Vardzia is an extraordinary medieval cave city that seems almost impossible to have been carved by hand. Established in the late 12th century by King Giorgi III and Queen Tamar, this breathtaking mountain enclave served a dual purpose: a sacred Orthodox monastery and an impenetrable cliff fortress. While the spiritual heart was the frescoed Church of the Dormition, the mountain contained an entire hidden city. Across its cliff face were hundreds of interconnected chambers, wine cellars, living quarters, libraries, and an advanced irrigation network built to sustain thousands during times of war. In 1283, a catastrophic earthquake sheared away the cliff face, ripping open the hidden chambers and ending Vardzia’s role as an impenetrable fortress.