The palace of Queen Daredjan was built in the 18th century by King Erekle II for his wife. The second name of the residence is “Sachino”, which is translated from Georgian as “noble”.
The palace is unusual in that it was built on the site of a Medieval fortress, using the remains of its strong walls. Thanks to this, Sachino was not only beautiful, but also durable, and could be used for defensive purposes during enemy attacks.
In contrast to the powerful facade, a round balcony with elegant light blue carving protrudes from the walls. It is made in an authentic Georgian style; such balconies are still the country’s calling card even today. Near Sachino, there used to be a functioning church of St. Irakli and St. Daria.
It is important that the palace of Queen Daredjan was the summer residence of the royal family. And after the death of Irakli II, his wife moved to live in St. Petersburg.
Several decades later, the palace was partially destroyed by an attack by Iranian troops. Then it and the church were restored, returning them to their former splendor.
The residence was not empty for long; at the beginning of the 19th century, a Sunday school, a seminary, and a monastery were organized here. After the arrival of Soviet power, the palace of Queen Daredzhan became empty. Only in the 70s of the 20th century it became a museum, and then just a warehouse.
The palace of Queen Daredjan now
Now, a women’s monastery and a House of Mercy have been founded in the former royal residence. They help those in need, hold charity dinners and free education. In general, it serves faithfully for the benefit of people.
Entrance to the palace and its observation deck (round balcony) is free, but you will not be able to get into all the rooms, since it is still a monastery.
Queen Daredjan’s Palace How to get there
The palace is located at 7 Urbnis Street in the Avlabari district of Tbilisi. The closest metro station is Avlabari, from which the destination is only a 5-minute walk away. From Freedom Square, you can get to the palace in 12 minutes by bus 337. You can also take a taxi.
Near Sachino there is Rike Park, a hot air balloon, the Bridge of Peace, and the Narikala Fortress.
More about Tbilisi and Georgia:
Best hotels in the mountains of Georgia
Souvenirs – what to bring from Georgia as a gift
Top 6 Restaurants for the Best Khinkali in Tbilisi
Best Hotels in the Center of Tbilisi
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