Architecture of Upper Svaneti

Tall towers, fortified dwellings, and small churches that also served as depositories for numerous medieval Byzantine, Georgian, and local-made crosses and icons have shaped the architectural landscape of the villages of Svaneti, the most remote and isolated region of Georgia located on the southwestern slopes of the Caucasus Mountains. Being connected with both western Georgian (Lazica/Colchis, EgrisiAbkhazia) and eastern Georgian (Iberia) states in different periods of its history, Svaneti became an integral part of the united Georgian Kingdom right after its establishment in 1008. The paper argues that the changes in political alliances and connections with the lowlands can also be traced in the developments of Svan church architecture, which maintained its cultural exchange with the rest of Georgia. Correspondingly, the research is carried out in the context of different architectural styles developed in other regions of Georgia, even though it is particularly focused on the architecture of Upper Svaneti. The article offers a general introduction to the building traditions of Svaneti, a description of each architectural type, both secular and church, and attempts to give an insight into their shared architectural forms and dual defensive and sacred functions, determining the dates of construction.