City of Mtskheta | Geography, history, travel tips and tours

Overview

The city of Mtskheta | Mtskheta | მცხეთა, a holy city of Georgia, is home to UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the Svetitskhoveli Monastery and Jvari Church. These historical treasures make Mtskheta a highlight of Georgian culture and history. The city exudes a spiritual atmosphere as visitors stroll through the cobbled streets and experience the country’s rich history. Mtskheta is not only a place of worship, but also a living monument that reflects the deep-rooted traditions and cultural richness of Georgia.

In this article, you will learn everything worth knowing about the location, history and culture of Mtskheta. You will also find travel tips for the city’s main excursion destinations, highlights and attractions.

Where is Mtskheta located?

Geography and climate

Town of Mtskheta is located in the Lower Kartli region at the confluence of the Kura and Aragvi rivers. It is about 25 km from Tbilisi. The city is slightly hilly and fairly densely forested.

Mtskheta has a moderately humid subtropical climate with an annual average temperature of 10.8 °C. In January, temperatures are around 1.1 °C, while in July they rise to 22.1 °C. The region has cold winters with an absolute minimum of -29 °C and hot summers with an absolute maximum of 39 °C. The annual rainfall is 590 mm.

History

Archaeological finds prove that the city of Mtskheta was inhabited from the 2nd millennium BC until the beginning of the 1st millennium AD. Numerous burials from the Bronze Age (early 1st millennium BC) attest to the importance of Mtskheta during this period. According to Georgian chronicles, the city was founded in the 5th century BC by Mtskheto, son of Kartlo. From the 3rd century BC to the 5th century AD, Mtskheta was the capital of the Kingdom of Iberia.

At that time, the city was heavily fortified, with walls along the Mtkvari River and three fortresses. Mtskheta played an important role in the Christianisation of Iberia in 337 and remained the headquarters of the Georgian Orthodox Church. The city was culturally developed, as evidenced by a tombstone from the late 4th and early 5th century with a Greek inscription by the chief architect Aurelius Acholis. In the first years after Christianisation, a small wooden church was built, which later became the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral.

By the 5th century AD, the church was no longer sufficient for the growing community, and Vakhtang Gorgasali built the largest church in Georgia, Svetitskhoveli, dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. In the 5th century, the first Catholicos was elected, who had his seat in Svetitskhoveli. In the 11th century, the old basilica became too small and Catholicos Melchisedek I had a new church built. In the Middle Ages, King Dachi of Iberia moved the capital from Mtskheta to Tbilisi at the beginning of the 6th century.

Nevertheless, Mtskheta remained the coronation and burial place of most Georgian kings until the end of the kingdom in the 19th century. The city was destroyed by the Umayyads in the 8th century and by Timur in the 15th. When Georgia became part of Russia in 1801, Mtskheta was little more than a village.

Travel tips for Mtskheta

Sights

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral is the central cathedral of the Georgian Orthodox Church and the main cathedral of Georgia. It is located in the centre of the city at the confluence of the Kura and Aragvi rivers. It serves as the enthronement place of the Georgian Catholicos-Patriarchs and is the resting place of numerous kings of Georgia. An outstanding example of 11th-century Georgian architecture, it is one of the four great cathedrals, the others being Oshki Cathedral, Bagrati Temple and Alaverdi Cathedral. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Jvari Church – a church and monastery from the 6th century in Mtskheta, located at the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers on a beautiful hill, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. King Mirian had a wooden cross erected, which was later built over with a church. The church of Jvari is the first example of a cross-shaped church with ancient inscriptions and depictions of religious and historical figures.

King Palace Ruins in Bagineti were a royal palace in Mtskheta. Archaeological excavations identified three construction periods, the oldest with Parnavaz in the 4th-3rd century BC. The city was conquered by Pompey in 65 BC and destroyed by Murvan Kru in the 8th century. Research began in the 19th century, when a Greek craftsman showed a piece of brick. Ruins of a fortress, temples, baths, wine cellars and other objects have been found here.

The monastery of Shioomghvime is situated in Mtskheta, 40 km from Tbilisi. It was founded in the 6th century by Saint Shio, one of the 13 Assyrian Fathers. He spent his last years in a cave called ‘Shio’s Cave’. His grave was considered sacred and attracted many believers and pilgrims. The location of the monastery is very beautiful.