Uplistikhe

Just outside of Gori- Stalin's hometown- is Uplistsikhe. It was a powerful religious, political, and cultural center from the II-III c. B.C. until the IV c. A.D. After the establishment of Christianity in Georgia in 337, the role and importance of Uplistsikhe sharply decreased. It rose once again in the IX-X c. when it became the residence of Georgian kings until around the XIX-th century when it was deserted.
The caves, temples, halls and church are all still in amazing shape. The sandstone is great for making cave homes- nice and cool inside. Maybe one day we'll dig ourselves a little Uplistsikhe in America.