Ancient Surroundings of Tbilisi

What to Expect

Ancient Landmarks
You can visit:

• The ancient capital of Georgia Mtskheta with the grandiose, stunning 11th-century cathedral Svetitskhoveli, which has been the center of Christianity in Georgia for centuries;
• The monastery and church Jvari from the 7th century, where the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Nina raised the cross, a masterpiece of architecture in terms of the perfection of architectural forms and the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Georgia;
• The Christian monasteries Zedazeni and Shiomgvime, founded in the 6th century by monks Shio and John, who arrived in Georgia from Assyria as Christian missionaries;
• The cave city Uplistsikhe, dating back to the end of the 2nd millennium – the beginning of the 1st millennium BC.

If you wish, you can travel the entire route by car or walk the last stretch approaching the monastery on foot to fully experience yourself as a medieval traveler. If you depart early, you could see three to four sights and of course, have lunch at an excellent restaurant on the banks of the Kura River: taste khinkali, khachapuri, shashlik.