If you want to discover the most ancient and spiritual face of Georgia, you absolutely cannot miss a trip to Mtskheta, in the historic province of With card. A mandatory stop after visiting the wonders of Tbilisi, which also offers unmissable surprises in its surroundings.
This magnetic city it was the capital of the kingdom of Georgia between the 3rd century BC and the 5th century AD. It was here that the Georgians they converted to Christianity in 317 and this is where the Georgian Orthodox and Apostolic Church.
Mtskheta and the UNESCO heritage churches
Among the main reasons why Mtskheta is worth a visit are the splendid ancient churches, inserted among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites as exceptional examples of medieval religious architecture in the Caucasus and testimony to the high artistic and cultural level achieved by this ancient kingdom.
The favorable geographical conditions and the strategic position as a crossroads of trade routes have contributed to the development of Mtskheta, leading to the integration of different cultural influences with local traditions. After the 6th century AD, when the capital was moved to Tbilisi, the city on the outskirts of Tbilisi continued to represent one of the most important cultural and spiritual centers in the country.
La Svetitskhoveli Cathedral
La Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, Jvari Monastery and Samtavro Monastery are iconic monuments of medieval Georgia. Mtskheta Orthodox Cathedral is known as the place where the tunic of Jesus Christ would be buried.
For a long time the church was the main place of worship in the country and today it remains one of the places most venerated by the faithful, seat of the archbishop of Mtskheta and Tbilisi. The current structure was built during the 11th century on the site where a first church had been built in the 4th century.
The Jvari Monastery
On the top of a mountain, near the confluence of the Mt'k'vari and Aragvi rivers it is, instead, located on Jvari monastery (or monastery of the Cross), where, according to tradition, at the beginning of the 4th century Santa Nino erected a large wooden cross on what was then the site of a pagan temple.
Considered miraculous, the cross attracted numerous pilgrims from all over the Caucasus, so it was built on its remains, presumably between 586 and 605, the “small church of Jvari” (today also known as “big church of Jvari”). The striking building is an ancient example of structure with four apses and had a strong influence on Georgian architecture. From here you can admire it one of the most beautiful and breathtaking views of Mtskheta.
Samtavro Monastery
Finally, among the monuments elected UNESCO heritage is the Samtavro monastery, built in the 4th century at the behest of re Mirian III of Iberia on the place where Santa Nino is said to have stopped to pray. The building houses interesting contemporary frescoes and also houses some stones from the saint's tomb, located in the Bodbe monastery.
The guided tour
admire the fascinating cultural heritage of Mtskheta, with a visit to the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and the Jvari Monastery, we recommend you book this one day guided tour departing from Tbilisi. The tour also includes visits to the city of Gori, which was the birthplace of Stalin and where there is the largest museum on the infamous Soviet dictator, and to the ancient complex carved into the rock of Uflistsikhe, mentioned in chronicles dating back to the earliest times of humanity. You can find all the information here and book your guided tour to discover the most beautiful destinations in Georgia.
