Mariam Kvaratskhelia

Mariam was born in Mestia to a Svan family whose defensive tower still stands in the old quarter. She holds a master's degree in Georgian medieval history from Tbilisi State University and wrote her thesis on the icon collections of the Svanetian Museum.

Since 2015 she has led cultural tours across Upper Svaneti, including the UNESCO-listed village of Ushguli. She works closely with the Mestia Museum's curators and can arrange private access to the icon vault on request.

Mariam is a certified interpreter with the Georgian National Tourism Administration and lectures occasionally on Svan folklore at the Mestia Cultural Centre.