Mtskheta

About

Georgia is undeniably a country rich in history with countless ancient landmarks, but Mtskheta stands out as one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world! Today, it's a quaint provincial capital located near Tbilisi, but for nearly a millennium until the 5th century AD, Mtskheta was a large fortified city, serving as a significant economic and political centre for the Kingdom of Iberia. The historical significance of the town, along with its numerous exceptional churches and cultural monuments, led to Mtskheta being designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. As the birthplace and one of the most vibrant centers of Christianity in Georgia, Mtskheta was also proclaimed the Holy City by the Georgian Orthodox Church in 2014. The city is perhaps best known for Jvari, the impressive mountaintop monastery overlooking the confluence of the Aragvi and Mtkvari rivers, and the 4th century Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, one of Georgia’s oldest and largest churches.