The city of Gori is not a very famous place, but it is visited. Why is that? And what can you see in the ancient city of Gori (Georgia)? You will find the answer in this article.
General information
Gori is located in the heart of Georgia, at the confluence of the Kura and Bolshaya Liakhvi rivers. It is 76 km from Tbilisi and 33 km from Tskhinvali. Today, Gori has a population of about 48,000 people. It should be noted that the number of people living in the city is constantly decreasing: if in 1989 there were 70,000 people living here, then in 2014 it was already 54,780. Young people are moving to big cities in search of a better life.
Gori is one of the oldest cities in Georgia. The first mention of the village of Gori dates back to the third century BC, and the first mention of the city dates back to the 8th century AD.
The name Gori is directly related to its appearance – in the very center of the city there are several rocks (goraki), on which the remains of ancient Goristsikhe are located.
Attractions
Gori in Georgia, like any ancient city, has a lot of attractions that symbolize different eras. That is why let’s look at all the cultural values of the city, starting from antiquity and ending with the present.
Uplistsikhe
Uplistsikhe is an ancient city carved into the rock. It is located 12 km from the city of Gori in Georgia. Its history is amazing: the city appeared at the end of the II-beginning of the I millennium BC. e., experienced many ups and downs, and in the 19th century was finally abandoned by people. For almost a hundred years, the village remained forgotten, and only in the early 50s of the 20th century historians showed interest in cultural and historical value.
Today it is an ancient archaeological site, which is a symbol of Georgian culture. Uplistsikhe has a lot to see — it consists of more than 700 caves surrounded by moats and walls that protected the city in ancient times. Uplistsikhe, according to the ancient tradition of Georgia, had a secret tunnel, a water supply system, and a road to the mountains created specifically for pedestrians.
Today, the cave city has the status of a museum, where daily excursions are conducted.
Queen Tamara Reception Hall
Perhaps, it is the “Tamara Hall ” that is the symbol of the city of Uplistsikhe. This room, which resembles a spacious hall in size, has always been the place where the famous rulers of the stone city lived and worked. The cave is amazing: there are hidden underground tunnels, elegant arched niches and a water supply system. It will be interesting for any tourist to see such a creation.
Ancient Theater
The theater is a cultural symbol of any city, including Uplistsikhe. Despite the fact that only one row remains of the once huge and chic amphitheater, the building still recalls its former greatness: an exquisite pattern on the ceiling, an ornate pit on the stage. By the way, it was here that the oldest statue of the musician in the world was found.
Pharmacy
Perhaps this is one of the most interesting places in Uplistsikhe. Here, for many centuries, the herbs that grow in the valley were mixed and cooked. In the cells located in the wall, archaeologists found a lot of ready-made potions for cosmetic and medicinal purposes. Next to the pharmacy is a bathroom that was used for its intended purpose in the Middle Ages.
- Location: 12 km from Gori, Georgia;
- Price: 3 GEL, with a guide – 15 GEL;
- Opening hours of the attraction: 10: 00-18: 00;
- Features: You should set aside 4 to 5 hours to visit Uplistsikhe. Wear comfortable shoes
Stalin’s House-Museum
As you know, it was here, in Gori, that Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was born – one of the most controversial historical figures. By the way, the leader’s museum is located not only in his small homeland, but also in Moscow, Makhachkala, Vologda, Sochi, New Athos and other cities.
The Museum of the leader can be found in the very center of the old city, in the house where the future head of the USSR was once born and lived. The idea of creating a Stalin museum was born in 1937, but it was never realized. It wasn’t until 1949 that Georgian architect Archilu Kurdiani set out to design a building in the Stalinist Empire style.
For 6 years, many workers worked on the creation of the museum, and in 1955, after the death of the great leader, the architect’s idea was realized.
Today it is, oddly enough, the most expensive and visited museum in Georgia.
