MTSKHETA-UPLITSIKHE GRUOP TOUR

Tour Description

This tour will give you the opportunity to travel through the past of Georgia, learn about the history of Georgia, enjoy the beautiful views, see a lot of Georgian handmade souvenirs, take beautiful photos and taste the traditional Georgian sweets “Churchkhela”

History

“Mtskheta” was the ancient capital of Kartli, the East Georgian Kingdom from the 3rd century BC to the 5th century AD, and was also the location where Christianity was proclaimed as the official religion of Georgia in 337. To date, it still remains the headquarters of the Georgian Orthodox and Apostolic Church.
The favourable natural conditions, its strategic location at the intersection of trade routes, and its close relations with the Roman Empire, the Persian Empire, Syria, Palestine, and Byzantium, generated and stimulated the development of Mtskheta and led to the integration of different cultural influences with local cultural traditions. After the 6th century AD, when the capital was transferred to Tbilisi, Mtskheta continued to retain its leading role as one of the important cultural and spiritual centres of the country.

“Jvari Monastery”
The Holy Cross Monastery of Jvari, Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and Samtavro Monastery are key monuments of medieval Georgia. The present churches include the remains of earlier buildings on the same sites, as well as the remains of ancient wall paintings. The complex of the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in the centre of the town includes the cathedral church, the palace and the gates of the Katolikos Melchizedek that date from the 11th century, built on the site of earlier churches dating back to the 5th century. The cruciform cathedral is crowned with a high cupola over the crossing, and there are remains of important wall paintings in the interior. The rich sculpted decoration of the elevations dates from various periods over its long history. The small domed church of the Samtavro Monastery was originally built in the 4th century and has since been subject to various restorations. The main church of the monastery was built in the early 11th century. It contains the grave of Mirian III, the king of Iberia who established Christianity as official religion in Georgia

“Gori” State Stalin Museum is situated in Gori, in the town where Stalin was born. The complex of the museum was opened in 1957. In the house, where Stalin was born, the memorial museum was opened in 1937, during Stalin’s lifetime.
The complex of the museum includes the memorial house, Stalin’s carriage, and the two-storeyed exhibition building. In front of the building Stalin statue is situated (sculptor Silovan Kakabadze).
Unique displays: memorial things, presents, canvases, photo- and film documents are gathered in the museum.
A permanent exposition telling about Stalin’s life and activities is presented in six halls.

Uplistsikhe – meaning “The Fortress of God” is an ancient cave town from the 1st half of the 1st millennium BC. situated on the crossroads of important trade routes. It was the main center of paganism and represents a complex of halls, caves, theatres, altars, pagan temples, secret tunnels, prisons, pharmacy, passages-streets all carved out of stone over an area of 4 hectares. The city was surrounded by the protective moat surrounding it from the east and the north. Uplistsikhe had four gates from all parts of the world. The cave city still has the two-column reception hall of Queen Tamara with arch niches and huge pylons. It is magnificent in its sizes, perfect workmanship, and graceful architectural forms. Some premises, wine storages, fragments of temples and fortifications, the secret underground tunnel used for water supply are still intact.

Tour duration: at 9:00 until 19:00 .

Locations you will visit

Mtskheta City
Jvari Monastery
Gori Stalin Museum
Uplistsikhe Cave Town
‎ Include:

professional two language speaker guide (eng/rus)
comfortable mini bus ( a\c)
pick up and back in Tbilisi

Price 70 gel