Don Cristoforo De Castelli

Don Cristoforo De Castelli (BEGINNING AND MIDDLE OF THE 17 TH C.), I talian Roman Catholic missionary, Pater, member of the Order of Theatines. In 1628 he arrived in Georgia together with Pater Antonio Giardina and monk Claudio. The missionaries presented themselves to King Teimuraz I in Gori. In 1634, on the invitation of the Bishop Maxime Machutadze, they arrived in Guria. In 1640, after Vakhtang II Gurieli ousted them, they moved to Odishi. Castelli’s stay in Georgia is traced right up to 1652. After that, by all appearances, he returned to Italy. During his tenure in Georgia he made a number of interesting sketches (2 albums). One of the albums was destroyed; another one which comprises over 500 drawings, is preserved at the Communal Library of Palermo, Italy. Mikheil Tamarashvili published part of those sketches. Besides, he brought to Georgia the photocopies of scores of drawings from Castelli’s album. Castelli’s sketches and his captions under the drawings provide valuable data for the history of Georgian politics and economy.