Mtskheta, Gori and Uplistsikhe tour Highlights

1. Jvari monastery
2. Svetitskhoveli Cathedral
3. Uplistsikhe

Mtskheta, Gori and Uplistsikhe tour Overview

Mtskheta, Gori, and Uplistsikhe tour covers the most notable site seeings of Shida Kartli and is mostly focused around the most important site – carved in the rock ancient town Uplistsikhe, dated by VI century BC. The duration of the tour is up to 4 – 5 hours. Uplistsikhe tour can be part of any tour in the western direction or a tour to Vardzia.

First of all, we will visit Mtskheta – the ancient capital of east Georgia, from the IV century BC. After moving the political center to Tbilisi, Mtskheta remained as the spiritual center of the country. Once more it became the political center – in X – IX centuries, while Tbilisi was still occupied by Arabs and known as the Tbilisi emirate. Currently, it is a little town 20 km from Tbilisi. Here are prechristianity archaeological and Christianity architectural monuments, which are recognized by UNESCO as world heritage sites. The trip covers the most important monuments in Mtskheta.

Jvari monastery was built in the VI century on top of the hill, from where is a perfect view of the town of Mtskheta and its surroundings.

Svetitskhoveli cathedral XI century – the most respected holy place in Georgia, also a very important architectural monument of Georgia. Also is the burial place of Georgian kings and their offspring till modern times.

Town Gori is famous as the birthplace of soviet dictator Stalin. It is the administrative center of the Shida Kartli region.

Uplistsikhe cave town – the most important and interesting monument in the Kartli region. Carved in a rock ancient town, built in VI BC, used to be the spiritual center of pagan Georgia. Here are remains of the amphitheater, several temples, and market place. The town has been abandoned since the XIII century.

Optional wine tasting and dinner in a local winery.