Bolnisi Sioni

Bolnisi Sioni (or Bolnisi Zion) – was built during the reign of Vakhtang Gorgasali. The temple is the oldest building preserved in Georgia.

The history of the Bolnisi Zioni

The construction of the temple dates back to the 5th century. It was the beginning of the culture of Georgia in history. Everything that was either lost before or still to be found.
It was the frescoes on the walls of the Bolnisi Zioni that gave rise to the image of the cross inscribed in a circle. He became known as the Bolnis Cross.

Later in the 17th century, the temple was restored on the orders of Queen Mariam.

Bolnisi Zion today

Today the temple is open to visitors. Usually there are not many people here, so you can safely walk around and see. The building of the temple has a very simple form, only some details were changed during the restoration under Queen Mariam Dadiani.
We recommend to pay attention to the ancient inscriptions above the entrances. They are made in old Georgian. In the center of one of them is the Bolnis cross.

How to get to Bolnisi Zioni

To get to Bolnisi Zion you need to get to the village of Bolnisi. Nearby is the city of Bolnisi, but you do not need to go there.
The exact location of the temple can be viewed on the map below.