Tbilisi - history and modernity side by side
The capital of Georgia is Tbilisi.is one of the oldest cities in the world, which contains a huge number of monuments from different eras. Its history dates back to the 6th-3rd centuries BC. "Tbili" means "warm". The city received this name due to the hot springs located nearby. Tbilisi is the largest city in the country, located in the valley of the Kura River at the foot of Mount Mtatsminda, which means "Holy Mountain". In Tbilisi, you can find ancient architectural objects next to modern multi-story buildings, parks and bridges across the full-flowing Kura. Children's Amusement and Recreation Park Mtatsminda At the top of Mtatsminda there is a wonderful children's park. You can get there by funicular or by local bus. The park is considered children's, but it will be interesting for everyone to visit. The park has many unusual sculptures and statues that are worth a look. Inside the buildings, on the facades of which bizarre tree shapes are intertwined, decorated with figures of birds and animals, you can find cozy restaurants. Mtatsminda is especially beautiful during the period when the roses planted in the park are in bloom. The mountain offers a wonderful view of the city of Tbilisi. From here you can see the temples - the most famous sights of Georgia, which are located in Tbilisi: the Tsminda Sameba Cathedral, built in honor of the 2000th anniversary of Christianity, the old city with its winding streets and ancient churches. On the left bank of the Kura River there is a monument to Vakhtang Gorgasali, the king of Iberia, who is considered the founder of Tbilisi, and the medieval Metekhi Temple (3rd century). Sights and the extraordinary color of the Old City Once in Tbilisi, you should first visit its historical part - the Old City, which is located in the south-eastern part at the very foot of Mount Mtatsminda. Only here you can feel the special color of the architecture of old Tbilisi and see its sights. Brick houses of 2-3 floors with carved wooden balconies, and under them narrow streets of the Old Town. In the central part of the city is the oldest fortress of the country Narikala (Shuristsikhe) - IV-VIII centuries and many other interesting sites. You should definitely see Anchiskhati - the oldest city church of St. Mary (VI-XVI centuries). The main cathedral of Georgia - Sioni Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, named after Mount Zion in Jerusalem and, like other temples of Sioni, dedicated to the Mother of God. In Tbilisi Sioni is kept the most famous shrine of Georgia - the cross of St. Nino, which, according to legend, was given to her by the Mother of God. Until 2004, Sioni Cathedral, founded in the V-VII centuries, was the current residence of the Georgian Catholicos. The temple was destroyed several times during wars and earthquakes, but was rebuilt each time. The cathedral is a typical example of late medieval architecture. Both inside the building and on its facade, you can see preserved fragments from different eras. Later monuments of the Old Town that are worthy of attention include the Kashveti Church (1910), Norashen (1793), the palace of Queen Daredjan Sachino (1776), the Paliashvili Opera House (1851) and other equally interesting objects.
