It would be a big mistake to visit Georgia and not visit its famous Mtskheta-Mtianeti region, especially since the ancient city of Mtskheta itself is only about 20 km away from Tbilisi.
The large administrative region of Mtskheta-Mtianeti is located in the central part of the country and occupies an area of 6,786 square meters.kmIt includes five municipalities, and one of them - Akhalgorsk - currently belongs to South Ossetia, the other four - Dushetsky, Kazbegsky, Mtskhetsky and Tianetsky.The overwhelming national majority of them are Georgians (ethnic Kartlians, Kakhetians, Pshavs, Mokhevs).The second place in terms of number belongs to the Ossetians, who also live in Georgia in large numbers.
You can go on a trip here in any season, as the winters here are mild and dry.At the resorts of Stepantsminda (the center of the Kazbeg municipality), located at the foot of Mount Kazbek, stable winter snow cover allows mountaineering and mountain tourism.
Clear healing air and local mineral springs, which even fill the pools, are also available year-round.In the summer, vacationers go paragliding, go horseback riding, cycling, and hiking to waterfalls along the Georgian Military Road.Slow relaxation on the narrow streets of ancient cities, visits to ancient monasteries and fortresses, contemplation of the picturesque landscapes of Mtskheta will be comfortable from spring to mid-autumn.
In the summer, the air here warms up to a pleasant temperature of +25 ... + 30 ° C. At this time, you can go to the beautiful high-altitude lake Bazaleti, which is just a few kilometers from Dusheti, have a picnic in the valley of the Iori River, walk along Tianeti, looking at the famous Local history museum.
Connoisseurs of excellent Georgian wine at any time of the year will enjoy a tasting excursion to the Chateau Muhrani estate, near Mtskheta.They will be given the opportunity to taste and buy wine from cellars built in the 19th century.
The list of sights of this region is huge and is designed for any passion: from ecological tourism to Orthodox pilgrimage.There are an extraordinary number of Christian monuments in Mtskheta, a city that has become part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.The center of Mtskheta is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Fund.
Svetitskhoveli Cathedral is an austere and majestic Orthodox church of the 11th century, decorated with stone carvings.It is famous for the fact that the baptism of the first Christian Georgian king took place in it.
Jvari Cathedral is a masterpiece of church architecture, which rises on a mountain above Mtskheta.It has another name - "monastery of the cross".According to legend, it was built on the spot where Saint Nino erected the first Orthodox cross.
The Shio-Mgvim monastery is a whole temple complex with buildings built on ledges in a gorge on the outskirts of Mtskheta.Until now, you can see the caves dug on the mountainside by monks.
Ananuri Fortress is the most visited tourist attraction on the banks of the Zhinval reservoir.It was built to protect and cover the inhabitants of the city of Dusheti in case of their retreat to the mountains.The first tower was built here in the 13th century.
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