Metekhi Cliff, Avlabari, and Holy Trinity Cathedral (Sameba)

From the royal perch of King Gorgasali to the monumental dome of Sameba and Rike Park

Tbilisi · 12 stops · 31 min audio · Generated October 2026

1. Metekhi Church of the Dormition and King Gorgasali Cliff

Metekhi Rise, 0103 Tbilisi, Georgia

Stand atop the dizzying promontory of Metekhi Cliff, where the ancient Church of the Dormition of the Virgin crowns a vertical rock precipice high above the Mtkvari River. According to fifth-century royal chronicles, King Vakhtang Gorgasali erected his first fortified royal palace and personal chapel upon this sheer rocky bastion when founding Tbilisi. The present cross-domed brick temple was built between 1278 and 1284 by the pious King Demetre II, known to history as Demetre the Self-Sacrificer, following the devastation of the earlier church by Mongol invaders.

Look beside the church to behold the magnificent bronze equestrian monument of King Vakhtang Gorgasali, erected in 1967 by master sculptor Elguja Amashukeli. The founder of Tbilisi sits proudly upon his battle charger, his right hand raised in greeting and blessing toward Old Kala across the river gorge. Inside the sanctuary, reverently visit the tomb of Saint Shushanik, an Armenian princess and the first Christian martyr of Georgia, whose fifth-century martyrdom was recorded in the oldest surviving work of Georgian literature.

During the nineteenth century, imperial Russian authorities transformed the adjacent royal fortress into a notorious high-security political prison, known as the Metekhi Castle. Celebrated writers, revolutionary thinkers, and political dissidents—including writer Maxim Gorky, poet Lado Ketskhoveli, and young Joseph Stalin—were incarcerated within its damp stone cells. In the 1930s, the prison was dismantled, and the church narrowly escaped demolition thanks to the courageous protest of artist Dimitri Shevardnadze, who sacrificed his own life to save the ancient temple.

The view from the cliff-top terrace is among the most breathtaking urban spectacles in the world. The swirling emerald waters of the Mtkvari surge directly beneath the sheer stone foundations, while the colorful carved balconies of Old Kala rise on the opposite bank like a painted canvas. Metekhi embodies the royal origins, unyielding spiritual faith, and physical courage of ancient Georgia.

Walk up the winding cobblestone lane of Metekhi Rise toward the picturesque clifftop palace of Queen Darejan.
2. Queen Darejan Palace (Sachino) and Round Balcony

Urbnisi Street 1, 0103 Tbilisi, Georgia

Arrive before the enchanting clifftop estate of Queen Darejan, officially known as Sachino, which in Georgian translates literally to Noble or Prominent. Built in 1776 by King Erekle II as a tranquil summer palace for his beloved consort, Queen Darejan Dadiani, this fortified complex crowns the rocky bluff with regal elegance. Perched atop the ancient fortress wall, the palace is universally famous for its iconic circular wooden balcony, painted in a soothing turquoise hue and suspended daringly over the sheer cliff.

Look up at the delicate fretwork of the round balcony, whose open arcade provides 360-degree views across the river gorge and the ancient rooftops of the capital. The residential complex includes a domestic chapel dedicated to Saints Heraclius and Daria, fortified stone watchtowers, and a serene inner courtyard garden. Notice the blend of Persian masonry traditions with traditional Georgian timber craftsmanship, featuring decorative brick niches, flat roofing, and intricate wooden corbels supporting the projecting verandas.

Queen Darejan was a powerful and formidable political figure in late eighteenth-century Georgia, who bore twenty-three children and actively participated in state councils. Following the annexation of the Kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti by the Russian Empire in 1801, the queen adamantly refused to swear allegiance to the Russian tsar. In 1803, imperial troops forcibly surrounded this palace and exiled the proud queen to Saint Petersburg, where she lived out her remaining years longing for her sun-drenched clifftop home in Tiflis.

