Individual excursion to Mtskheta and Ananuri Medieval Castle (from Tbilisi)

What to expect

Svetitskhoveli - epitome of Georgian temple architecture
Mtskheta, as a museum city, is interesting in itself. But its main attraction is the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, built in the 11th century on the site of the first Georgian Christian church of the 4th century. Until the 21st century, Svetitskhoveli was the main cathedral of the Georgian Orthodox Church, where coronation ceremonies of all Georgian kings took place, and to this day, it remains the spiritual center of the country. During the excursion, you will learn the most interesting facts about this unique creation of medieval architecture, which has survived many difficult times and numerous reconstructions.

Jvari - 'where the whispering rivers merge...'
Not far from Mtskheta, there is another religious shrine of Georgia: the 6th-century Jvari Monastery, which translates to 'cross'. The monastery was built on the site where a cross was erected by Mirian, the first Christian king of Georgia, in the 4th century. This monastery was immortalized by Lermontov in his poem 'Mtsyri'. I will introduce you to the peculiarities of the construction of this structure and tell you about the vivid events and legends associated with this monastery.

Ananuri - beauty frozen in stone
The final point of our route will be the medieval Ananuri Castle, the ancient residence of the Aragvi Princes, located just 30 km from Mtskheta. This castle is better preserved than any other in Georgia. Built on the shore of the Zhinvali Reservoir, directly on the famous Military-Georgian Road, it attracts not only with its antiquity and the beauty of medieval architecture but also with a special allure thanks to its picturesque surroundings. Among the temples on its territory, the most remarkable is the Church of the Mother of God - a temple with the richest decoration of all the surviving religious structures in Georgia.