On the gentle slopes of Kakheti's hills, where the sun generously bathes the vineyards and the Alazani Valley stretches in soft blue haze to the horizon, lies the small yet irresistibly charming town of Sighnaghi. Founded in the 17th century under King Erekle II, it remains the only town in Georgia to have preserved its ancient fortress walls – stone sentinels that still encircle it in a protective embrace. Its name comes from the Turkic "signakh", meaning "shelter" and indeed, this place feels as though it was created to guard peace and stillness.
Yet Sighnaghi's fame reaches beyond its architecture and history. Local legend tells of the great Georgian painter Niko Pirosmani, who, in a grand gesture of love for the beautiful French actress Marguerite de Sèvre, covered the town square with a sea of fresh flowers. This act inspired the beloved song "A Million Scarlet Roses", forever tying the town's name to the world's great love stories.
Today, visitors wander through leafy streets and take in majestic views of the mountains, or exchange vows at the legendary Wedding Palace, open around the clock. No wonder it's called the "City of Love" – the very air here seems filled with the promise of tenderness and miracles.