Ancient Georgian town among most beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Mtskheta is thought to have been founded around 3,000 years ago, and is notable as the place Georgians accepted Christianity – the country’s main religion today – in 317.
Agenda.ge, 15 Aug 2015 - 10:33, Tbilisi,Georgia

One of the oldest towns in Georgia has been named among the 20 most beautiful UNESCO World Heritage sites by the US-based online publication Condé Nast Traveler.

The Georgian town Mtskheta was listed first on the list and was followed by world famous tourist destinations the Taj-Mahal in India, the Amsterdam Canal District in the Netherlands, Socotra Archipelago in Yemen and more.

"The former capital of Georgia, referred to as the spiritual heart of the country, has three picturesque, clifftop medieval churches,” the website wrote.
"Sadly, lack of preservation and unaddressed deterioration of the architecture and artwork have landed this site on UNESCO’s "at-risk” list.”

But this problem will soon be solved for Mtskheta; The Georgian Government declared a freeze on any type of construction and privatisation in the town until the end of next year so Mtskheta can return to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Country officials said if the organsation’s recommendations were taken into account Mtskheta would "definitely” return to the important list in 2016.

The earliest inhabitants settled in Mtskheta in 1,000 BC.

Mtskheta, north of the capital Tbilisi, is thought to have been founded around 3,000 years ago, and is notable as the place Georgians accepted Christianity – the country’s main religion today – in 317.