Sunlight streams across the quiet courtyard, where cloistered nuns maintain fragrant rose bushes and grape trellises within the convent grounds. Standing beneath the famous turquoise balcony, one feels transported into a romantic eighteenth-century fairytale of royal devotion and political drama. Sachino remains one of the most picturesque and evocative historical landmarks in the South Caucasus.

Follow Urbnisi Street eastward to enter the lively historical crossroads of Avlabari Square.
3. Avlabari Square and Armenian Heritage Quarter

Avlabari Square, 0103 Tbilisi, Georgia

Step into the bustling pedestrian expanse of Avlabari Square, the historical center of the left-bank Avlabari quarter. Historically settled by Armenian merchants, artisans, and tradespeople beginning in the early medieval era, Avlabari developed its own distinctive urban culture characterized by close-knit neighborhood courtyards, bustling craft guilds, and rich theatrical humor. At the square's center stands the delightful bronze monument to the characters of the classic comic play Khanuma, sculpted in 2011 by master artist Zurab Tsereteli.

Examine the expressive bronze figures of the matchmaker Khanuma, the impoverished Prince Vano Pantiasvili, and their colorful entourage, celebrating the famous comedy written in 1882 by Avksenti Tsagareli. The play immortalized the hilarious romantic rivalries, matchmaking intrigues, and vibrant daily life of nineteenth-century Avlabari. Look around the square to see the entrance of the Avlabari Metro Station, framed by traditional bakery stalls selling hot puri bread fresh from clay tone ovens and street vendors offering seasonal fruits.

In the nineteenth century, Avlabari was the intellectual and artistic cradle of the Transcaucasian Armenian renaissance. Pioneering Armenian writers Raffi, Hovhannes Tumanyan, and Gabriel Sundukyan walked these very streets, founding literary societies, printing presses, and schools that educated thousands of children. The residents of Avlabari were celebrated for their sharp wit, warm hospitality, and legendary ability to resolve neighborhood disputes over glasses of homemade mulberry vodka.

The lively energy of Avlabari Square pulses with authentic neighborhood life that has remained vibrant across changing eras. The delicious aroma of baking shoti bread and grilled shashlik fills the air, mingling with the cheerful chatter of shoppers and commuters. This iconic plaza warmly reflects the multicultural soul that has enriched Tbilisi for well over a millennium.

Walk southeast along Kaspi Street to discover the legendary Underground Printing House of 1903.
4. Underground Printing House of 1903 on Kaspi Street

Kaspi Street 7, 0103 Tbilisi, Georgia

Arrive before a modest, unassuming wooden residential house on Kaspi Street that conceals one of the most astonishing underground secrets of early twentieth-century revolutionary history. Between 1903 and 1906, young Bolshevik militants, guided by Vladimir Lenin's directives and operated locally by young Joseph Stalin and Lado Ketskhoveli, established a secret underground printing press here. Buried fifteen meters beneath the earth, this clandestine workshop produced hundreds of thousands of illegal newspapers, revolutionary pamphlets, and political manifestos in Georgian, Armenian, and Russian.

Look down into the dark opening of the historic brick water well in the courtyard, which served as the ingenious secret entrance to the underground chamber. Operatives descended fifteen meters down the well shaft on an iron ladder before crawling through a concealed horizontal drainage pipe into the subterranean printing vault. Inside the damp brick room, a massive German Augsburg flatbed printing press was smuggled in piece by piece and reassembled entirely by candlelight, operating undetected beneath the feet of imperial gendarmerie.

In April 1906, Tsarist police finally raided the property following an anonymous tip, but were initially unable to locate any illicit press. Frustrated, an officer dropped an illuminated piece of burning paper down the water well, only to watch it vanish into a horizontal side tunnel, exposing the secret shaft. When police finally excavated the subterranean bunker, they discovered thousands of freshly printed copies of the Bolshevik newspaper The Proletarian and confiscated the entire operation.

