OTAR LORTKIPANIDZE ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM

Large white vaguely neoclassical building located on the eastern hill of Vani, the archaeological museum and the site of the ancient city are very interesting and really worth a detour. The Otar Lortkipanidze Archaeological Museum, named after the main archaeologist of the Vani finds, was founded in 1985. It exhibits the objects found during the various archaeological excavations carried out on the site of Vani since 1947, which reveal the existence of a city in the first millennium BC.

Most of the objects are originals, some are copies. Most of the gold objects, especially the Colchis treasure, have been transferred to the National Janachia Museum in Tbilisi. But Vani keeps a treasure room with some gold works, as well as a beautiful collection of gold coins that the visitor will appreciate. Although the museum may look dilapidated at first glance, it is more explanatory than usual, everything is even translated into English, which is very practical for us Westerners. Observing the different types of objects found during the excavations, crafts, statuary, ceramics, tools, weapons, as well as the explanations of the reconstruction of the city allows us to imagine what this ancient city of Colchis could have been like. The collection is really rich and the meticulousness with which tiny objects have been carved and decorated is often impressive. A visit not to be missed that will appeal to young and old alike.