Georgia

• © UNESCO
• Mtskheta, Historical church of the former capital of Georgia

Georgia joined UNESCO on 7 October 1992.

The historic churches of Mtskheta, former capital of the Kingdom of Georgia, are typical of medieval religious architecture in the Caucasus region; they were inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1994.

Georgian culture gives pride of place to popular song as typified by the Chakrulo, a polyphonic song using metaphors and complex musical ornamentation, whose medieval origin is linked to the cult of wine and winemaking. In 2001 UNESCO proclaimed Georgian Traditional Polyphony a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Georgia participates in UNESCO’s “Caucasus” project, which promotes intercultural dialogue, development of cultural tourism and HIV/AIDS prevention.