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search Urbnisi monastery  Urbnisi (Georgian: ურბნისი) is a
village in Georgia’s Shida Kartli region, in the district of
Kareli.  Situated on the Mtkvari river, it was an important city
in ancient and early medieval Iberia as Georgia was known to the
Greeks and Romans. Archaeological studies have demonstrated that
the place was inhabited in the 3rd millennium BC. The settlement
grew larger and, in the 4th century BC became a city with
thriving commerce and culture. Ruins of a fortress, rich baths,
pagan sanctuaries and even a Jewish temple suggest the
importance of the city. Burned structures and round catapult
stones indicate the city may have been under a siege and
subsequently sacked in c. 3rd century BC. The new era in
Urbnisi’s life began with the conversion of Iberia to
Christianity. It now became a major center of Georgian Orthodox
culture. From the 6th to 7th centuries, a strong system of
fortifications was erected around the city that did not