Narikala Fortress
Date of foundation: IV century.
Condition: Good
Status: Protected by the state
Narikala Fortress is the most famous and oldest monument of the capital Tbilisi, and is a symbol of the city’s defense. It is located on the hillMtatsmindaand looks at the riverMtkvari.
The foundation of the castle dates back to the 4th century, that is, it actually dates back to the foundation of the city itself. Most of the surviving fortifications date back to the 16th and 17th centuries. Inside the fortress walls is the Church of St. Nicholas, built in the 12th century, which was reconstructed in 1996. The walls are decorated with frescoes depicting biblical scenes. In 1827, as a result of a devastating earthquake, the castle was destroyed and has not yet been restored.
The fortress offers a unique view of the Kura River and old Tbilisi and, on the other hand, the botanical garden.
You can get here either by cable car (from the Metekhi fortress) or on foot – from the Sulfur Baths through the Botanical Garden
You should definitely visit here; you can also visit it in the evening, when the fortress is very beautifully illuminated.
