Photogallery of pictures taken during journeys to historical sites of Georgia - Uplistsikhe Cave Complex.
Uplistsikhe is an ancient rock-hewn town in eastern Georgia, some 10 kilometers east of the town of Gori.
Built on a high rocky left bank of the Mtkvari River, it contains various structures dating from the Early Iron Age to the Late Middle Ages, and is notable for the unique combination of various styles of rock-cut cultures from Anatolia and Iran, as well as the co-existence of pagan and Christian architecture.
Uplistsikhe is identified by archaeologists as one of the oldest urban settlements in Georgia. Strategically located in the heartland of ancient kingdom of Kartli (or Iberia).
The Uplistsikhe complex can tentatively be divided into three parts: south (lower), middle (central) and north (upper) covering an area of approximately 8 hectares. The middle part is the largest, contains a bulk of the Uplistsikhe rock-cut structures, and is connected to the southern part via a narrow rock-cut pass and a tunnel. Narrow alleys and sometimes staircases radiate from the central "street" to the different structures. At the summit of the complex is a Christian basilica built of stone and brick in the 9th-10th centuries.
Several parts of the most vulnerable areas were completely destroyed by an earthquake in 1920.
If you have any questions to joureys to the Uplistsikhe Cave Complex or any comment to a photogallery use the information form attached below.
