1st Day → Tbilisi (Holy Trinity cathedral, Metekhi Church, The bridge of peace, Narikhala Fortress, Abanotubani, Funicular)
After a leisurely breakfast, we will start a sightseeing and walking tour of Tbilisi, a charming town built in the 5th century along the twisting valley of the Mtkvari River. All the places of interest are very close to one another, within just a few minutes’ walking distance.
We will start our tour from the Sameba Cathedral, also known as the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi, which towers over the city and can be seen from almost any point. You might assume that it is an old building, however, it was constructed between 1995 and 2004, in the classic style. It’s opening marked 2000 years of Christianity and 1500 years of the independence of the Georgian Church.
Afterwards a car will take us up to Shavteli Street where our walking tour of Old Tbilisi will begin. First, we will view the bizarre tower of Gabriadze Theatre, where every hour an angel appears at the small balcony at the top and rings the bell. Cafe Gabriadze is an extremely lovely and well-decorated place. Right next to the Gabriadze place you will see the oldest basilica in Tbilisi, Anchiskhati. It was built in the VIth century, then partially damaged and restored, remaining undestroyed until now.
The next stop on the tour will be the Bridge of Peace, a massive glass bridge spanning the Mtakvari River. You can also see the presidential palace constructed in this era, perched on one of the cliffs over the river. Next, we will be crossing the bridge and will take a walk in Rike Park, where the cable car station is located. From here, we will take a cable car up to Narikala Fortress, which used to be a part of Tbilisi's fortification system from the VIth century. we will also visit the 13th century Metekhi church, with the equestrian statue of the city’s royal founder standing above the steep cliffs of the Mtkvari River.
Once at the top of the hill, we will take a walk to Mother of Georgia, who is welcoming guests with a bowl of wine and warns the enemies with her sword. We will also stroll along the forts, go inside and find another church there. Enjoy the view over Tbilisi - this is just the first point for today!
From the hill we will go down on foot. It is a bit steep, but nice. Will will see another corner of Old Tbilisi on our way. At the foot of the hill, we will find ourselves in Abanotubani, the so-called bath district of Tbilisi. The city started here - according to legend. Nearby the bath district we can find a little waterfall which is definitely worth a visit.
During the tour you will have a chance to buy presents and souvenirs. Right underneath Meidan Square in the heart of the touristic center of Tbilisi we will get to the Meidan Bazaar. It is an underground tunnel at Gorgasali Square in the Kala District that is lined with shops, selling all sorts of souvenirs and local products including wine, spices, tea, jam and sauces. You’ll even find postcards, handcrafted socks and other special items.
2nd Day → Mtskheta (the old capital of Georgia) - Jvari Monastery, Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, Cave town Uplistsikhe.
In the morning we visit Uplistsikhe cave town - one of the oldest-inhabited places in the Caucasus, which were founded in the Bronze Age. The first mention of Uplistsikhe occurs even in the annals of Ist century BC.. History of the town was full and ambiguous - it has experienced several ups and downs and finally was abandoned in the XIXth century. The city is known for its unique rooms and tunnels. After the adoption of Christianity in Georgia, several churches were built. For centuries, it served as the royal center and commercial crossroads of Kartli.
After the caves, we will visit the ancient capital of Georgia Mtskheta, on the wat back to Tbilisi. Situated at the confluence of the Aragvi and the Mtkvari rivers, Mtskheta is the site of the first Christian churches in Georgia. We will first visit Jvari Monastery (6th century), located at the top of the hill. This is the place where the missionary St. Nino erected a cross (“Jvari” in Georgian) in the 4th century to mark the coming of Christianity to Georgia. We will visit the 11th century Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, used for centuries for the coronation and burial of Georgian monarchs. Most importantly, it is considered one of the holiest places in Georgia, since the Robe of Christ is buried here. Svetitskhoveli is one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Georgia, with exquisite carvings and frescoes.
After the tour we will head back to Tbilisi.
3rd Day → Akhaltsikhe (Rabati fortress) - Vardzia cave Town.
Today we'll drive towards the South-West of Georgia passing Borjomi town, andarrive in Akhaltsikhe for a short tour inside Rabati fortress. The old stone Rabati fortress is standing on a small hill on the shores of the Potskhovi River. The history of the fortress begins with the IXth century. From historical data it is known that in the XIIth century the princely family of Dzhakeli constructed the first fortress here which became the residence of the Dzhakeli family in Akhaltsikhe.
Our tour will continue to Vardzia, with a short photo break at Khertvisi fortress (10-11th century). We will arrive at Vardzia, which was erected in the 12-13th centuries during the rule of George III and his daughter Queen Tamara for the purpose of protecting the southern boundaries of Georgia. Vardzia is not just a set of random rooms cut in rocks. It is a multi-storied complex with streets, tunnels and stairs leading to monasteries, temples, fortresses, baths, libraries dwelling houses and so forth.