Standing in the quiet suburban garden today, it is thrilling to contemplate the daring conspiratorial ingenuity that operated directly beneath this peaceful soil. The preserved printing press and underground shafts offer an extraordinary window into the clandestine revolutionary networks that eventually brought down the Russian Empire. This hidden historical site provides a gripping, authentic encounter with twentieth-century political intrigue.

Walk northwest along Kaspi and Armazi streets toward the historic Church of Saint Karapet.
5. Saint Karapet Church of Avlabari

Armazi Street 1, 0103 Tbilisi, Georgia

Pause before the dignified brick facade and conical stone cupola of Saint Karapet Church, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. Originally established in the early fifteenth century by Armenian master builder Bagdasar, the church was extensively rebuilt in 1705 and served as a central parish sanctuary for the flourishing artisan community of Avlabari. Perched on a natural terraced rise of the hillside, the temple has anchored the spiritual and communal life of this historic quarter across centuries of dramatic political transformations.

Examine the exterior brickwork, constructed with traditional thin Georgian plinthite laid in ornamental geometric bands that recall early Christian masonry styles. The central octagonal drum is crowned by a handsome conical dome clad in dark stone tiles, flanked by slender arched windows that illuminate the intimate nave. Around the perimeter of the churchyard, ancient stone tombstones carved with floral crosses and Armenian inscriptions commemorate prominent local merchant elders, guild masters, and clergy from the eighteenth century.

In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Saint Karapet was celebrated as the spiritual home of the Avlabari drapers and leatherworkers' guilds. Before embarking on perilous trade journeys across the high Caucasian passes, guild masters gathered within these walls to light votive candles and seek blessings for safe passage and honest commerce. The church bells were renowned throughout the left bank for their deep, sonorous chime, which signaled daily curfew and called citizens to defense during wartime.

Sunlight illuminates the weathered stone walls as you enjoy panoramic glimpses over the red-tiled roofs of Avlabari tumbling toward the river gorge. The quiet peace of the churchyard offers a serene moment for contemplative reflection, surrounded by the whispering leaves of fig and pomegranate trees. Saint Karapet stands as a steadfast, noble witness to centuries of devout faith and communal solidarity in Old Tbilisi.

Walk north along Samreklo Street toward the monumental entrance gate of Holy Trinity Cathedral.
6. Monumental Gate and Bell Tower of Sameba Cathedral

Samreklo Street, 0103 Tbilisi, Georgia

Arrive before the monumental ceremonial entrance gate of the Holy Trinity Cathedral complex, universally known in Georgia as Sameba. Constructed as the grand portal to the nation's spiritual mother church atop Elia Hill, this imposing tripartite archway of warm pale limestone projects majestic imperial solemnity. Standing adjacent to the gateway is the monumental freestanding bell tower, a three-tiered architectural masterpiece that rises over thirty meters into the Caucasian sky.

Look up at the open belfry of the bell tower to admire its extraordinary collection of nine massive bronze bells, cast by master bellfounders in Germany. The largest bell weighs an astounding eight thousand two hundred kilograms, making it the heaviest church bell in the South Caucasus. Notice the exquisite decorative stone carvings ornamenting the triple arches of the gateway, featuring traditional Georgian braided cross reliefs, grapevine motifs, and stylized celestial angels.

The construction of Sameba was launched in 1995 to commemorate two historic milestones: two thousand years of Christianity and fifteen hundred years of the autocephaly of the Georgian Orthodox Church. A national fundraising appeal led by Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II inspired contributions from millions of ordinary citizens and prominent benefactors, turning the cathedral into a true national endeavor. Soil and stones from sacred sites across Georgia—from Svaneti to Kakheti—were ceremonially placed into the foundation to symbolize unbroken national unity.

