Mtskheta: history, sights and housing

History and character

Settlement traces go back to the 2nd millennium BC; the city was founded in the 5th century BC by the most accepted account. Mtskheta was Iberia's capital from the 3rd century BC to the 5th century AD. Christianity became the state religion in 337 (Russian Wikipedia says the early 4th century). In the early 6th century King Dachi moved the capital to Tbilisi, but Mtskheta remained the coronation and burial place of most Georgian kings until the 19th century.

By 1801, after Timur's invasion and later raids, it was little more than a village. It received city status in 1956. It remains the seat of the Georgian Orthodox Church, which declared it a Holy City in 2014.

What to see

The main monuments are in town and on the nearby hills.

• Svetitskhoveli — the present cathedral was built in 1010–1029, on the site of a 4th-century church and a 5th-century basilica. Kings were crowned and buried here; tradition says Christ's robe is buried here.
• Jvari — a tetraconch church on a hill (656 m), built around 586–605; its type influenced later churches.
• Samtavro — a monastery dated, by different sources, from the 4th to the 11th century.
• Armaztsikhe–Bagineti and Armaziskhevi — remains of a royal residence (3rd century BC) and a 2nd–3rd-century complex, in a 30 ha museum-reserve.
• Svetitskhovloba (Mtskhetoba), 14 October — a public holiday with a liturgy and concerts.

Life and economy

Mtskheta is the country's spiritual centre and a popular day trip from Tbilisi. On the local economy, sources mention only a Soviet-era winegrowing farm; we have no current data.

Housing market: what is known and what is not

Proximity to Tbilisi creates tourist and suburban demand. We found no public prices for Mtskheta: as far as we know, the official Geostat index covers new builds in Tbilisi. Rely on listings and a local agent's assessment.

• Find out whether the property lies in a monument protection zone: enhanced protection has applied since 2016 and may affect building.
• Buying, taxes, mortgages: buying-process.html, taxes.html, mortgage.html.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources: Wikipedia (en): Mtskheta · Wikipedia (ru) · Wikipedia (en): Svetitskhoveli Cathedral · Wikipedia (en): Jvari (monastery) · Georgia.travel: Great Mtskheta State Archaeological Museum-Reserve · Eurasia.travel: Svetitskhovloba · Geostat: Price Statistics (methodology)

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