Uplistsikhe Street

Uplistsikhe is a cave city in the Shida Kartli region of Georgia whose name translates roughly to God’s Castle. It sits atop a hill overlooking the Mtkvari River. Although a lot of it has been weathered smooth since its construction around 1000 BC, it has some great examples of different architectural styles throughout the ages. Some of the intricate carving remains, especially on the ceilings. Queen Tamar’s Hall features a ceiling that has been designed to look like it was made from wooden beams. It’s something unlike any of the other cave cities I’ve seen, and it’s definitely unique for this list. At the top of Uplistsikhe, there’s a 10th century Christian church that you can enter. Since it’s an Orthodox church, make sure to be dressed appropriately, no shorts or spaghetti straps and women must cover their heads. The structure of Uplistsikhe tells an ancient story of civilizations rising and falling, with each group of inhabitants adding to its archeological patchwork. You can see the ruins of rooms designed for making and storing wine near pits dug to hold prisoners. Plus, from the top, you get an incredible view of the Mtkvari River and surrounding region that’s worth climbing for! Once you’ve finished exploring the caves, you enter a long staircase that leads you out of the complex through a massive tunnel carved straight through the rock. The light at the end of it is one of the most iconic sights from Uplistsikhe and an excellent photo opportunity.
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