Passing through the monumental gateway, the vast paved esplanade opens before you, revealing the colossal golden dome of Sameba soaring majestically against the sky. When the great eight-ton bell tolls, its deep, resonant vibration can be felt throughout the entire city basin, sending waves of acoustic majesty across the mountains. You have entered the sacred spiritual heart of contemporary Georgia.

Walk along the grand ceremonial stone avenue toward the soaring central portal of Sameba Cathedral.
7. Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi (Sameba)

Elia Hill, 0103 Tbilisi, Georgia

Stand in awe before the colossal facade of the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi, known to every Georgian simply as Sameba. Constructed between 1995 and 2004 under the design of architect Archil Mindiashvili, this monumental cruciform sanctuary is the largest religious building in the South Caucasus and the third-tallest Eastern Orthodox cathedral in the world. Soaring to an astounding height of eighty-seven meters from ground level to the tip of its seven-meter gilded cross, Sameba commands the skyline of the capital from its vantage point atop Elia Hill.

Step through the towering bronze doors into the cavernous main nave, capable of holding over fifteen thousand worshippers simultaneously. The floor is paved with an intricate mosaic of polished marble, granite, and green serpentine stone, reflecting the soft glow of countless candelabras. Walk down into the subterranean complex, which extends forty meters into the earth and contains nine underground chapels, including the crypt chapel dedicated to the Annunciation of the Virgin.

The cathedral was consecrated on Saint George's Day, November 23, 2004, by Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II, marking the triumphant spiritual rebirth of the Georgian nation following decades of Soviet atheism and post-independence civil turmoil. Inside the sanctuary rests the monumental Hope of Georgia icon, a magnificent 3.5-meter golden panel containing portraits of over four hundred canonized Georgian saints and martyrs. Crafted with over thirty kilograms of pure gold, platinum, and thousands of precious gemstones, the icon represents an unparalleled masterpiece of modern liturgical goldsmithing.

Natural light streams through the high clerestory windows of the drum, illuminating the golden iconostasis while the resonant polyphonic choir fills the vast stone vaults with celestial harmony. The architectural synthesis of traditional medieval Georgian cruciform design with contemporary monumental scale creates an overwhelming sense of sacred majesty. Sameba stands as the supreme monument to the enduring faith, unity, and resilience of the Georgian people.

Exit into the landscaped gardens surrounding the cathedral toward the Patriarchal Residence.
8. Sameba Cathedral Gardens and Patriarchal Residence

Cathedral Grounds, 0103 Tbilisi, Georgia

Wander through the tranquil landscaped gardens surrounding the western flank of Sameba Cathedral, commanding an extraordinary panorama over the city. Spanning several hectares of manicured terraces on Elia Hill, these peaceful grounds feature manicured boxwood parterres, olive groves, cascading water fountains, and flowering rose gardens. Standing within the northern grove is the elegant white-stone Patriarchal Residence, the official working seat and domestic quarters of Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II, the revered spiritual leader of the Georgian Orthodox Church.

Look across the stone balustrades to spot the resident aviary and swan pond, where white swans and peacocks roam freely among the weeping willows. Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II, an accomplished painter, composer, and avid gardener, personally oversaw the landscaping of these grounds, incorporating biblical trees and medicinal plants native to the Caucasus. Notice the bronze open-air font used for mass baptismal ceremonies, where the Patriarch has personally baptized over forty thousand Georgian children as part of a national demographic initiative.

Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II has led the Georgian Orthodox Church since his enthronement in 1977, guiding the nation through the collapse of the Soviet Union, war, and political transitions. Consistently polled as the most trusted public figure in Georgia, his moral authority and message of national reconciliation have been a vital stabilizing force in contemporary history. The gardens serve as a living reflection of his peaceful philosophy, open to people of all backgrounds seeking quiet contemplation.

From the edge of the garden terrace, the entire bowl of the capital unfolds beneath your feet. In the late afternoon sun, the silver ribbon of the Mtkvari River glistens in the distance, framed by the fortress walls of Narikala and the TV tower on Mount Mtatsminda. The gentle murmur of fountains and the scent of blooming lavender create an atmosphere of blissful serenity that lingers in the memory.

