Mtskheta Historical Monuments: Temples and Day Trip
If suddenly you don't know what to see in Georgia, then a one-day tour to the ancient capital of Mtskheta will be a decision that you won't regret.
On a guided tour of Mtskheta, located near Tbilisi, you will be able to get acquainted with the sights of Georgia, which are included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These are the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and the Jvari Monastery, from which you can view the panorama of the city at the place of the Mtkvari River with Aragvi.
Historical monuments in Mtskheta were built in the Middle Ages. They contain a visual image of Georgian architecture of the Middle Ages. They show the highly cultural development of ancient Georgia, the importance of famous religious figures, for example, Saint Nino.
The historical sites of Mtskheta were included in UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1994. This fact makes your trip to Mtskheta even more exciting and valuable, it is in this town that you can observe the most beautiful places of Georgia and visit them.
Jvari Monastery
A trip to the Jvari Temple from the central part of Tbilisi will take you about half an hour by car. The length of the road is 25 kilometers.
The monastery dates back to the VI century, is a symbol of the spread of Christianity in Georgia and its formation on the territory of the country. The amazing view of the temple and the picturesqueness of the surrounding places tell us about the excellent taste of the architect. It's really hard to imagine how the area would look without a monastery.
Svetitskhoveli
Svetitskhoveli Cathedral is a fifteen-minute drive from Jvari. A walk around the city will open your eyes to Georgian antiques, traditional folk costume. You will be able to taste the famous Georgian wine, sweet treats and grape juice. You can also buy souvenirs for every taste and color in the city.
In addition, the majestic Svetitskhoveli Temple is located there. It is the second largest in Georgia after the Trinity Cathedral, which is located in Tbilisi.
Svetitskhoveli Cathedral was designed by the architect Konstantin Arsakidze in the XI century, but the first church erected in the same area dates back to the IV century.
Svetitskhoveli deservedly bears the title of one of the most magnificent churches in the world.
Samtavro Monastery Complex
Samtavro Monastery is located in the central part of the city and just a five-minute walk from Svetitskhoveli.
Samtavro is a small church, dating back to the IV century. The place is famous because Saint Nino lived there. Also in the Samtavro temple, King Mirian and Queen Nana are laid to rest and buried. They became Christian monks of Georgia for the first time.
Shio-Mgvime
Nine kilometers from Mtskheta at an altitude of 750 meters above sea level is the monastery of Shio-Mgvime. It was built by the Assyrian father Shio in the VI century. The monastery complex combines several buildings dating back to the period of the VI-XII centuries. Among them is the cave in which Monk Shio himself lived for fifteen years. Here he was buried after his death.
Menu
Among the famous dishes of Mtskheta, khinkali comes out on top. In addition, khinkali was recognized as one of the best dishes of Georgia. They are a kind of bag of dough, in which there is juicy meat mixed with spices.
In addition to UNESCO monuments, Mtskheta is famous for the best beans in the world. They can be tasted in any public catering establishment in the city, but “Salobie” is recognized as the best in comparison with the rest. The name of the restaurant comes from the word “Bean”, it is located at the entrance / exit to the city. This restaurant has collected a lot of traditional phenomena of the country that you can taste.
If you are not well versed in the menu of Georgia, first you should try khachapuri, barbecue or khinkali. And also, if you are in ”Salobie", it is impossible not to try the beans, which are cooked in a clay pot, they are served with real Georgian bread made from corn flour.
Transport
In order for you to get acquainted with Mtskheta and the surrounding area, various types of transport are offered. You can use the services of a guide or a driver. You can handle it yourself: any brand of car will take you from Tbilisi to Mtskheta.
The sights of Georgia will acquaint you with the historical and cultural monuments not only of the country, but also of the whole world.
A tour to Mtskheta is a great opportunity to admire the amazing views of the city, cathedrals and their surroundings, get acquainted with the unique traditions of Georgia.
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Особенно мне понравились советы от местных, которые подсказывают, когда лучше приезжать, где удобно сделать перерыв в тени после прогулки и что стоит обязательно увидеть, чтобы прочувствовать дух места. Отзывы других путешественников помогают выбрать оптимальный маршрут и избежать распространённых ошибок.
Для меня Мцхета стала началом знакомства с грузинской культурой, и я уже планирую следующую поездку, чтобы посетить те уголки, о которых здесь упоминают лишь вскользь. Спасибо за такую содержательную подборку.
Какие памятники в Мцхете вы считаете обязательными для посещения тем, кто приезжает сюда впервые?