The most impressive building in Mtskheta is the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, built in the 11th century. The name means 'Life-Giving Pillar' in Georgian, and according to legend, the cathedral was built over a magical pillar that rose from the ground by itself. The cathedral is enormous — its stone walls are several metres thick — and it has stood for over 1,000 years.
Perched on a hillside overlooking Mtskheta is the Jvari Monastery, which means 'Cross Monastery'. It was built in the 6th century, making it nearly 1,500 years old. From up there, you can look down and see exactly where the two rivers meet — a spot Georgians have considered sacred for thousands of years. The famous Georgian poet Lermontov wrote a poem about this very view.
Mtskheta was the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Iberia, a Georgian kingdom that flourished more than 2,000 years ago. When Christianity became Georgia's official religion in the year 337 AD, Mtskheta was at the heart of it. The city has been a place of pilgrimage ever since.
Today Mtskheta is a small, peaceful town with winding streets, market stalls selling churchkhela sweets and local wine, and cats dozing in sunny courtyards. Every year pilgrims and tourists come from all over Georgia and the world to walk through its ancient churches and feel close to thousands of years of history.