stands at the junction of three Georgian regions, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Shida Kartli and Kvemo Kartli, among the architectural landmarks of the region. The monument was built in 1976, designed by architect Tamaz Gabunia and sculptor Merab Berdzenishvili (also the creator of the David the Builder monument in Tbilisi), marking the site of the 1121 Battle of Didgori, where King David IV the Builder defeated a numerically superior Seljuk Turkish force, opening Georgia's golden age.
A detailed account of the Battle of Didgori and the monument's creation is covered in the blog article on Didgori Monument.
The complex is instantly recognisable by its central image: about fifty giant metal swords planted in the ground around a T-shaped obelisk on the hilltop, decorated with the borjgali, an ancient Georgian sun symbol. Nearby stands an amphitheatre with classical-style columns, and a separate statue of David the Builder rises a short distance away. The grounds are extensive, so allow at least an hour to see everything.
Every year on 12 August, the anniversary of the battle, the Didgoroba folk festival takes place here, drawing visitors from across Georgia. Entry is free, with no gates or ticket booths. In winter the road to the monument can be closed by snow, and since the plateau sits well above Tbilisi, temperatures here typically run 5-10 degrees cooler than in the capital: dress warmer than the city forecast suggests.