Begin descending Elia Hill via the scenic western steps toward the Baratashvili Ascent Overlook.
9. Baratashvili Ascent Overlook and Cliff Views

Baratashvili Ascent, 0103 Tbilisi, Georgia

Pause at the panoramic belvedere along the Baratashvili Ascent, the historic roadway that winds down the rocky bluffs from Avlabari to the river bridges. Carved directly into the sheer volcanic cliffs above the left bank of the Mtkvari, this commanding overlook provides one of the most sublime perspectives of the old city skyline. Directly opposite, the ancient tiered houses of Kala cling to the mountain slope, their colorful carved wooden verandas appearing to hang suspended in mid-air over the water.

Look down at the sheer rock face below you, where ancient caves and subterranean storage vaults are visible in the volcanic basalt. Historically, these natural caverns served as storage cellars for goods transported across the river by cable ferries and boatmen. Notice the bronze statues placed along the pedestrian sidewalk of the descent, celebrating romantic characters from nineteenth-century Tiflis folklore, including street water-carriers and courting couples in period dress.

In the nineteenth century, this steep rocky ascent was a challenging route for horse-drawn carriages and pack mules hauling grain from the eastern provinces to the city mills. Teamsters sang robust rhythmic songs to urge their horses up the steep grade, creating an indelible auditory tradition that writers often noted in their travel diaries. The road was widened and paved in the twentieth century, transforming a perilous mountain defile into an elegant, tree-shaded scenic drive connecting the city's two banks.

Watching the sunset from this cliffside perch is an unforgettable experience as the fading rays illuminate the honey-colored sandstone of Sioni Cathedral across the water. The headlights of evening traffic begin to trace sparkling ribbons along the embankments, while the futuristic glass canopy of the Bridge of Peace glows with pulsating light. This dramatic belvedere captures the dynamic dialogue between ancient topography and modern urban vitality.

Descend the stone pedestrian stairway leading directly into the green expanses of Rike Park.
10. Rike Park and the Grand Sculptural Piano

Rike Park, 0103 Tbilisi, Georgia

Enter the wide, welcoming promenades of Rike Park, a vibrant contemporary public park sprawling across the left bank of the Mtkvari River. Historically known as the Rike Sands, this flat floodplain was an open marsh and seasonal pasture where medieval armies camped and traveling merchants held horse fairs and livestock markets. In 2010, the entire floodplain was masterfully revitalized into a modern recreational landscape featuring curved walking paths, interactive musical fountains, children's play areas, and striking modern art installations.

Stop beside the famous grand Sculptural Piano, a whimsical oversized white grand piano nestled playfully among the green lawns. Travelers and local music lovers frequently sit at the keys to snap photos or play spontaneous melodies that echo across the park. Nearby, the lower terminal of the modern aerial cable car lifts off, carrying glass-bottomed cabins silently across the river and up to the ancient summit of Narikala Fortress in just under two minutes.

During the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the Rike Sands served as the venue for boisterous public wrestling tournaments and falconry demonstrations. Crowds gathered on weekends to cheer local champions in traditional Georgian chidaoba wrestling, accompanied by lively drumming on doli and piping on salamuri. The park's transformation from an unkempt sandy flat into a world-class civic garden reflects Tbilisi's dynamic twenty-first-century urban renaissance.

Sunlight dapples the manicured lawns where families picnic and children chase bubbles around dancing water jets. From this low riverside perspective, the towering cliffs of Metekhi on one side and the dramatic ridgelines of Narikala on the other create a natural amphitheater of monumental stone. Rike Park serves as a joyful, democratic public living room in the historical center of the capital.

