The cave monastery II, a photo from Samtskhe-Javakheti, East

Photographer's Note

The same place of my last post,but this time with 3 pics showing the mountain and 2 close up in the WS.
Vardzia is a cave monastery site in southern Georgia, excavated from the slopes of the Erusheti Mountain on the left bank of the Kura River, thirty kilometres from Aspindza. The main period of construction was the second half of the twelfth century. The caves stretch along the cliff for some five hundred metres and in up to nineteen tiers. The Church of the Dormition, dating to the 1180s during the golden age of Tamar and Rustaveli, has an important series of wall paintings. The site was largely abandoned after the Ottoman takeover in the sixteenth century. Now part of a state heritage reserve, the extended area of Vardzia-Khertvisi has been submitted for future inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List.Five monks still live in this mountain. Every morning at seven they ring the bell in the high arch.

IL MONASTERO DELLE CAVERNE II

Stesso luogo del mio ultimo post,stavolta con una vista totale sulla montagna e due WS piu' ristretti.
La cittа rupestre di Vardzia и un monastero rupestre scavato nel fianco del monte Erusheli, nel sud della Georgia nelle vicinanze di Aspindza. И stato fatto costruire dalla regina Tamara nel 1185.Il monastero consiste in piщ di seimila stanze nascoste disposte su tredici piani, all'interno delle quali era possibile proteggersi dai mongoli. La cittа includeva una chiesa, una sala reale e un complesso sistema di irrigazione che portava acqua alle terrazze coltivate. Unico accesso al complesso era offerto da alcuni tunnel ben nascosti le cui entrate erano situate nei pressi del fiume Mtkvari.
Il terremoto che colpм Samstkhe nel 1283 distrusse approssimativamente due terzi della cittа, espose le stanze alla vista esterna e fece collassare il sistema di irrigazione.
Durante il regno di Beka Jakheli nel tredicesimo secolo la chiesa fu rinforzata e fu costruito un campanile ben visibile dall'esterno.
I Persiani, sotto il comando dello Shah Tahmasp I, saccheggiarono il monastero nel 1551 privandolo di tutte le icone di valore e mettendo nei fatti fine alla vita nel monastero.Oggi Vardzia и una delle principali attrazioni turistiche della regione georgiana di Samtskhe-Javakheti. Il sito и mantenuto da un ristretto gruppo di monaci ed и visitabile giornalmente a tariffe molto basse.
Sono a tutt'oggi visitabili circa tremila stanze e in alcuni corridoi le antiche condotte portano ancora acqua potabile.

pierrefonds, lucasgalodoido, PaulVDV, ikeharel, alvaraalto, Fis2, Royaldevon, papagolf21, holmertz, ChrisJ, cornejo, mcmtanyel, adramad, danos, macjake, PiotrF, clic has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

pierrefonds (115624) 2017-10-04 15:53

Bonsoir Luciano,

La composition est bien divisйe, le ciel les caves et la vallйe. L'assemblage des trois photos est rйussi, elle permet de voir les dйtails des caves du monastиre. La bonne luminositй rehausse la beautй des couleurs. Bonne soirйe.

Pierre

lucasgalodoido (27698) 2017-10-04 16:16

Olб Luciano,
gostei dessa vista mais ampla das cavernas e construзхes. As cores, nitidez e qualidade ficaram excelentes, como sempre em seus trabalhos.
Parabйns e Abraзo,
Lucas

PaulVDV (63530) 2017-10-04 20:32

Hello Luciano,
The main picture shows the view you have upon arrival from Akhaltsikhe. It's a splendid general overview of the site and amazing to see with all the dark holes in the rock.
From here it looks like it's a steep climb to get there.
On the pictures in the WS it's nice to see each time some people dressed in red wandering around in the caves.
Best regards, Paul

pajaran (117137) 2017-10-04 23:13

Dobar rad.
Lep pogled, interesantan i dobar tekst ...
Dobar rad sa lepim fotografijama u radionici, lepo pokazano, dobra perspektiva i kontrast, lepe boje, lepa panorama.
Interesantan manastir u planini i prostorije za monahe.
Zelim vam lep i uspesan dan, sve najbolje, srecno.
Paja.

