Narikala Fortress

Tbilisi, Georgia's capital, and the Mtkvari (Kura) river are visible from Narikala, a historic fortification. Between the sulfur baths and the Tbilisi botanical garden, the fortification is divided into two walled portions. The church of St Nicholas, which was recently restored, is located downstairs. It was rebuilt in 1996–1997 to replace a 13th-century church that had been damaged by fire. The new church is of the "regulatory cross" design, with three sides of entrances. The church's interior is adorned with murals depicting scenes from the Bible and Georgia's history.

It was created by King Vakhtang I Gorgasali of the old Iberian Kingdom, according to mythology. Archaeological studies in the area, however, have proven that humans first arrived in Tbilisi's territory in the 4th millennium BC. The first recorded records of the site's settlement originate from the second half of the fourth century AD when King Varaz-Bakur erected a fortification (circa 364). The castle fell to the Persians around the end of the 4th century but was regained by the Kartli rulers in the mid-5th century. The Umayyads in the 7th century and King David the Builder (1089-1125), respectively, considerably expanded it. It was dubbed "Narin Qala" by the Mongols (ie "Little Fortress"). The majority of the defenses that have survived come from the 16th and 17th centuries. Parts of the fort were damaged by earthquakes in 1827 and were eventually dismantled. Narikala Fortress is the second most beautiful historical site in Georgia.

Location: Tbilisi