Marneuli, city in Georgia
Marneuli is a city in the Kvemo Kartli region of southern Georgia that blends modern urban life with older residential buildings. It developed from the merger of several villages and now hosts schools, theaters, museums, and serves as a railway junction connecting Tbilisi and Yerevan.
Settlement in the area extends back to the Stone Age, with evidence found on Imiri and Shulaveri hills dating over 8,000 years old. The region was an early center of wine and grain cultivation before several villages merged to form the city of Marneuli in 1947.
Marneuli is predominantly inhabited by Azerbaijani people, whose daily customs and traditions are visible throughout the city. Local dishes featuring lamb, particularly kebabs and a clay-pot specialty called fithi, reflect the region's traditional cooking practices.
The city is easily accessible and lies about one hour's drive from Tbilisi, with local buses and taxis serving various destinations. It helps to know basic Georgian phrases or be prepared for language barriers, as English is not widely spoken everywhere.
The region may be the birthplace of wine cultivation, as archaeologists have found evidence of domesticated vines and grape seeds dating over 8,000 years old. These discoveries suggest this location hosted some of humanity's earliest attempts at growing grapes and making wine.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
