Georgia tour - Mtskheta, Uplistsikhe Cave Town 5/7






Went back to the center, north of Tbilisi to see two UNESCO monuments at the old capital Mtskheta, Jvari Monastery (6th century) and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th century).










Svetitskhoveli Cathedral is the biggest religious complex I have visited in Georgia. Still, this Orthodox design is grander but not opulent.

 






Jvari Monastery is up on a hill demanding a good panoramic view of the confluence of two rivers and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral below.











Then we visit another famous cave dwellings, Uplistsikhe Cave Town, this is the earliest one started in 1st century BC. They were rooms carved into sandstone hills for monks to search spiritual guidance. Extensions and buildings were added throughout the following 2000 years up until Soviet era, when it is forced to be abandoned. Pits forcooking, making wine and water storage are scattered around.

Stay the night st Gori, one of the bigger city we have stayed in the journey. Mostly post Soviet era constructions as this is the birth place of Stalin.

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