SIGHTS OF GEORGIA

Tbilisi

Tbilisi (the word " Tbilisi " -means warm, because of the warm sources located near the citie) - one of the most ancient cities of the world, already in IV-III melleniums B.C. people lived here. Being extended in a valley of the river Kura (Mtkvari) and on situated near by slopes of mountains, the Old city, is in its southeast part at bottom of Matsminda mounatin, and is built up by 2-3-stored stone and brick houses of characteristic " Tbilisi architecture ", with wooden balconies hanging above narrow streets. Practically all buildings here represent historical or cultural monuments, exactly they have generated an image of famous " Georgian yard ". Here, in city centre, the rests of a fortress Narikala or Shuristsihe (IV-VIII centures) are located, they are considered one of the most ancient fortification structures of the country)., the modern residence of Georgian Catholicos - Sioni (V-VII centures) one of main holly thing of Georgia - Saint Nino cross is stored here., church of Saint Maria or Anchishati (VI-XVI centures, the oldest one Oldest in city), Saint David temple (XIX in.) with pantheon of the most outstanding state figures of the country famous Tbilisi sulfuric bath houses, temple Metekhi (1278-1289 years.) Nearby is located the monument to Vahtang Gorgasal that has based Tbilisi , church Kasveti (1910), Saint Georgi (1710), Paliashvili Opera House (1851), the castle of Quin Darijan Sachino (1776), Batlemi (XVI centure), Norashen (1793), ruins of a temple in Ateshgi, and many other sights.

Thanks to its culture monuments and another sights Tbilisi is included into number of the richest cities of the world. Tbilisi's vast collection of art and buildings are priceless. Artists have drawn inspiration from these architectural marvels - for modern buildings, poker rooms, mansions and homes.Here are Russian drama theatre by name of Griboedov (1845) and theatre by name of Rustaveli (1921) in a building of a former Artistic society (1899), theatre by name of Marjanishvili, Public library, Doll Theatre in a building of the Georgian nobiliary ground bank, former staff of the Caucasian army (1824) International Art Centre, Concert hall of a philarmonic society (1978), and also present symbols of city - the Shota Rustaveli prospectus and mountain Mtatsminda, on which is located Park of culture and rest.

In Tbilisi there are also amazing parks: " Vakis park (Vake park), Veris park ( park of Vera ), Mushtait, Mziuri, huge Botanical garden, Aleksandrovski garden, zoo and many others.

Museums:

Famous Museum of the Georgian art with Gold fund, the daputy palace (1869), Museum of arts, 1835 (In a building of Zurabashvili hotel ), the Museum of national architecture situated on a nature at Turtle lake, Tiflis passage (1901-1902 aa.), " Old gallery " in Irakli the second street , Museum of a history of Georgia (1929), Museum of silk, Museum of the Georgian Jews, Stalin"s Museum in Gori:

Monuments:

Shota Rustaveli (1942), Saint Nino, A.S. Griboedov (1961), Zahari Paliashvili (1972), Niko Pirosmani (1975), Merab Mamardashvili (2001), David Guramishvili (1965), Akaki Tsereteli (1955). " 300 aragvintses ", Kartlis Deda ("Mother of Georgia"). Sculptures: "Solntselikii" in front of Sports palace, composition Berikaoba ("Maskered") in fron of the House of children's creativity and others, created by the best sculptors.

In 20 kms. from the capital the working man's monastery Batania (XII-XIII centures)is located., taht is considered by one of the best samples of Georgian temple architecture. In 60 kms. To the southwest of Tbilisi there is the working temple Manglisi (V-XI centures).

