The Metekhi Temple was built in the fifth century and is located near the bank of Kura, the fortress that was home to numerous Georgian tsars. The Metekhi Temple is significant because the first Georgian martyr, St. Shushanik, is buried under it. The rock on which the temple stands is sacred because St. Abo was burned on the rock after refusing to denounce Christianity. The temple has been restored several times, after the destruction caused by the Mongol invasion in the 13th century and the Persians in the 15th century. A bronze statue of Vakhtang Gorgasali, a Georgian king and founder of Tbilisi, was erected in front of the temple in 1967.
Standing at about 275 feet, the grandiose Sameba Cathedral also known as the Holy Trinity Cathedral, can be seen from almost any point in the city. The cathedral, built between 1995 and 2004, is one of the few modern cathedral's in Georgia, according to Advantour.com. The architecture of the cathedral combines traditional styles and modern innovations. The white Sameba Cathedral consists of eight tiers rising toward a golden dome, topped by a gold cross almost 24 feet high.
The Mountain Mtatsminda, overlooking the city of Tbilisi, contains the remains of the ancient Narikala Fortress. According to Servinghistory.com, the fortress was built in the fourth century and was expanded several times. Narikala Fortress consists of two walled sections on a hill between the sulphur baths and the botanical gardens. An earthquake destroyed parts of the fortress in 1827. However, the stone towers survived and still stand.
At the heart of the city towers Mount Mtataminda, the Holy Mountain, which offers a panoramic view of Tbilisi. The mountain is also referred to as David Mountain in honor of St. David Garedzhi, who lived in one of the mountain's caves as a hermit. At the mountain plateau, visitors will find St. David Church and a small cemetery, where famous Georgians such as the martyr Elijah Chavchavadz are buried.
Located in downtown Tbilisi, the Sioni Cathedral was built during the sixth and seventh centuries. Since its original construction, the cathedral has been destroyed by invaders and reconstructed several times. Armeniatour.com claims the Sioni Cathedral was the major Georgian Orthodox Cathedral until the Holy Trinity Cathedral was sanctified in 2004. The cross of St. Nino, who established Christianity in Georgia, is kept in the cathedral and is considered the greatest relic of Georgia. According to legend, the cross is made of grapevines and is entwined with the saint's hair.
The Tbilisi Botanical Garden is located on Sololaki ridge and was opened in 1845. From 1932 to 1958, a section of Tabori mountain and a Muslim cemetery on the bank of the Tsavkisi River was added to the garden. The cemetery contains the tomb of the famous writer Mirza Patal Akhundov. There are 3,500 kinds of flora found in the garden, including flowers from the Himalayas, the Mediteranean, China, Japan, North America, Siberia and Turkey.
