Day Trip to Uplistsikhe and Gori from Tbilisi

Samtavisi is an 11th century Georgian Orthodox cross-in-square cathedral built in 1030 by a local bishop and architect Hilarion, the son of Vache Kanchaeli, who also built a wine cellar in 1050. The first temple was built by Vakhtang Gorgasali in 472 and was later rebuilt in the 10th century, but neither has survived. Assyrian missionary Isidore came in the monastery in 6th century. Earthquakes caused the dome, western wall and the pillars to collapse. The inscription on the western façade above the window, says "The secondary builder of the temple was the daughter of king and the wife of Amilakhvari Gaiane". The cathedral was first partially reconstructed in the 15th-16th centuries

Joseph Stalin Museum (1957) is dedicated to the life of Joseph Stalin, Soviet leader born in Gori. Museum has a small wooden hut, in which Stalin was born in 1878 and spent his first four years. Stalin's father Bessarion Jughashvili, a local shoemaker, rented a room here and had a workshop in the basement.The main building was opened in 1951 as a museum of socialism, but became a memorial of Stalin, who died in 1953. The display concludes with a death mask of Stalin taken shortly after his death. Museum has Stalin's personal armored railway carriage that weighs 83 tons. It was used by Stalin from 1941 when he attended the Yalta and the Tehran Conferences. It was sent to the museum in 1985.

Ateni Sioni (Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary) is 7th century Georgian Orthodox "Jvari-type" cross-domed tetra conch church that stands on a 5th century classical basilica. The name "Sioni" derives from Mount Zion at Jerusalem. Ateni Sioni has entrance from the north and its dome base rests on three tromps, transitioned to the four apses of the tetra conch. The lower tromp is eight-faceted, the middle sixteen and the upper thirty-two-faceted. Original reliefs of the western façade depict deer hunting scene. Artist placed an empty ashlar to show distance of arrow flight. Another relief of two deer drinking from a rounded pool is on the northern entrance. The relief symbolizes believers drinking from the same source of faith.

Uplistsikhe ("the lord's fortress") is an ancient rock-hewn town in eastern Georgia in Shida Kartli. Built on a high rocky left bank of the Mtkvari River. Uplistsikhe is one of the oldest urban settlements in Georgia (people lived here in 3rd millennium BC). It was founded by mythical Uplos, son of Mtskhetos, and grandson of Kartlos, ancestor of the Georgians. The complex is divided into three parts: south (lower), middle (central) and north (upper) covering 8 hectares. The rock-cut structures include houses, a large hall, called Tamaris Darbazi, pagan places of sacrifice, bakery, prison, cellars, and even an amphitheater, all connected by footways and tunnels.