Travellers’ Tales of Mingrelia and of the Ancient Fortress of Nokalakevi

The last decade has seen a flourishing of the tourist industry in Georgia, as increasing numbers of Western travellers discover its beauty, history and culture. However, it is still not well known, perhaps in part due to 70 years of Soviet occupation, and the destabilising effect of its expansionist neighbours to the north and the south over many years prior to that. Despite this, a number of travellers have left evocative accounts of the region since the 14th century, and this paper considers what these historical sources can tell modern scholars about life in Mingrelia, western Georgia, and particularly in Nokalakevi