TravelswithCharie

Ruins of Zvartnots Cathedral (Cathedral of the Angels) Zvartnots Cathedral was a three-storey circular structure built in the 7th century by Nerses III on the very spot where St. Gregory the Illuminator converted King Tiridates III of Armenia to Christianity.  Its beauty captivated the Byzantine Emperor, Constantine III, so much so, that he brought the builder with him to Constantinople to create a similar structure there. Unfortunately, the builder died along the way.  Zvartnots stood for nearly 300 years. By the 10th century, it was in ruins. It is not certain how it was destroyed. A strong earthquake may have caused its collapse or it may also have been due to continued Arab raids. There’s a debate among scholars on the reason why a building constructed to last a millenia only lived a third of its “warranty”.   The Zvartnots archaeological site also includes the Catholicos Palace ruins. The complex together with Etchmiadzin Cathedral were inscribed as a UNESCO World He...

View of the domes and belltower of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore  from the  terrace of Suore di Santa Elisabetta  Rome in August is hot and crowded. This is even more so now since 2025 has been designated a Jubilee year by the Vatican which means the Eternal City will receive a deluge of tourists and pilgrims. By some estimates, between 30 to 35 million visitors will descend on Rome in 2025. Imagine trying to find a hotel at the last minute. We were lucky enough to secure a reservation at Santa Elisabetta on the same day we needed a room for a few days at a place where I had wanted to stay in the first place. Several days before it was fully booked when I was doing my search. But thankfully we got a room! Moral of the story: never give up.  This convent is well located, practically next door to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, one of five designated churches for the Jubilee Year 2025. It’s also a short walk from Termini Sation where we got off after our t...

Ananuri Castle Fortress I knew the road to Gergeti would be long. But I wanted to go and see the Holy Trinity Church which had captivated me when I saw photos of it with the Caucasus Mountains in the distance. I’m glad I went as the day trip proved to be a surprising and memorable experience. The images I’ve posted here will confirm that. On the way to Gergeti, we stopped at Ananuri which was the seat of the Dukes of Aragvi from the 13th century. A rival duchy, the Shanshe of Ksami, attacked them in the 18th century and massacred the Aragvi clan. Four years later the Shanshe were killed during a revolt by local peasants. These same peasants invited King Teimuraz II to be their ruler. But peace was short lived and the peasants revolted once more in 1746. With the help of the King of Kakheti, Teimuraz II was able to quell the peasant rebellion. The fortress remained in use until the early 19th century.  Watchtower and the Aragvi River Carved façade of the Church of the Mother of God ...