Mtskheta Tours & Tickets

Mtskheta was Georgia's first capital, founded in the 5th century BC, and remains one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the Caucasus.

Svetitsklovloba Cathedral, built in the 11th century, houses a piece of the True Cross brought to Georgia by Saint Nino in the 4th century.

The city sits at the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers, creating a dramatic natural amphitheater that has made it strategically and spiritually significant for 2,500 years.

Jvari Monastery perches on a cliff 40 metres above the valley floor and was featured in the 2006 film 'Valhalla Rising' for its otherworldly architecture.

Mtskheta was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010 for its outstanding medieval religious architecture and role in spreading Christianity throughout the Caucasus.

The city's name may derive from the Iberian word 'mtskheta' meaning 'mixing place', referring to where the two rivers converge.