Vani Archaeological Site

Vani was a city of ancient Colchis, occupied from around the eighth century before the common era until it was destroyed in the first, and excavation there since the 1940s has produced one of the richest bodies of Colchian material known: temple platforms, defensive walls, a gate, bronze statuary, and above all gold, worked into diadems, earrings, necklaces and appliqués of a quality that connects the region to the Greek world and to the tradition behind the golden fleece story. The site is on a terraced hillside above the town. A new museum building opened in 2020 to display the finds, and excavation continues each summer.

What you actually see

• Colchian gold work - diadems, earrings and appliqués in the museum.
• Temple platforms and terraces - the excavated city on the hillside.
• Bronze statuary fragments - the sculpture recovered from the site.
• The 2020 museum building - the display of the excavation finds.

When to go

April to October; summer excavation seasons are the liveliest time. Half a day. Check museum opening days before travelling.

Honest expectations

Excavated remains on the hill are mostly foundations and terracing. Some of the most important finds are held in Tbilisi rather than here. Museum hours are limited. Interpretation is better in the museum than on the site.

Nearby

Kutaisi is north-east; Zestaponi lies east.