Walk south toward the extraordinary sculptural glass cylinders of the Music Theater and Exhibition Hall.
11. Tubular Exhibition Hall and Music Theater in Rike Park

Rike Park, 0103 Tbilisi, Georgia

Stand before the striking futuristic silhouette of the Rike Park Music Theater and Exhibition Hall, popularly known throughout the city simply as The Tubes. Designed by internationally acclaimed Italian architect Massimiliano Fuksas and Doriana Fuksas and constructed between 2010 and 2012, this avant-garde complex is one of the boldest modern architectural statements in Eastern Europe. The building consists of two enormous flowing cylindrical volumes clad in stainless steel panels and structural glass, resembling giant metallic trumpets or periscopes rising organically from the park lawns.

Observe how the two tubular structures are angled toward the city, functioning as gigantic architectural telescopes framing historic views. The northern tube, designed to house a 560-seat music theater, opens with an expansive glass vitrine that frames a direct sightline toward the historical presidential palace on the hill. The southern tube houses an expansive exhibition hall, with its soaring glass portal facing directly toward Old Kala and the ancient ramparts of Narikala Fortress across the river.

Like the nearby Bridge of Peace, the Fuksas Tubes sparked lively public and architectural debate when unveiled, challenging traditional notions of urban context in an ancient capital. Yet international critics celebrated the project for its visionary fluidity, praising how the reflective steel envelope mirrors the changing colors of the sky, the river water, and the surrounding green park. The complex stands as a daring manifestation of Georgia's post-2000 architectural ambition to embrace global avant-garde design.

In the golden hour before sunset, the curved steel panels reflect warm amber and violet hues from the evening sky, giving the building an almost otherworldly radiance. The dramatic contrast between these hyper-modern metallic forms and the ancient fourth-century stone battlements of Narikala on the ridge above creates a thrilling visual dialogue across centuries. This unique landmark celebrates the fearless creative spirit of twenty-first-century Tbilisi.

Walk a short distance west toward the eastern approach of the iconic Bridge of Peace.
12. East Abutment of the Bridge of Peace and Mtkvari Embankment

Rike Park Embankment, 0103 Tbilisi, Georgia

Conclude your journey at the eastern abutment of the Bridge of Peace, where its undulating steel-and-glass canopy springs gracefully from the lush lawns of Rike Park. Inaugurated in May 2010 by acclaimed Italian architect Michele De Lucchi, this 156-meter pedestrian bridge gracefully connects the contemporary parkland of Avlabari with the historic cobblestone quarters of Old Kala across the river. From this riverside promenade, the flowing glass canopy resembles a luminous wave cresting over the waters of the Mtkvari, symbolizing the peaceful connection of diverse communities.

Look up through the translucent glass canopy to examine the sophisticated steel bowstring truss architecture that spans the river without a single support pier in the water. At dusk, over thirty thousand LED lights embedded in the framework come alive with a choreographed illumination designed by French lighting master Philippe Martinaud. The pulsating light show spells out the chemical elements of the human periodic table in Morse code, proclaiming the fundamental biological equality and shared brotherhood of all humanity.

Standing beside this iconic bridge, you can trace the extraordinary journey you have completed across the left bank of the capital. From the fifth-century royal cliff of King Gorgasali at Metekhi through the underground revolutionary press of Avlabari and the monumental golden dome of Sameba, you have witnessed fifteen centuries of unyielding faith, courage, and artistic reinvention. The Bridge of Peace stands as the triumphant physical and spiritual connection between Tbilisi's glorious past and its luminous European future.

As the night falls, the bridge transforms into a floating river of sapphire and crystal light reflected in the rushing dark waters of the Mtkvari. Laughter, violin music, and the joyful murmur of pedestrians crossing the river create an atmosphere of pure civic celebration. You have completed a magnificent exploration of Metekhi and Avlabari, carrying with you the timeless majesty, warmth, and enduring soul of Tbilisi.

Stroll across the illuminated glass bridge into the lively dining district of Old Kala or relax in Rike Park.