Now the museum consists of 3 sections:
- Main building and exhibition area
- Stalin’s House
- Stalin’s Car
Stalin’s armored car is an interesting exhibit in which the leader traveled to conferences in Yalta and Tehran.
- Location: 32 Stalin Avenue, the very center of the city.
- Price: 4 GEL, with excursion — 15 GEL, for the entrance to the car a separate fee is charged – 5 GEL.
- Opening hours of attractions: 10.00 — 18.00.
- Features: The Stalin Museum is practically the only attraction in Gori, so be prepared for the fact that there will be a lot of people.
Goristsikhe Fortress
The fortress is located on a high hill and is located in the north of Gori. It can be considered a” guiding star ” for tourists, because this attraction can be seen from any part of the city.
Unfortunately, in 1920, during one of the strong earthquakes, the fortress was severely damaged, and if it is not restored in the next 20-30 years, it will completely disappear from the face of the Earth.
It is not possible to determine the exact time of construction of the fortress, but scientists suggest that construction began around the XVI century.
The fortress holds many secrets: archaeologists suggest that there used to be a church here, and there was a dungeon nearby where prisoners were kept.
However, Goristsikhe Fortress should be visited not only by history lovers, but also by those who admire the local nature and architecture. Photos of the city of Gori are amazing: from a high hill, the city lies in the palm of your hand, and you can see everything, even the smallest streets, houses and picturesque valleys near Gori-it’s worth a look.
- Location: 10 km to the sights of Gori.
- Cost: free of charge.
- Opening hours: around the clock.
- Features: the fortress is worth visiting not only during the day, but also in the evening (in the dark, it is effectively highlighted).
Athenian Zion
Athenian Zion is an ancient monastery located 10 km from the Georgian city of Gori. The temple used to stand in the middle of the big city of Ateni in the Tana Gorge, but in the 19th century people left this place. Scientists believe that the monastery was built in the 7th century, and since then, many believers and tourists have flocked to it every day. Inside the temple, you can see many frescoes and inscriptions made in the mkhedruli and Khutsuri script.
The monastery has experienced many troubles: it was repeatedly attacked and burned by enemies, but this, fortunately, did not prevent the preservation of ancient drawings on the walls of the temple.
Visit Ateni is also worth it in order to admire the nature of the city, which is not yet ” littered” with modern technologies, but remains in its original form.
- Where the attraction is located: 10 km from Gori, the ruined city of Ateni.
- How much it costs: free of charge.
- Opening hours: 9.00-18.00.
- Features: in order to make the tour really interesting, hire a guide in advance, because in the dead city of Ateni you will not meet a soul.
Climate, weather
Gori is located in the tropical zone and has a mild climate, so it is rarely cold here. The average temperature in January is -3°C, July-25 °C. The most favorable months to visit are May, June, and September. It is in late spring and early autumn that the best weather for long walks in Gori is: the sun does not bake so much, but there is still no snow and rain.
But the least favorable months for recreation in the city of Stalin are: January, February, November, December. At this time of year in Georgia, like in our country, it is quite cold.
How to get
The city is located 76 km from the capital of Georgia. You can get from Tbilisi to Gori in the following ways:
By minibus
From Didube metro station in Tbilisi, there are minibuses to Gori every 30 minutes. Travel time is more than an hour. The ticket price is 5 GEL.
By Taxi
Taxis follow the same route as the rest of the transport system. The journey time is about an hour.
The price starts from GEL 90.
By train
There is another option: take a passing train. For example, from Tbilisi to Kutaisi or from Tbilisi to Tskhinvali. Travel time is more than an hour. The ticket price is from GEL 1 to GEL 11 (depending on the train class).
You can drive from Kutaisi to Gori:
By bus
From the central bus station to Gori station. Travel time is 2 hours. The fare is GEL 4.
By train
From the central station to Gori station. Travel time is 2 hours. You will have to pay from GEL 4 to GEL 8 (depending on the class of train).
