'Chronicle of Georgia'

Chronicle of Georgia ben van der ploeg

Constructed in 1985, this striking monument depicts scenes from the 3,000-year history of Georgia and was designed and created by Zurab Tserteli, a Georgian sculptor who later served as the President at the Russian Academy of Arts. It sits on the outskirts of Tbilisi and its prominence in the middle of a small wooded area allows it to be seen from afar.

Sometimes referred to as “The Georgian Stonehenge,” the “Chronicle of Georgia” consists of 16 large columns that reach a height of around 114 feet (35 meters) each. The lower parts portray the life of Jesus and other notable figures throughout the history of Christianity. The higher parts of the pillars contain notable members of royalty and rulers of Georgia. Interestingly, the towers are yet to be fully completed, intermittently, work still continues on the structure. Next to the memorial lies a small Georgian Orthodox church.

The monument sits atop a small hill and is reached by climbing a large set of steps. Once at the top, the location provides a fantastic panoramic view of the Tbilisi Sea and the surrounding suburbs. The monument is not as well-visited as some of the city’s more known attractions and often, visitors will be able to take in the beauty while having the place to themselves.

Know Before You Go

There is no entrance fee and the site is open at all times.

The closest metro station is Ghrmaghele. From here, bus number 60 leaves from just outside the station in the direction of the monument. Alternatively, a taxi from the center of town should cost around 10-12 GEL. There are several companies that do organized tours to the site.