Bolnisi Sioni Cathedral, Bolnisi, Georgia

Bolnisi Sioni Cathedral is a Georgian Orthodox basilica was built in 478–493. It is the oldest extant church building in Georgia. Bolnisi Sioni Cathedral is known for its Georgian Bolnisi inscriptions. These are one of the oldest historical documents of the Georgian alphabet.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

C E Spiess (5 months ago)
Ancient green stone church is said to be the oldest church in Georgia. Church building was locked when we arrived but an elderly church lady kindly opened the doors. The church has an abundance of icons inside, and very beautiful ancient looking frescos of saints on the apse opposite of entry. If you climb up the stairs of the tower located to the right when you enter the churchyard I wouldn't recommend entering the room at the top as the floor looked unstable. The village and site is definitely worth visiting! I'm sure that I would have learned a lot more is I could read and understand Georgian!

Yorgi Maxnias (6 months ago)
First orthodox church ever build in georgia,they have few unique & miraculous paintings nowhere else to be found, Also the place that the first record of archaic georgian language was discovered!

Anna Kochua (8 months ago)
The most emotional place ❤️

Tamar Turmanidze (2 years ago)
Nice and blessful place

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright mike catalonian

Historic Site of the week

Arles Amphitheatre

The two-tiered Roman amphitheatre is probably the most prominent tourist attraction in the city of Arles, which thrived in Roman times. Built in 90 AD, the amphitheatre was capable of seating over 20,000 spectators, and was built to provide entertainment in the form of chariot races and bloody hand-to-hand battles. Today, it draws large crowds for bullfighting as well as plays and concerts in summer.

The building measures 136 m in length and 109 m wide, and features 120 arches. It has an oval arena surrounded by terraces, arcades on two levels (60 in all), bleachers, a system of galleries, drainage system in many corridors of access and staircases for a quick exit from the crowd. It was obviously inspired by the Colosseum in Rome (in 72-80), being built slightly later (in 90).

With the fall of the Empire in the 5th century, the amphitheatre became a shelter for the population and was transformed into a fortress with four towers (the southern tower is not restored). The structure encircled more than 200 houses, becoming a real town, with its public square built in the centre of the arena and two chapels, one in the centre of the building, and another one at the base of the west tower.

This new residential role continued until the late 18th century, and in 1825 through the initiative of the writer Prosper Mérimée, the change to national historical monument began. In 1826, expropriation began of the houses built within the building, which ended by 1830 when the first event was organized in the arena - a race of the bulls to celebrate the taking of Algiers.

Arles Amphitheatre is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, together with other Roman buildings of the city, as part of the Arles, Roman and Romanesque Monuments group.

Do you know an ancient castle or magnificent church near you?

Why not share it with other people interested in history? You can add your own historic sites and attractions to SpottingHistory.com.

It's absolutely free, easy, and doesn't even need registration!

Upload data

Bolnisi Sioni Cathedral

Address

Details

More Information

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Rhodes, The Island of Knights

Great Spa Towns of Europe

History of Guernsey & Jersey

Historic Site of the week

Arles Amphitheatre

Looks like you are a history fan!