of Love". PS[!] This registration office has a bad reputation. It says that you can register 24 hours a day, but in fact it has working hours [9:00][6:00]. If you really want to register, it is recommended to go there during the day [Yeah][Cheers][Grin]. 2. On the streets of the old town, you can admire the pastel-colored houses, narrow cobblestone streets and local customs. In the center of the town, you can see the sculptures on the square and the surrounding buildings. There are many wall sculptures commemorating history. 3. Ancient City Wall and St. George's Church: Climbing up the ancient city wall, you can enjoy the beautiful view of the Alazani Valley and the Caucasus Mountains in the distance. After coming down from the city wall, you can visit St. George's Church on the way. Its unique architectural style and religious atmosphere are breathtaking. 🎟️Tickets: Free This is a small town that impressed me deeply during my trip to Georgia. It is beautiful, quiet, classical, and has a comfortable atmosphere. It is a place worth stopping and experiencing during a free trip. 💗Other tips: Sighnaghi was first settled in the Paleolithic Age. In the early 18th century, King Eracleius II of Georgia sponsored the construction of the town and built a fortress. The purpose of its construction was, firstly, to protect the local people from being plundered by Caucasian mountain people, and secondly, to attract Armenian merchants and craftsmen to Georgia to prosper the economy. After its annexation by Russia, Sighnaghi was officially granted town status and became the administrative center of the region.