Churches and monasteries of Georgia :

Ephiscopes Church (I cennture) in Kumurdo, Ateni or Ateni zion (VII centure) near Gori, Zion Samshvidi (760-778 years), Samtsevrisi church (VII centure), church of Saint Maria in Old Gavazi (VI centure), Dzvali Shuamta (V-VII centures) and Ikalto (VI centure) near Telavi, monastery Ion Zadazenski (VII-VIII centures), working female monastery Bodbi (850), monastery Safara (Safara, XIII senture), monastery Rkoni (VII centure), monastery Maotsameta (X centure), Priobrajensky monastery in Zarzma (X-XIV centures), temple Mimotsminda (VI centure), working temple Tsromi (626-634 years), church Samtsevrisi (VII centure) near Kareli, Bazilika Kvemo-Bolnisi (VI in.) and Bolnisi Zion (478-493 years), God mother temple in Bichvinta (Pitsunda, X centure), monastery in Tshavati (IX centure), monastery Martvilii (VII-XI centures), working female monastery Gurjani (VIII in.) with a sacred source, and also Ksandzta, Satberdi, Farhali, Opiza, Ishani, Oshki etc.

Castles and fortresses of Georgia

City - fortress Ujarma (V centure), fortress Anakopia (IV-V centure) on Iveri mountain near Sukhumi , catsle - fortress Anauri, castle Metehi, touns with fortresses Nakalevi, Shorapani and Skanda. Among the Georgian fortresses the castle is allocated majestic and fine saved fortress Hartsvisi, located nearby to Ahalkalaki toun, and on - neighbourhood from known cavy city Vardzia .

Signahi:

Toun in east of Kahetia, in 30kms. to east from district centre Telavi. The well saved urban walls surround an old part of city, and from sentry towers the sight on a valley of the river Alazani opens.

Mestia:

The administrative centre mountain of Savaneti , is known by unique medieval sentry towers protecting city.

Ananuri:

Picturesque fortress 17 centuries located above the river Aragvi, in 60 km to the north of Tbilisi .

Gonio:

Fortress is located in 12kms to the south from Batumi , near border with Turkey . The fortress for the first time is mentioned in the Greece-Roman annals, but the present kind has got in 16 century, during the turks. To reach there is possible mini bus (taxi), going from Batumi to Sarpi, which go each half an hour from the main area of city.

Tmogvi:

Fortress on a rock towering above the river Mtkvari, in southeast Georgia . The fortress is located near famous cavy city Vardzia.

Shatili:

With medieval village - fortress in northwest Georgia , near teh border with Russia . It is possible to reach it with change in a place Borisahlo.

To later period concern guard structures in Dmanisi and Samshvilde, Arkhangelsk church Ikorta (1172) in Zemo Artsevi, famous temple Kvelatsmnda (God Mother'scathedral , IX-XVII centures) in Gurjani, complex in Kvetera (X centure), Saint Nickolai's church (1010-1014 aa.) in Nikortsminda, temple of Saint Georgi in Bochorme (X-XI centures), church in Bugueli (XIV-XV centures) with famous ianoaiiuie by lists (XV-XVI aa.), temple of Saint Nino (1030-1040 years) in Poke, monastery Vachnadziani (XV-XVI centures), one of the best samples of the Georgian cult architecture - monastery complex Pitarety (1216-1222 years), Troitski Church in Gergeti (XIV in.) at bottom of a mountain Mkinvartsrebi (5047 m.), cafedral cathedral Tsminda Giorgi (Saint Georgi, XI-XV aa.) in Alaverdi, church of saint George (IX-XIV centures) in Ubisi, Tsugrugasheni (1213-1222 years) in 2 kms from Bolnisi Zion, working man's monastery intsvisi (XIII centure) with famous lists XIII centure, Former ephi bishop cafedral cathedral (1030) in Samtavisi and temple Kvatahevi (XII-XIII centures) near Gori, monastery Nekresi (XIV centure) etc. Well and, certainly, such pearls of architecture, as the female monastery Ahali Shuamta (XVI in.) near Telavi also New - Afon monastery (1875) with extensive cavy complex.

Mtsheta

In 20 kms to the north of the capital is situated the cult place - ancient capital of Georgia Mtsheta there is a world famous monastery Jvari i it ("Cross", 585-604 yeras) - present symbol of a christianity on the Georgian ground. According the legends, Jvari was constructed above a wooden cross which is located at a mountain of merge of the rivers Kura and Aragvi. In Mtsheta there is - one of the main cathedrals of the Georgian Orthodox church - huge cafedral cathedral Svetitshoveli (" Aliving Pillar ", 1010-1029 years, is restored in XV centrure). Locatedon a place of the first christian church in Georgia (IV in.), which, was erected above a tomb of Saint Sidony, buried wrapped up in a raincoat of the Isus Christ. There there is a working female monastery Samtavro (XI in.), in which king Mirian - the crosser of Georgia, his wife Nana and one of most esteemed Georgian sacred - an old man Gavriil are buried.

