The longest canyons of Georgia. Samshvildi Canyon.

Samshvildi Canyon begins from the rocky cape of Samshvildi and includes Samshvildi Canyon, 5-6 km long, and Chivchavi River Canyon, 3-4 km long.

Not far from the canyon, on a rocky peak of the Trialet Range, from where the suburbs of Tsalka and Manglisi can be seen on one side and the roads leading to Kartli along the valleys of the Tedzma and Tana rivers on the other, are the ruins of the ancient city of Samshvildi. The city was built on a high promontory, which is located at the confluence of the rivers Chivchavi and Khrami.

On the north side of the city is adjacent to the gorge Chivchavi, in the lowlands of which the river with clear clear water runs through the centuries-old walnut trees and huge boulders. On the south side of the gorge, as if a blue ribbon, the Khrami (Ktsia) river bounds. Thus, from three sides the city-fortress was impregnable, and from the western side it was protected by a fence 4-5 meters thick.

Near the ruins of the city, on both slopes of Ktsia valley, several caves were cut out. And directly at the city itself there is a big cave complex. The caves, remains of the settlements and burials date back to the second half of the IV millennium. There is also an architectural monument of the VIII century - the church-dome Sioni Samshvildsky bishop's cathedral.