Georgia from home: a virtual walk through the Narikala fortress in Tbilisi!
Take a virtual tour of the Narikala Fortress in Tbilisi, Georgia! Watch a short video with a full overview of the fortress, its history, and panoramic views of the area on madloba. In plain language, we told you what to look out for when you get here. We have visited for ourselves and made a selection so that you can choose only the most interesting things to see.
Walking through Narikala Fortress⬇️
On Mount Mtatsminda above Tbilisi stands the ancient fortress of Narikala. There are many picturesque ruins and magical views of the city. There is a botanical garden next to it, and a ropeway connects Narikala with Tbilisi's most unusual park, Rike.
History of the Narikala Fortress
The exact date of the construction of the fortress is unknown, but there is evidence that in the 4th century it already existed, which means the fortress was built even earlier than the formation of the city of Tbilisi.
The first name of the fortress was Shuris-Tsieh, which means "enviable fortress. It was so called because it was the most fortified and impregnable structure on the silk road. During this time, no one could ever take the fortress by storm. The fortress was expanded and rebuilt several times, first by the Arabs in the 7th-8th centuries, then by the Mongols in the 11th-12th centuries. Since the Mongol invasion the fortress was called Narikala, which means "Small Fortress" in Turkic.
Approximately in the 12th century within the walls of the fortress a majestic church of St. Nicholas was erected. Its main functions it performed until the 19 century, after the accession of Georgia to the Russian Empire, the cathedral was no longer needed. Gradually the building came into disrepair. And in 1818 there was opened a gunpowder warehouse, which exploded in 1827. But another version is that in 1827 there was a strong earthquake and as a result only the foundation and fragments of walls were found during excavations in 1966.
Narikala Fortress our time
Now the majestic shrine appears to travelers in an austere, ascetic style, corresponding to the formidable Narikala fortress. Inside you can see frescoes with biblical scenes and scenes from the history of the country.
The walls of the fortress is the most popular viewing platform in Tbilisi. From here you can enjoy simply gorgeous views, on one side - to Tbilisi, on the other - to the botanical garden.
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The citadel of Narikala fortress
The ancient citadel is not preserved in its entirety, but only in fragments. The high walls of the fortress seem to grow out of the green slopes of the hill. At almost equal intervals on them you can see rounded towers, which the fortress garrison used for firing. The stone fort was badly damaged by an earthquake, but in some places the walls still have a neat crenellated end. In some places to climb the walls of the fort quite dangerous, because nowhere there are special railings and ladders, one wrong move and you can fall into an abyss. So be careful when you visit this place.
At the top of the fortress Narikala installed cross, this place is the highest point of old Tbilisi. Many travelers try to get to the fortress to see Tbilisi from above.
View of Tbilisi from the top of the Narikala fortress
Just below the hill flows the Kura River and the wide Metekhi automobile bridge is clearly visible. A little lower down the valley across the river is the openwork Peace Bridge, which has become one of the modern landmarks of the Georgian capital. This unusual bridge construction was built in 2010 by the Italian architect Michele de Lucchi. The Peace Bridge provides access to the green Rike Park.
From the observation deck you can also see the Presidential Residence and the golden dome of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. Near the church there is a souvenir machine with commemorative coins, which costs 10 lari.
Route to the fortress
You can get to Narikala fortress on foot or by cable car, and in both cases you will enjoy the magnificent views. The ascent to the fortress is steep and very tiring, especially in the heat. So it is better to go up by cable car and then come down on foot. The lower station of the cable car is located in the park Rike.
A visit to the fortress is free. So we recommend to visit this place, beautiful views and fresh air will give you a lot of pleasure.
We invite you to take a virtual tour of the Narikala fortress in Tbilisi! Listen to the history of this fortress and see how it has survived to this day. The panoramic view of the center of Tbilisi from the top of the Narikala fortress is amazing! If you are not afraid of steep ascents and descents, you must visit this Georgian landmark during your trip to Tbilisi!
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