Mtskheta - the cradle of Christianity
After seeing the sights of Tbilisi, it is worthgo to the small town of Mtskheta, which is located 30 km from the capital, "... where the Aragvi and Kura rivers merge and make noise, embracing like two sisters" (M. Yu. Lermontov). The city was founded by one of the sons of the famous Kartlos, the forefather of the Georgian people, whose name was Mtskhetos. He built a fortress around which the city grew - the capital of Iberia. Tbilisi was proclaimed the capital in the 5th century AD. In 736, Mtskheta was plundered by the Arab caliph, the governor of Transcaucasia Marwan II, and since then has ceased to play a significant role in the political life of the country. Mtskheta is considered the Georgian Jerusalem. There are two important Orthodox shrines there, founded by King Mirian, who proclaimed Orthodoxy the state religion in 337. By order of this king, two Orthodox shrines were built - the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and the Samtavro Monastery. Samtavro Monastery is a shrine for all Orthodox Christians. The territory of the monastery is an architectural ensemble of the Samtavro-Preobrazhenskaya Church and the women's monastery of St. Nina. The church was built in the 4th century. Later, it was destroyed and rebuilt several times. Several shrines are kept there, including miraculous icons, the graves of Mirian himself and his wife Nana, and the relics of other saints. Near the temple there is a small, inconspicuous building. This is the Church of St. Nino - Makvlovani, which means "blackberry bush". Nino preached Christianity, finding refuge under the branches of a blackberry bush. It is believed that Makvlovani was built on the very spot where Saint Nino lived and preached. Tbilisi Historical Site - Svetitskhoveli Cathedral The famous Svetitskhoveli is the main cathedral of Georgia, which has been and remains a stronghold of the Christian faith for thousands of years. The temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The cathedral was the coronation site and burial place of the Bagration kings. Svetitskhoveli was erected on the site where the sister of Rabbi Elioz, who died with the Lord's robe in her hands, was buried in the 1st century. The shrine was buried together with the woman, and after some time a cedar tree grew on this site, which began to be worshiped as a shrine. The temple was built much later at the insistence of Saint Nino. The cathedral that can be seen today has existed since 1010. The trunk of the cedar tree remained in place. Because of its miraculous power, it was not possible to cut down the tree. Later it was called the "life-giving pillar"; the tree trunk can still be seen in the center of the temple. From the central part of Mtskheta, a significant landmark is clearly visible - the Jvari temple. It rises on a hill above the city. Translated from Georgian, "Jvari" means "monastery of the cross". This is one of the best creations of medieval architecture in Georgia.
Modern tourist center in Batumi
The city of Batumi is the capital of Adjara,a tourist center that is loved not only by Georgians themselves, but also by numerous guests of the country. This is a seaside resort town, well restored and always ready to receive dear guests. There are many restaurants and hotels, and in the vicinity of the city there are resort towns that offer beach holidays. There is something to see in the Old Town, which is located in the northern part of Batumi. Within this area, the city existed at the beginning of the century. The city itself can be considered a landmark of the republic, because it has been almost completely restored, and the eastern streets of the Old Town are made in the European style. The famous Boulevard, which you should definitely take a walk along, is planted with palm trees and firs. This is a famous place for tourists to relax. It is worth walking along King Farnavaz Street. There you can see an old Greek temple in stripes and an Italian square in the style of Venice. Batumi is planned in such a way that it is difficult to get lost on the streets of the city. Walking from one avenue to another, you can see buildings with amazing architecture, fountains, temples and get your own impression of this unusual seaside town.
Cave fortresses and monasteries
When traveling in Georgia, you must seecave monasteries of this amazing country. Such monuments include Vardzia - this is an entire city, carved into the rock to a depth of 50 m and consisting of 600 rooms. The appearance of the cave complex is amazing - its length is about 900 m, and the height of numerous tiers corresponds to the height of an 8-story building. The cave monastery dates back to the 12th-13th centuries. The fortress-monastery of Vardzia was built as a fortification that was supposed to block the path of invaders attacking from the south. During construction, there were 3 thousand cave galleries with numerous secluded passages and rooms that could accommodate up to 50 thousand soldiers. The center of the structure is a temple carved into the rock, on the walls of which frescoes with the faces of George III and his daughter Queen Tamara have been preserved. This unusual rock structure is located 200 km from Tbilisi, near the town of Akhaltsikhe. In ancient times, people settled in mountainous areas, and the Caucasus was no exception. An unusual city has survived to this day, the houses of which are carved into the gentle slope of the cliff. The ancient city was founded in the 2nd millennium BC. Cave houses carved into the rock can be seen near the city of Gori on the bank of the mountain river Mtkvari. The name Uplistsikhe has remained unchanged since those times and means "fortress of God". There is no ordinary road to the city in our understanding; a tunnel leads there, which served as a secret passage to the river for the residents of the stone village. Georgia greets guests not only with cultural monuments and ancient architecture, but also with the beauty of its landscapes and the hospitality of local residents. Caucasian cuisine and famous Georgian wine, the opportunity to improve your health in sanatorium complexes and visit local attractions will make a visit to this country a rich and interesting adventure.
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