Kaspi Municipality
Kaspi in Shida Kartli: Samtavisi Cathedral of 1030, Kvatakhevi and Rkoni monasteries, Grakliani Hill and the Mtkvari valley.
Kaspi Municipality — overview
MunicipalityHistory
Kaspi Municipality lies in the east of the Shida Kartli region, on the plain of the Mtkvari River between Gori and Mtskheta, with the town of Kaspi as its administrative centre on the Mtkvari. The municipality covers about 802 km² on both banks of the river, which is joined here by the Ksani; to the north rise the foothills of the Greater Caucasus and to the south the Trialeti Range. At the confluence of the Mtkvari and Ksani lies the lowest point of Shida Kartli, at about 473 m.
The area is one of the oldest inhabited landscapes of Kartli: burial mounds of the early 4th millennium BC have been found near Kavtiskhevi, and the archaeological site of Grakliani Hill near the town has revealed many layers of ancient settlement. Kaspi itself is mentioned from the 4th century as one of the important towns of the Kingdom of Kartli (Iberia) and appears on the Roman Peutinger map; it was destroyed in the 8th century in fighting with the Arabs. The modern town received town status in 1959 and is known for its large cement plant.
The municipality preserves masterpieces of medieval architecture. Samtavisi Cathedral, near Igoeti on the Lekhura River, was built in 1030 by the bishop-architect Hilarion Kanchaeli and is famous for its richly decorated eastern facade. Kvatakhevi Monastery (12th–13th centuries), hidden in a forested gorge on the northern slopes of the Trialeti Range, was damaged by Timur and later restored, and the early medieval Rkoni Monastery, with its old stone bridge, lies in a quiet valley in the south of the municipality.
Kaspi’s landscapes range from orchards and vineyards on the Mtkvari plain to forested mountains in the south, making it a good area for short hikes and village visits within easy reach of Tbilisi.
For travellers, Kaspi is a convenient stop on the main road between Tbilisi and Gori: visit Samtavisi, take a side trip into the Trialeti foothills to Kvatakhevi and Rkoni, and combine them with the archaeological sites of the Mtkvari valley.
FAQ
1) Where is Kaspi Municipality located?
In the east of Shida Kartli, on the Mtkvari plain between Gori and Mtskheta.
2) What is the administrative centre?
The town of Kaspi, on the Mtkvari River.
3) When did Kaspi become a town?
In 1959.
4) How old is Kaspi?
It is mentioned from the 4th century as an important town of the Kingdom of Kartli.
5) What is Samtavisi?
A cathedral built in 1030 by the bishop-architect Hilarion Kanchaeli, near Igoeti.
6) What is Kvatakhevi?
A 12th–13th-century monastery in a forested gorge of the Trialeti Range.
7) What is Rkoni?
An early medieval monastery in a quiet valley, with an old stone bridge.
8) What is Grakliani Hill?
An archaeological site near Kaspi with many layers of ancient settlement.
9) Which rivers flow through Kaspi?
The Mtkvari and the Ksani.
10) Where can I find official municipal information?
On the municipality’s official website.