Top 16 - attractions of Georgia

Georgia is a vacation on the sunny coast of Adjara, the ancient fortresses of Kakheti, the picturesque ski resorts of Upper Svaneti, as well as delicious cuisine and excellent wine. A lot of sights fit in the small territory of this country, so experienced travelers know that one trip to Georgia will not be enough. In order to feel the atmosphere of this ancient land, learn its history and understand the mentality of the proud Georgian people, you need to come here several times.

What to see in Georgia?

The most interesting and beautiful places, photos and a brief description.

Tbilisi old town

Part of the city on both banks of the river. Hens, where medieval buildings of bygone centuries have been preserved. There are architectural objects of the 5th century in Old Tbilisi, many of which are included in the lists of valuable historical heritage. The old city occupies the historical territory of ancient Tiflis (as it was in the 12th century) and even now has preserved the special atmosphere of those times. Narrow streets, fortress walls and ancient cathedrals help the traveler to plunge into the complex interweaving of Georgian history.

Mtskheta city

The oldest city in the country, founded in the 5th century. BC. According to legend, it was laid by a descendant of Noah Meskhet (Mtskhetos). The city is located 200 km. from Mount Ararat - it was there that Noah's Ark landed after the end of the Flood. Mtskheta is located near Tbilisi and is the ancient capital of Georgia. This is a sacred place for every Georgian, the locals call the city "the second Jerusalem".

Trinity Church in Gergeti

Alpine temple of the XIV century, located at an altitude of more than 2 km. above sea level. The ancient walls of the temple stand against the backdrop of the sparkling glaciers of Kazbek. It was founded on the site of a pagan temple, according to some guidebooks, an ancient silver idol in the shape of a ram is still kept in the walls, which was not destroyed for some reason by the local clergy. There is a picturesque view of the church from the Georgian Military Highway.

Narikala fortress

This building has been standing almost since the foundation of Tbilisi. Residents call the fortress the "heart and soul" of the city. At different times, Arabs (VII-VIII centuries) and Mongols (XI-XII centuries) took part in its construction. For many centuries, the building was an important fortified point on the Great Silk Road. In 1827 the citadel was partially destroyed by an earthquake. Now the Narikala fortress has not been fully restored, but its walls and towers are silent witnesses of the great history of this land.

Ananuri Fortress

The building is 64 km. from Tbilisi on the Georgian Military Highway. The fortress played an important role in numerous wars between feudal lords in the Middle Ages due to its convenient location. Ananuri is well preserved - not only the walls and towers, but even the ceilings and internal buildings remained intact. Almost all tourist routes across the country run through the citadel, so it is almost impossible to miss it.

Jvari monastery

A functioning monastery towering over the ancient city of Mtskheta. He was sung by Lermontov in the poem "Mtsyri" and, apparently, in honor of this event, a monument was erected to the poet near the monastery. Like many other religious buildings, Javri was erected on a hill in the rock, since in ancient times it was believed that a person should work hard to get to the “places of the Lord's dwelling”.

Gelati Monastery

It was founded by King David IV in the 12th century and later became his tomb. The Gelati Monastery is considered the most significant medieval monastery in Georgia, it is included in the UNESCO heritage list and is under the protection of this organization. At the monastery there was the Gelati Academy (the cultural and scientific center of medieval Georgia), whose members studied Greek philosophy.

Alaverdi Cathedral

Shrine of Kakheti, located in the village of the same name. The building of the Cathedral was erected in the XI century. and at that time was the highest in the region. Alaverdi was repeatedly destroyed by invaders, but people restored and restored it. The first restoration took place in the 15th century. Until now, fragments of paintings of the XI-XVIII centuries have been preserved on the walls. The ensemble of the cathedral includes a bell tower, a palace, a refectory, a fortress wall.

Monastery of Betania

One of the best examples of Georgian temple architecture. It was erected during the time of Queen Tamara. According to legend, the ruler liked to stop in these places to rest. The monastery has preserved unique ancient frescoes depicting the royal family, icons with scenes from the Bible, altar paintings consisting of biblical verses and psalms.

Tsminda Sameba

This cathedral is considered a symbol of "renewed Georgia". It was erected in 2004 in compliance with all the traditions of temple architecture that have developed over the centuries. The construction was carried out at the expense of donations from the townspeople and the funds of wealthy Georgians. Tsminda Sameba can accommodate up to 15,000 people, its area is more than 5,000 m² and it is not afraid of earthquakes.

Vardzia

Cave city built during the reign of George III. There are 15 temples with ancient frescoes and a functioning monastery. The surviving frescoes are considered unique, as they were created at the end of the 12th century. and survived to our times. They contain images of Tamara, George III, the Mother of God and Christian saints.

Uplistsikhe

Another cave city in Georgia. It is considered one of the first settlements in the country. Founded in the II century. BC. During its long existence, Uplistsikhe experienced several ups and downs, in the 19th century. it was finally abandoned by the inhabitants. In its heyday, it consisted of 700 caves, which housed residential and administrative buildings. Many buildings have survived to our times.

Svan Towers

Buildings on the territory of Svaneti, on the southern side of the Caucasus Range. The towers were not used as defensive ones, since at the time of their construction there were no internal wars in the region. There is a version that they were built to maintain prestige and intimidate potential enemies, while they kept stocks of vegetables and other provisions.

Batumi fountains

Singing fountains in the center of Batumi, one of the brightest city attractions, attracting many tourists. During the laser show, the audience will see not only bizarre play of light rays, but also a brief history of the city and the country, told in colors and sounds. The fountains were built relatively recently - in 2009, but have already become one of the main attractions of Batumi.

Rustaveli Avenue

The main street of Tbilisi, its "face" and facade. Ministries, official residences, state buildings are located here, so the avenue is the center of the political life of Georgia. Also on Rustaveli Avenue there are many expensive boutiques, restaurants, hotels and nice cafes where you can drink a cup of excellent Georgian coffee.

Peace Bridge in Tbilisi

A modern structure connecting the banks of the river. Chickens in Tbilisi. It symbolizes the bridge from the past to the future, as it connects the old and new parts of the city. During the construction, the project of the Italian architect Michel de Lucci and the French lighting engineer Philippe Martino was used. The bridge was opened in 2010 on the feast of St. George.