Mtskheta

Also known as Mtshoeta, Mzcheta, Mzheta, Mcxeta

Mtskheta ( ) is a city in the region of Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Georgia. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It is located approximately north of Tbilisi, at the confluence of the Kura and Aragvi rivers. Currently a small provincial capital, for nearly a millennium until the 5th century AD, Mtskheta was a large fortified city and a significant economic and political center of the Kingdom of Iberia.

AI overview

Mtskheta is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, located in Georgia where two major rivers meet north of the capital Tbilisi. Though it is now a small provincial town, it was once a major political and economic hub of the Kingdom of Iberia for nearly a thousand years until around the 5th century AD.

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Place details

Locality: მცხეთა
Region: მცხეთა-მთიანეთი
Country: საქართველო
Population: 7,380

Travel guide

Understand

thumb|350px|View of Mtskheta with the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral Mtskheta was the capital of the ancient eastern Georgian kingdom of Iberia from the 3rd century BC to the 5th century AD. It is of extraordinary importance to the Georgian people and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was here that Georgia adopted Christianity in AD 334 and it remains the headquarters of the Georgian Orthodox Church. Mtskheta is of primary interest to anyone interested in Georgian history or Orthodox Christianity.

Get in

Mtskheta lies at the junction of the Georgian Military Highway and the main road that connects Gori with Tbilisi.

Get around

Mtskheta is small enough that it is possible to see the entire town on foot. The one exception is Jvari Monastery, far from the town center on top of a mountain. As there is no public transport to Jvari, it may be best to hire a cab in town (expect to pay 15 lari for the return trip), or take the shuttle offered by the tourist office opposite the Cathedral, at a cost of 5 lari per person, to Jvari Monastery. Although hiking up is possible, it probably wouldn't be wise as the walk involves a stretch of main road with blind bends and characteristically chaotic driving.

See

thumb|Gamsakhurdia street thumb|Svetitskhoveli Cathedral interiors thumb|Jvari Monastery

Buy

There are some traders and a small shop in front of the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral where you can buy souvenirs and drinks. There is also a relatively

Eat

There are several cafes in Mtskheta, but one deserves special recognition: Another extremely popular place is

Drink

Those who want to visit discos and nightclubs must drive to Tbilisi.

Go next

The Georgian Military Highway runs north through the mountains to the Russian border. The next sizeable town north from Mtskheta is Dusheti Gori, to the west, is easy to reach Tbilisi

Travel guide from (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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Article

14 sections

Contents

Geography
History
Foundation
Capital of the Kingdom of Iberia
Middle Ages
Modern times
Monuments
Threats
International relations
Notable people
See also
References
General references
External links

Due to the historical significance of the town and its several outstanding churches and cultural monuments, the "Historical Monuments of Mtskheta" became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. As the birthplace and one of the most vibrant centers of Christianity in Georgia, Mtskheta was declared the "Holy City" by the Georgian Orthodox Church in 2014.