NARIKALA FORTRESS

Seen from the town centre, you can only see it, sumptuous by day and even more so by night, the Narikala fortress has crenellated walls overlooking the cliff. On its own, it could reflect the history of the whole of Georgia. Erected in the 4th century under the Persian Sassanid dynasty, it was the "invincible fort" (Shuhis-Tsikhe). In order to take the city, the fortress had to be taken first. Successive invading armies took it and then restored it, including those of the Arab Umayyad dynasty in the 7th century. They enlarged it and the fortress was the royal palace until the reign of David the Builder (1089-1125) who moved to the present site of Metekhi. The Mongolian conquerors named the fortress Narin Qala, the "small fortress". Its present appearance is said to date from the 16th-17th centuries. Seen from below, the monument is more imposing. Indeed, earthquakes and the explosion of an ammunition depot installed on the site by the Russians in the 19th century left little of it. There is nothing left to visit on site, but the panorama of the city below and the Caucasus on a clear day is exceptional. From here, you can start a walk on the ridges to the statue of Our Mother of Georgia, then explore the Sololaki district or go down to the superb botanical gardens.

The Church of St. Nicholas, built in 1996, is worth a visit. You can then follow the visit with an exploration of the bathing district.