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Bolinisi
BOLINISI
BOLNISI: GEORGIA’S OLDEST CHURCH & AN EMERGING WINE SCENE 🍷⛪
Nestled in Georgia’s southern Kvemo Kartli region, Bolnisi is a destination where ancient history and modern revival meet. Long overshadowed by Georgia’s better-known wine regions, the town is increasingly attracting travelers for two reasons: its extraordinary Christian heritage and its growing reputation for wine tourism.
Georgia’s Oldest Surviving Church
The centerpiece of Bolnisi is Bolnisi Sioni Cathedral, one of the oldest surviving church buildings in Georgia. Constructed between 478 and 493 CE, the basilica stands as a landmark of early Christian architecture and one of the most important monuments in Georgian history.
Its walls, built from distinctive greenish tuff stone, contain some of the oldest securely dated Georgian inscriptions ever discovered. These inscriptions helped historians understand the early development of Georgian writing and Christianity in the region.
The church is also linked to the famous Bolnisi Cross, a decorative symbol that later became deeply embedded in Georgian identity and national symbolism.
Select date and timeEvent time zone:Europe/Rome GMT+02:00
