Margiani House Museum

The complex starts with the dwelling – a two-storey stone building with an open hearth on the ground floor. A wooden partition separated the living area from the livestock stall. By the hearth stands the makhvshi chair – the seat of the family elder, reserved for the head of household or honoured guests. In the basement, clay qvevri jars remain sunk into the ground – used for storing wine and honey. Nearby are grain boxes and dried food stores that sustained the family through Svaneti's long winters.

The tower stands separately from the house, connected by a corridor. It is approximately 25 m tall with 7 floors. Entry is from the second floor via an external wooden staircase. Inside, steep wooden ladders connect the floors. Each level served a different purpose: pantry, observation post, defensive tier. The top floor has narrow loopholes. From the roof, there's a panorama of Mestia's rooftops, Svan towers in neighbouring communities, and the snow-covered Caucasus peaks.

Outside the house is an open platform with a valley view – a good spot for photographs. A small café with Georgian food operates next to the museum.

Age – 11th-century dwelling, 10th-century tower – among the oldest preserved in Mestia

Family towers – the Margianis owned 8 towers, 4 of which survive today

Tower height – approximately 25 m, 7 floors, rooftop access for visitors

Interior – original hearth, makhvshi chair, qvevri wine jars, and grain boxes preserved

Panorama – valley and mountain range views from the tower roof and house platform

The Margiani family was one of the most powerful clans in medieval Svaneti. The scale of their influence is evident from their tower count – 8 in total, exceptional by Svan standards. The dwelling dates to the 11th century, the tower to the 10th century. The complex was used for its original purpose for centuries: the house for living, the cellar for winter food storage, and the tower as refuge during raids and inter-clan conflicts.

In the 20th century, the Margiani family converted the complex into a museum. Today it operates as a family-run attraction – tours are conducted by descendants or local residents. The house and tower remain close to their original state, without major reconstruction. The museum is among Mestia's most visited sites and serves as an ideal starting point for understanding Svan tower architecture.

In Mestia:

From the central square (Seti Square) – 10 minutes' uphill walk on a cobblestone road towards the Lanchvali quarter. The climb is steep (35–40° gradient) but short. Signposted. Address: Lanchvali Street, Mestia.

Getting to Mestia:

- From Tbilisi: marshrutka 50 GEL (~$18, 8–10 hrs), Vanilla Sky flight 90 GEL (~$33, 1 hr)

- From Zugdidi: marshrutka 30 GEL (~$11, 3 hrs)

- From Kutaisi: marshrutka 40 GEL (~$15, 5–6 hrs)

- Car rental – road via Zugdidi is fully paved

Season: Open daily except Monday, 10:00 AM–6:00 PM. Best period is June–September.

Time of day: Morning (10:00–12:00) – fewer visitors. Tour groups arrive in the afternoon.

Duration: 30–45 minutes for a visit. With photos and tower climb – up to 1 hour.

Avoid: Mondays (closed). The cobblestone road is slippery in rain.