Sno
Village just south of Stepantsminda at the turn-off to Juta, known for its giant carved stone heads and medieval fortress tower.
SnoPhoto: Saba sakhvadze, CC BY-SA 4.0Sno is a village in the Khevi region just south of Stepantsminda, where the side road to Juta leaves the Georgian Military Road and climbs east up the Sno valley. Most visitors stop for the stone heads at the entrance of the village on the Juta road: an open-air collection of six giant heads carved from boulders by the local sculptor Merab Piranishvili, each depicting a famous Georgian writer, poet or leader.
The village also has the remains of a medieval fortress and stone towers, and views up the valley toward the Chaukhi massif. A stop of 20 to 30 minutes is enough for most travellers, usually on the way to or from Juta. Sno makes a good short break for families travelling to Juta. If you have more time, the drive up the Sno valley to Juta itself takes about 30 minutes.
What to see and do
- Six giant stone heads of Georgian national figures
- Remains of the medieval Sno fortress
- Views up the Sno valley toward Chaukhi
- Short stop on the way to Juta
How to visit
Getting there
Sno is a few kilometres south of Stepantsminda on the Georgian Military Road, about 10 minutes by car. The stone heads are at the start of the road to Juta.
When to go
May–October. Plan 20–30 minutes here.
- Combine with Juta; the stone heads are on the same road.
- Respect private property around the sculptures and village houses.
Sno: FAQ
What are the stone heads in Sno?
They are giant heads of famous Georgian writers, poets and leaders carved from boulders by the local sculptor Merab Piranishvili. They stand in the open at the entrance of Sno on the road to Juta.
How far is Sno from Stepantsminda?
Sno is a few kilometres south of Stepantsminda on the Georgian Military Road, about 10 minutes by car. It is where the road to Juta begins.
Tours that include Sno
Read more in our guides
Photo: Q-lieb-in, CC BY-SA 4.0Colour starts near the treeline in late September and reaches Tbilisi in November. Here is when each region peaks, the walks to do there and which mountain roads shut first.
Photo: Supanut Arunoprayote, CC BY 4.0Everything for a trip to Stepantsminda: the drive up from Tbilisi, the climb to Gergeti, day walks in Juta and Truso, beds, food and winter road advice.
Nearby places
Straight-line distance from Sno.
