Narikala Fortress, Tbilisi (must see)
The Narikala Fortress is often referred to as the 鈥渉eart of Tbilisi.鈥� Narikala dates back to the 4th century, when it was originally built as a Persian citadel to protect the developing settlement below. Over the centuries, it has been expanded, destroyed, and rebuilt by a succession of powers 鈥� Arabs, Mongols, Persians, and Georgians 鈥� each leaving traces of their influence on its ancient walls.
The fortress gained particular importance in the 7th and 8th centuries, when it served as a stronghold for the Arab emirs who ruled Tbilisi, and again during the medieval Georgian Kingdom, when it became the city鈥檚 main defensive structure. The name 鈥淣arikala鈥� itself is believed to come from the Persian words 鈥淣arin Qala,鈥� meaning 鈥淟ittle Fortress.鈥�
In the 17th century, under Persian occupation, the fortress underwent major reconstruction, giving it much of its present-day form. Unfortunately, a massive explosion in 1827 鈥� caused by the detonation of a gunpowder storage depot inside the fortress 鈥� destroyed large sections of it. What remains today are impressive stone ramparts, towers, and fragments of defensive walls that still evoke the power and strategic importance Narikala once held.
Like any other self-respecting medieval fort, Narikala oversees the entire riverside from above. The fortress's dominating position can be reached on foot through the winding alleys of the Old Town or by taking the cable car from Rike Park, which glides over the Kura River and provides a spectacular aerial perspective of the city.
That is not all the fortress has to offer. Within its grounds stands the reconstructed St. Nicholas Church, built in the 1990s on the site of an older medieval church that had been destroyed by fire. The interior is decorated with vivid frescoes depicting both biblical scenes and moments from Georgia鈥檚 national history.
The fortress gained particular importance in the 7th and 8th centuries, when it served as a stronghold for the Arab emirs who ruled Tbilisi, and again during the medieval Georgian Kingdom, when it became the city鈥檚 main defensive structure. The name 鈥淣arikala鈥� itself is believed to come from the Persian words 鈥淣arin Qala,鈥� meaning 鈥淟ittle Fortress.鈥�
In the 17th century, under Persian occupation, the fortress underwent major reconstruction, giving it much of its present-day form. Unfortunately, a massive explosion in 1827 鈥� caused by the detonation of a gunpowder storage depot inside the fortress 鈥� destroyed large sections of it. What remains today are impressive stone ramparts, towers, and fragments of defensive walls that still evoke the power and strategic importance Narikala once held.
Like any other self-respecting medieval fort, Narikala oversees the entire riverside from above. The fortress's dominating position can be reached on foot through the winding alleys of the Old Town or by taking the cable car from Rike Park, which glides over the Kura River and provides a spectacular aerial perspective of the city.
That is not all the fortress has to offer. Within its grounds stands the reconstructed St. Nicholas Church, built in the 1990s on the site of an older medieval church that had been destroyed by fire. The interior is decorated with vivid frescoes depicting both biblical scenes and moments from Georgia鈥檚 national history.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Tbilisi. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Narikala Fortress on Map
Sight Name: Narikala Fortress
Sight Location: Tbilisi, Georgia (See walking tours in Tbilisi)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Tbilisi, Georgia (See walking tours in Tbilisi)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Tbilisi, Georgia
Create Your Own Walk in Tbilisi
Creating your own self-guided walk in Tbilisi is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Tbilisi Introduction Walking Tour
American writer John Steinbeck was highly inspired by a full moon, as he loved the mystery it brought to any streetscape. After visiting Tbilisi, he did not hold back, calling the city 鈥瀏host-ridden鈥�. He loved its cryptic atmosphere, shaped by centuries of change.
Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, sits gracefully on both banks of the Kura River, framed by the rolling foothills of the... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, sits gracefully on both banks of the Kura River, framed by the rolling foothills of the... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Rustaveli Avenue Walking Tour
If Tbilisi is the heart of Georgia, then Rustaveli Avenue is its pulse. As the capital's main artery, the importance 鈥� historical, cultural, or architectural 鈥� of this vibrant and bustling thoroughfare is hard to overestimate.
Named after the renowned medieval Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli, the avenue starts from Freedom Square 鈥� a key downtown landmark, home to the iconic statue of... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Named after the renowned medieval Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli, the avenue starts from Freedom Square 鈥� a key downtown landmark, home to the iconic statue of... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles