Sioni Cathedral, Tbilisi, Guia do visitante e o que fazer por perto

Sioni Cathedral is a Georgian Orthodox church in the Old Town of Tbilisi, standing close to the bank of the Mtkvari River. It is dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin and takes its name from Mount Zion in Jerusalem. It is best known for holding the grapevine cross of St. Nino, the woman credited with bringing Christianity to Georgia.

The story behind it

A church has stood on this spot since the early medieval period, and the first building is usually dated to the 6th or 7th century. Tbilisi was fought over for centuries, and Sioni suffered with it. Invading armies damaged or ruined the church more than once, and each time it was repaired or rebuilt. The structure you see today is mostly the result of those repairs, with the main body of the church dating from the medieval period and later restorations adding to it.

The cathedral's most treasured object is the cross of St. Nino. Tradition says she made it from grapevine and bound it with her own hair, and it is kept inside the church. The cross is a large part of why Sioni is a place of pilgrimage as well as a landmark of the old city.

What to look for

• The plain, sturdy stonework of the exterior, which looks quite different from the more ornate churches you may know elsewhere in Europe.
• The separate bell tower beside the church, a later addition from the 19th century that gives the small courtyard its character.
• The painted walls and the candlelit interior, where worshippers light candles and pause before the icons.
• The shrine area where the cross of St. Nino is kept, which draws a steady stream of visitors.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about 20 to 30 minutes for the church and its courtyard, longer if you want to sit quietly inside.
• This is a working church, so dress modestly. Covered shoulders and knees are expected, and women are traditionally asked to cover their heads.
• Visit in the morning or late afternoon for softer light and fewer tour groups. Check current times of services, since visitors are asked to be respectful during worship.
• The cathedral sits in the middle of Old Tbilisi, so the Anchiskhati Basilica, the Peace Bridge and the sulfur bath district are all within an easy walk.

Explore it on a quest

Sioni is a short walk from several of the old city's best streets, which makes it a natural stop on foot. Discover the area on one of Questo's self-guided quests: the app leads you from place to place, tells you about each one as you arrive and sets a puzzle in what is in front of you. Browse the quests in Tbilisi to pick a route and start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join.