Two-Day Tour to Georgia Tbilisi, Tbilisi Sea, Mtskheta

• Tbilisi city (city tour)
• Tbilisi Sea
• Monument «History of Georgia»
• Mtskheta town
• Svetitskhoveli Cathedral
• Samtavro Monastery
• Jvari Monastery 

1 day:

• Armenian-Georgian «Bagratashen» customs point 
• Tbilisi city tour
• Pantheon of Armenian writers and public figures “Khojivank”
• Havlabar district, Sololak district
• Narikala Fortress, sulfur baths, Legvtakhevi waterfall, Peace Bridge
• Armenian churches Surb Echmiadzin, Surb Gevorg
• Rustaveli Avenue
• Independence Square, Marjanishvili Square
• Cathedral of Tsminda Sameba - the main cathedral of the Georgian Orthodox Church; Temples of Sioni and Metekhi
• cable car
• Mtskheta town
• Night at a hotel in Mtskheta

The first stop of the first day of the tour is Tbilisi city. Here we will visit the main sights of the city: the city center, the Havlabar district, sulfur baths, the Legvtakhevi waterfall, the Bridge of Peace, we will go up to the Narikala fortress by cable car, we will also see the Armenian churches of Surb Etchmiadzin and Surb Gevorg, as well as visit the Cathedral of Tsminda Sameba - the main cathedral of the Georgian Orthodox Church; Temples of Sioni and Metekhi, Pantheon of Armenian writers and public figures “Khojivank”, and walk along Rustaveli Avenue,  Independence and  Marjanishvili Squares

The next stop is Mtskheta town, which is the first capital of Georgia, it is located at the confluence of the two rivers Kura and Aragvi.

Ww will have a rest and night at the hotel in Mtkheta

2 day:

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Svetitskhoveli church
• Samtavro Monastery
• Jvari Monastery
• Tbilisi Sea
• Monument «History of Georgia»
• Return to Yerevan

We will start the second day with visiting the main sights of Mtskheta. After the conversion of the population of Mtskheta to the Christian faith, Nino Cappadocia erected a cross on the mountain, which is visible from anywhere in the city. The cross was a symbol of the new religion and served as an object of worship. Today ancient Jvari temple stands on its place, which is also an operating male monastery. A picturesque view to Mtskheta town and the confluence of the two rivers Kura and Aragvi opens from here. M.Yu. Lermontov was inspired by this view, and in his poem "Mtsyri" he wrote about the Jvari Monastery: «A monastery was at the place, where embracing as if two sisters make noise the flows of Aragvi and Kura». 

       The Svetitskhoveli Cathedral is located in the center of the town. The roof of the huge cathedral is visible from almost anywhere in the town. Two Georgian kings are buried under the catherdral, one of them is canonized as a saint. In Svetitskhoveli there is a very ancient font, in which children are baptized, it is easy to notice it as it is located at the entrance on the right side. In one of the rooms you can find an ancient well with holy water. The most sacred relics of Svetitskhoveli include the life-giving pillar and chiton of Jesus Christ.

The next sight is the Samtavro Monastery in Mtskheta. It is one of the most important cultural monuments. St. Nino lived here, King Mirian and Queen Nana are buried here. Abibo Nekreseli, one of the Assyrian fathers, is also buried in the Samtavro monastery. The complex includes several buildings: the main temple, St. Nino's church, bell tower and fence with a tower. The main temple dates back to the 11th century, although the date of its construction is unknown. Small St. Nino's Church dates back to the 11th century, but it is known that the church was first built by King Mirian in the 4th century. This church is also mentioned in the life of St. Nino. The history of the Samtavro Nunnery dates back to 1820. While monastic life in Georgia was disappearing, ten nuns in Mtskheta laid the foundation for the establishment of a monastery. They also restored the small temple of St. Nino. During the Soviet period, mothers were sometimes trained as textile workers to save the monastery. Samtavro is one of the most important and noteworthy monuments in Mtskheta from the historical and cultural point of view.

The last stop of our tour is Tbilisi Sea and the giant monument «History of Georgia» located near Tbilisi Sea. The monument was created by the Georgian sculptor Zurab Tsereteli. The monument chronicles the Georgian history. The top part of the 30-meter tall columns features kings, queens and heroes and the bottom part depicts stories from the life of Christ. The construction of the monument began in 1980 but it remains partially incomplete.

   Departure: 07:00

   Arrival:      23: 50

   Departure place:  Hakob Hakobyan str. 1/ next to the Mergelyan Institute