An illustrated  talk will be given at The Courtauld Institute of Art, Somerset House, Strand at 6pm on Thursday, June 28 by Irene Giviashvili (Chubinashvili National Research Centre for Georgian Art, History and Heritage Preservation). Followed by glass of Georgian wine.

The term Tao-Klarjeti was used by 20th century Georgian scholars to describe the mediaeval Georgian provinces in modern North-Eastern Turkey and the related cultural heritage.
Tao-Klarjeti was a cradle of Christianity and of Georgian statehood and its cultural renaissance in the Middle Ages. In modern times it has remained a place of spiritual inspiration, which no-one could visit from the Soviet Union until the borders were reopened between Georgia and Turkey in 1992. Thousands of tourists now come every year to visit monuments like Oshki, Bana, Parkhali, Khakhuli, Otkhta Eklesia, Ishkani, Khantsta, Doliskhana …