Vani Archaeological Museum
Site museum on the hill of ancient Vani, a Colchian city of the 8th to 1st centuries BC, displaying its gold, bronzes and temple finds.
Vani Archaeological MuseumPhoto: Gaga.vaa, CC BY-SA 3.0Vani is a small town about 40 km south-west of Kutaisi, built beside one of the most important archaeological sites in Georgia. On the hill above it stood a city of ancient Colchis, the land of the Golden Fleece in Greek myth, which flourished from the 8th to the 1st century BC as a religious and political centre. Excavations have uncovered temples, city walls, altars and rich elite graves. The Otar Lordkipanidze Vani Archaeological Museum stands on the site and holds most of the finds.
The museum reopened in 2020 after a ten-year rebuild and is one of the best-presented museums outside Tbilisi. Ten halls trace the city's history, with Colchian gold jewellery from the tombs, Hellenistic bronzes, figurines and pottery. Afterwards you can walk around the excavated remains on the hill. Some of the most famous Vani gold is shown in the treasury of the Georgian National Museum in Tbilisi, so the two complement each other.
History
Ancient Vani was one of the main centres of the Colchian kingdom. Its earliest remains date to the 8th century BC, elite burials of the 5th and 4th centuries BC were filled with gold, and by the 3rd century BC it was a temple city. It was attacked and destroyed in the mid 1st century BC. Ekvtime Takaishvili dug here in 1896, and systematic excavation began in 1966 under Otar Lordkipanidze, who founded the site museum in 1985. It reopened, fully rebuilt, in 2020.
What to see and do
- Colchian gold jewellery from elite tombs
- Hellenistic bronze statues and figurines
- The excavated city remains on the hill
- A modern museum building, reopened in 2020
How to visit
Getting there
In Vani town, about 40 km south-west of Kutaisi, around 45 minutes by car. Marshrutkas run from Kutaisi to Vani. From Tbilisi allow about 3.5 to 4 hours by car.
When to go
Year-round. Plan 1.5–2 hours here.
- Check opening days before you go; Georgian museums usually close one day a week
- Wear comfortable shoes to walk the excavations on the hill
- Visit the Georgian National Museum treasury in Tbilisi for more Vani gold
Vani Archaeological Museum: FAQ
Is Vani the land of the Golden Fleece?
Vani was a major city of ancient Colchis, which Greek myth calls the land of the Golden Fleece. Its rich gold finds fit the legend well, although the myth cannot be tied to a single site.
Are the gold objects in Vani museum originals?
Yes. The museum displays original gold, silver and bronze finds from the site. A number of the most famous pieces are kept in the Georgian National Museum in Tbilisi.
Nearby places
Straight-line distance from Vani Archaeological Museum.