Good work.
Nice view, interesting and good text ...
Good work with nice photos in the workshop, beautifully shown, good perspective and contrast, beautiful colors,beautiful panorama.
An interesting monastery in the mountain and rooms for monks.
I wish you a beautiful and successful day, happy.

dkmurphys (79209) 2017-10-04 23:45

Good morning,
Nice view of this interesting place. Looks like very difficult to get there, I wonder how they managed to get water and food...

D

carlo62 (81265) 2017-10-05 0:24

Ciao Luciano
situazione simile a Matera, anche se con notevoli differenze.
Avrei continuato a fare foto per ore, penso che anche questo luogo dia la stessa sensazione.
Gran bel lavoro.
Saluti Carlo

Tue (93530) 2017-10-05 0:38

Hello Luciano,
A great photo which shows the complete mountain with the many caves of the monastery very nicely dotting the steep cliffs on the side. The patterns and textures of the fields, rocks and caves are wonderful too and their natural tones make a good contrast with the blue sky.
Lars

alvaraalto (42844) 2017-10-05 0:39

Hello Luciano
Another three high quality pictures of this remarkable place. From this distance it looks like a the holes of a woodworm in the wood. The close-ups shows also the many fences necessary for the safety of all the visitors, but a little disturbing for a photographer.
Excellent presentation with interesting information too.
Have a nice day. Groet Rob

Fis2 (172023) 2017-10-05 0:51

Witaj Luciano!
Amazing place.
The cave monastery make impression.
I like frame, colors and sharpness.
Very impressive picture.
Nice day.
Krzysztof

Silvio1953 (223027) 2017-10-05 0:54

Ciao Luciano, veramente impressionante questo luogo, grazie anche per i due WS con viste piщ dettagliate, tris di magnifiche foto con splendida nitidezza e magnifici colori, bravo, ciao Silvio

Royaldevon (86520) 2017-10-05 1:39

Ciao Caro Luciano,

Three excellent photographs, collecting the details of this cave monastery.
With true subjectivity, I have to say that my favourite is Photograph 2, in the w/s, but what a great series, where you show the location, the details and the scale of this amazing habitat.

Have a good day,
Bev :-)

papagolf21 (152607) 2017-10-05 1:59

Bonjour, cher ami Luciano,
Merci de nous offrir de si belles compositions avec cette montagne emplie de trous servant d'habitat !
J'admire tes йcrits (tu parles combien de langues ?).
Amitiйs.
Philippe

holmertz (103694) 2017-10-05 2:02

Hello Luciano,
These photos give us a clearer idea of the huge size of the monastery. I find it hard to imagine the strong faith that lay behind the very hard work of constructing all this, and to spend the lives here in the wilderness. Clearly nothing for me ;-). But it's a great view with fascinating details revealed in the enlarged versions, so it must have been very impressive to you when you reached this point.
Kind regards,
Gert

ChrisJ (172436) 2017-10-05 2:06

Bonsoir Luciano,

Looks similar to Hasankeyf in Turkey. Sadly that area is earmarked for a new dam that will flood most of the troglodyte caves. Hoping this one is not too close to any dam sites. Tfs!

Cricri (176) 2017-10-05 5:12

Ciao Luciano
Trois belles prйsentations , d'un endroit insolite,
excellent rendu des dйtails, superbe ciel bleu, intйressante prйsentation
belle journйe
cricri

Sergiom (117241) 2017-10-05 6:12

Ciao Luciano,

Il y a tout un village sur les flancs rocheux de cette montagne. Je me demande comment les habitants faisaient pour atteindre le niveau supйrieur. Superbe cadrage.

