Security forces busted the gangs in 2004. And now the government is implementing a plan to turn this medieval mountain zone into a tourist magnet. Svaneti arguably has seen more change in the past ...

The old town has a medieval feel to it ... Today, the castle has been repurposed as the Messner Mountain Museum (MMM Ripa), which houses interactive exhibits on the theme of alpine living.

Preserved by its long isolation, the Upper Svaneti region of the Caucasus is an exceptional example of mountain scenery with medieval-type villages and tower-houses. The village of Chazhashi still has ...