Historical Monuments of Mtskheta

Armaztsikhe – The Domain of the Kings of Iberia

During the Antiquity period, Armaztsikhe (4th century BCE to 8th century AD), located to the south of Mtskheta, displays high-quality living conditions, with its royal palace, church, wine cellar, and auxiliary buildings. 

From Armaztsikhe you can see Mtskheta and its beautiful historical monuments, protected by UNESCO.

Jvari Monastery

Mtskheta’s special significance in Georgia’s history is based on the fact that it was the first place that adopted the Christian faith. 

The 6th-century Mtskheta Jvari Monastery is a unique temple that is located on top of a mountain, at the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi Rivers. This is the exact place where St. Nino raised a wooden cross in the 4th century. 

A larger stone church was built in the place of that cross in the 6th century, beginning the trend of constructing cross-type churches in Georgia. 

Svetitskhoveli

Svetitskhoveli is the largest cathedral of Mtskheta, where Christ’s mantle and the robe of St. Elijah the Prophet are buried. You’re going to be amazed by the preserved parts of the frescoes and the scale of this grand building!

Samtavro Monastery

St. Nino, the missionary who made the Christianization of Georgia happen, lived on the territory of Samtavro. Georgia’s first Christian king, Mirian III, and the first Christian queen, Nana, are buried in the monastery as well.

However, from the 4th century a lot of things changed, and the Samtavro Monastery of Mtskheta you see today, is a bishop’s church built of stone in the first half of the 11th century.