The Metekhi Church sits on a cliff above the Mtkvari River, one of the most recognizable silhouettes in Tbilisi's old town skyline. Built in the 13th century by King Demetre II, the cross-domed church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and houses the grave of St. Shushanik, a 5th-century Armenian queen martyred for refusing to renounce Christianity.
The promontory has been fortified since the city's founding. Over the centuries the site served as a royal residence, a prison under the tsars, and even a theater in the Soviet period. The church itself was nearly demolished in the 1960s before public protest saved it.
Outside stands an equestrian statue of Vakhtang Gorgasali, the 5th-century king who founded Tbilisi. The terrace behind the church offers one of the best views in the city — across the river to the Narikala fortress and the old sulfur bath district of Abanotubani.