Gori is located on the confluence of the Kura and the Liakhi in the picturesque Kartlia valley. From the south and the west the city is surrounded by scenic mountains. Even though the city was first mentioned in the 6 th century, the city is best known as the birthplace of Joseph Dzhugashvili better known as "the Father of the peoples”, or “comrade Stalin” who ruled the Soviet Empire from 1925 to 1953. By the way, the countrymen of the great dictator esteem and respect him. Even the town's main street is named in his honor – Stalin Prospect. The major places of interest of this small town are Stalin's Museum built in the form of a marble sarcophagus and the huge bronze sculpture of Stalin, one of a few left in the entire world (the Gori central square). Although Gori citizens are so anxious in preserving the memories of Stalin, the dictator himself hated both remembering his childhood and visiting Gori.
Among the historical landmarks are the ruins of Goristsikhe fortress located on a hill in the center of the town. In Gori vicinities the most interesting is Uplistsikhe cave city.