A little bit to the west of mMtsheta in mountains is situated the working monastery Shio-Mgvime (of Siemon Mgvimski, VI centure), becoming one of the centres of revival of the Georgian monasteries after disintegration USSR lays. Here are interesting dome church (VI in.), trapeza large church (1123), and also numerous keliac in the caves of neighboring mountains.

Borjomi

City Borjomi is known by the mineral waters and perfect parks located in a picturesque Kura (Mtkvari) valley. Here not only the perfect natural conditions for treatment and rest, but also were saved a summer residence of last Russian emperor, monastery complex Timotes Ubani (X centure, near a resort Tsagveri), set of sanatoriums and Kraevedchevski museum. There is located famous Borjomi reserve considered as the best place for ecological tourism in Transcaucasia .

Bakuriani:

Bakuriani is located in 37 kms from Borjomi, on northern slopes of Trialeti's range. Bakuriani is a mountain resort, which except for mountain ski lines, has magnificent vegetation of environmental mountains and rare combination of climatic conditions, which gave the opportunuty to make Botanical garden.

Between Borjomi and Bakuriani is located a narrow-gauge railway line, which serves to the amateurs of ski sports and numerous tourists. For two hours the small locomotive with several cars covers a way from Borjomi to Bakuriani, and the environmental landscapes are so picturesque, that make trip by train real sight.

The Black Sea Coast

Gagra, Pitsunda, New Afon, Tsihisdziri, Kobuleti, Ord, Mahinjauri, Green cape and others, are in territory of independent areas.

Ajari - the narrow strip of coast at bottom mountain ranges of Small Caucasus is washed by the Black sea , this ground has a soft subtropical climate and perfect natural conditions.

Batumi :

Batumi - capital of region. In city settle down: Delphon house, summer heatre, " the Singing fountains ", National botanical garden of an Academy of sciences of Georgia ,which contains more than 5 thousand kinds of subtropical plants and Seaside park with palmas grove.

Kobuleti:

Is situated in 24 kms from Batumi . Which is known by the mineral waters and cardiological sanatorium "Sakartvelo".

Sea resorts the Green cape and Mahinjauri are also famous.

Is situated in 24 kms from Batumi . Which is known by the mineral waters and cardiological sanatorium "Sakartvelo".

Sea resorts the Green cape and Mahinjauri are also famous.

Kutaisi :

Ancient capital of Kolchids and Imeretis empires - Kutaisi . Are interesting picturesque quay Rioni with " trailing balconies ", historical-ethnographic museum, House - museum Paliashvili, Picture gallery and famous ruins of a God Mother's cathedral (Bagrati, X-XI centures) in which there was crowned David a Builder. In 9 kms to the northwest of Kutaisi , in Samguralski range, is located the famous resort Tshaltubo, glorified by the mineral waters and unique Museum medical crtatches and sticks is located. The famous cult centre Gelati (XII centure) with famous Gelati;s academy (existed at a monastery since XII centure), which is situated nearby to city? Plateau of Dinosaurs, caves Sataplia, three-step water fall (general height more than 200 m.) at village Gordi.

Gori:

Is located on merge of the rivers Kura (Mtkvari) and Liakhi. On the main area of city, before a graceful building of administration the huge bronze figure of Stalin towers. Here are also interesting houses - museums and historical-ethnographic museum if I.V. Dtslin and S.A. Kamo, ruins of a powerful medieval fortress Goristsihe (VI centure), building of railway station decorated with a bust and a portrait of Stalin and recovering resort Gorijvari.

Ahalitsihe:

The city is constructed in 12 century around of the same fortress and long time was under control of Otomans empirehere are located: mosque (1752), ruins mederese, other interesting buildings of a middle ages. In side of a fortress acts the Museum Javaheti ", with a huge collection of archeological finds, photos and ancient carpets works "."Shaft" - the boundary transition is located in 10 kms to the south from city centre.