Amicalement

Serge

Nicou (193814) 2017-10-05 7:04

Hlelo

superbe complйment et vue d'ensemble de ce manastиre quelle vue et ocm po quelle ouverture ce caves ces rendu sur la roche et impressionant la grandeur sueprbe.
Bravoe t amitiй
Nicou

rychem (72187) 2017-10-05 8:35

So located caves are like a fortress, not to be conquered by the enemy, but also a difficult place to provide food and water, excellent panoramic photo
regards Ryszard

cornejo (61504) 2017-10-05 11:19

Ciao Luciano, ottima vista su questo luogo interessante pieno di grotte. Molto ben catturato con un grande pov in questa ottima foto. Una immagine interessante con buona chiarezza, luce, colore e qualitа. Un ottimo lavoro perfettamente fatto, le mie congratulazioni, amico mio. Grazie per aver condiviso questo bel lavoro.

Buona notte e buon fine settimana.
Tutto il meglio dal sud della Spagna.
Angel.

mcmtanyel (69310) 2017-10-05 20:54

Hello Luciano,
Interesting view rendered competently, as usual. Lovely postcard from the Cappadocia of Georgia.
Regards,
MT

ikeharel (114691) 2017-10-06 1:33

Ciao Luciano,
It is amazing to realize how big the place is, a whole village seem to be dug as a complex of caves.
All three photos are wonderfully shown, the distance taken the main photo was an excellent choice and fine outcome.
Saluti,
Ike

adramad (73484) 2017-10-06 8:16

Hi, Luciano.
This great panoramic view, with the whole view of the mountain, with its hillside excavated for the church and the hundreds of caves excavated around, a surprising image.
The two WS photos are equally fantastic.
Very nice colorful, which together with good quality and optimal lighting, gives great quality to the image.
Well done. I like very much
Have a good weekend.
Very best regards
Luis.

danos (110407) 2017-10-06 10:04

Ciao Luciano,
Nice the panoramic view of the monasteries with the brilliant light of the day to enhance the details as the beauty of the place.Excellent the light and the colour management of the scene.

Regards,Danos

macjake (98544) 2017-10-06 15:55

Hi Luciano
its funny how from this perspective people passing by could probably mistake the cliffs for something else, perhaps something more naturally forming. glad you posted this version, its alot different and shows a new side to it.
lovely light and exposure as always
cheers
craig

COSTANTINO (117884) 2017-10-07 10:21

Ciao Luciano ,
Molto bella foto, con i sassi da lontano,
belli colori ottimo POV, interessante nota,
cari saluti
e buon weekend
Costantino

jmdias (116579) 2017-10-08 12:01

luciano

here the general view of the slope carved by men during centuries is a fantastic vision. nice perspective with the scale of the work of centuries.

huigs

jorge

PiotrF (56116) 2017-10-08 15:04

Hello Luciano,
Interesting and unique place. Another great view from this place.Thank you for informative note.
Very nice work, fine presentation.
Regards
Piotr

emka (158932) 2017-10-08 23:27

Ciao Luciano,

Splendid general view of these caves, nice also two additional pictures with closer look. How could the monks live there? amazing place.

Kind regrads MAlgo

mkamionka (75197) 2017-10-17 12:38

Ciao Luciano,
quite an extraordinary place. I am so surprised to hear that few monks still live there.
I wonder how their rooms look like. If they have access to TrekEarth etc.
Very interesting reportage from Georgia.
M

clic (76) 2017-10-30 13:20

Ciao Luciano My first thought was for the particular species of swallows flying in and out of their nests dug in heaps of sand, colonies of groundhogs dwelling on hillsides. Thanks for showing this instructive piece of oddity and related note.
Ciao

Miguel82 (47110) 2020-06-21 10:26

This is a global view of the rocky face that contains numerous caves used as a monastery. I imagine the life inside these holes centuries ago. That site must be fascinating to explore. Fine colors, good sharpness, regards.