Mtskheta-Uplistsikhe: stories and panoramas

What to expect

Mtskheta - a soulful city and a spiritual center
The first capital of Georgia will introduce you to both the history and the religion of the country. I will help you imagine the emergence of Mtskheta in the 1st century BC and follow the path of St. Nino - a preacher who persuaded the Georgian king Mirian to convert the pagan country to Christianity. We will talk about the spiritual path of Sakartvelo in the ancient Jvari temple - proudly standing on a hill near Mtskheta. You will learn about its architectural features and admire the panorama immortalized by Lermontov in the poem "Mtsyri" - the merging of the "sister rivers" Aragvi and Kura. From here, you will also see the 11th-century Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, which you will visit next. We will walk to the shrine through cozy streets past stalls with traditional Georgian souvenirs. In the ancient walls of the temple, you will hear legends about St. Sidonia and the Life-Giving Pillar, "read" ancient frescoes, and be able to touch the main sanctuaries of Georgia.

Pagan past in the caves of Uplistsikhe
A short drive to the northwest - and you will find yourself in the cave city of the late 2nd - early 1st millennium BC. I have studied many records about this extraordinary place, and I will tell you all the most interesting facts. Exploring the stone labyrinths of residential and household rooms, you will imagine the life of pagans and their cult rituals. You will learn about Uplistsikhe's trade with ancient states of Urartu and Media, about its rise and fall. Here, you will also witness wonderful panoramas of the Kura Valley.

In the second part of the trip, upon the group's request, you can visit the Stalin Museum in his hometown of Gori (which is near Uplistsikhe). In the halls of a whole museum pantheon, you will see the preserved sculpture of Stalin, his personal belongings, and furniture - the tour will be conducted by the museum guide.