Mtskheta

Mtskheta is one of oldest cities of the republic of Georgia (in Kartli province of Eastern Georgia), near Tbilisi. Mtskheta was a capital of the Georgian Kingdom of Iberia during the 3rd century BC - 5th century AD. Here Georgians accepted Christianity in 317 and Mtskheta still remains the Headquarters of the Georgian Orthodox and Apostolic Church.

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th century, see the photo) and Jvari Monastery (6th century) in Mtskheta are some of the most significant monuments of the Georgian Christian architecture. In Mtskheta exists also the Armaztsikhe fortress (3rd century BC), Armaztsikhe acropolis (dating to the late 1st millennium BC), the fragmentary remains of a royal palace (1st-3rd century AD), the tomb near Mtskheta (1st century AD), the small church of the 4th century, Samtavro Monastery (11th century), fortress Bebris Tsikhe (14th century), Institute of Archaeology, the well-known garden of Mikheil Mamulashvili, etc. The city is now the administrative center of the Mtskheta-Mtianeti region.