Gorijvari

Gorijvari is a church of St George on a hill across the Mtkvari from Gori, looking down on the town from the south. The name means the cross of Gori, and for local people it is a place of pilgrimage as well as the best viewpoint in the area. From the summit you see Gori Fortress on its rock, the long avenue to the Stalin Museum, the meeting of the Liakhvi and the Mtkvari and, on clear days, the snow peaks of the Greater Caucasus far to the north. The church itself is a modest stone building from the 18th century.

A road winds up from the south side of Gori, about 10 to 15 minutes by car, and fit walkers can climb in under an hour. The hill is popular at sunset and on church holidays, when local families come up to light candles. There are no facilities at the top, so bring water. Combine Gorijvari with Gori Fortress and the Stalin Museum, or stop on the way south to Ateni Sioni.

Gorijvari has been Gori's protecting shrine of St George for centuries, and its name, the cross of Gori, reflects that role. The present church dates from the 18th century, a time when the towns of Kartli were being rebuilt after long wars with Persian and Ottoman armies. It remains the place where Gori families mark the feasts of St George.