Your Travel Experience with Finest Journeys
Uplistsikhe Caves, Mtskheta Ancient Sites and Tbilisi
Your guide will meet you after breakfast for the drive to Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital. The first stop is at Uplistsikhe, an ancient site dating back to the 1st millennium B.C. This once-thriving cave city is now a sprawling complex of caves and stone structures carved directly into the rock. Your guide will explain the transformation of Uplistsikhe from a pagan religious center to an important hub for early Christianity in Georgia. From here, drive on to Mtskheta, one of the oldest towns in the country, with a history stretching back over 2,000 years. Christianity was proclaimed here as the state religion in 337 AD, after St. Nino, a Christian missionary from Cappadocia, arrived and converted the Georgian king. Mtskheta is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Jvari Monastery, perched on a hill overlooking the town is a 5th–6th-century church with historical significance and stunning panoramic; and the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, a magnificent example of Georgian religious architecture. Built in the 11th century, this cathedral is one of the most important in Georgia, both spiritually and historically. According to tradition, the robe of Christ is buried within this enormous, intricately decorated cathedral, adding to the cathedral’s profound significance for Christians worldwide. After visiting Mtskheta, it’s on to your next hotel in Tbilisi.