Oni

Oni lies on the Rioni river in upper Racha, a small town of wooden-balconied houses among mountains, and it held for centuries one of the older Jewish communities in Georgia. Its synagogue, built in 1895 in a heavy stone style with a domed hall, is among the oldest still standing in the country and remains in occasional use, though the community that built it has largely left. The town also has a local museum, a market and the wooden architecture typical of Racha, and it works as a base for the upper valleys, the mineral springs at Shovi and the high routes toward the main Caucasus watershed.

What you actually see

• The 1895 synagogue - among the oldest still standing in Georgia.
• Wooden balconied houses - the Racha building tradition.
• The local museum - the history of the valley and its communities.
• A base for upper Racha - the road on toward Shovi and the high valleys.

When to go

May to October; mountain roads in Racha are difficult in winter. Half a day, longer as a base. The synagogue may need to be opened on request.

Honest expectations

The synagogue is often locked and access depends on finding the keyholder. The town is small with limited services. Roads in the region are rough and have been affected by landslides; check conditions before travelling up the valleys.

Nearby

Ambrolauri is west; Shovi lies east up the valley.