Mtskheta

city

63km

Tbilisi

capital city of Georgia

76km

Volgograd

city in Volgograd Oblast, Russia

474km

Gergeti Trinity Church

church

12km

Uplistsikhe

ancient rock-hewn town in Georgia

61km

Joseph Stalin Museum, Gori

The Stalin Museum is the highlight of a visit to the city of Gori. Behind its faux-Venetian facade is an impressive museum filled with paraphernalia and media documenting the life and career of I.V. Jughashvili. The museum's portrayal of Stalin is one-sidedly nostalgic, which can be jarring for visitors, but the exhibits are actually quite well done and there are ample Georgian babushkas throughout the museum who will be more than happy to elaborate on the exhibits and answer questions. Unfortunately, the exhibits are overwhelmingly in Russian and Georgian, to the disadvantage of most Western visitors. But the main show requires no language—Stalin's death mask. Stalin's bronze death mask is not so exciting in and of itself, but the lighting and bizarre, personality cult-chic, red velvet display will surely elicit goose bumps. At the ticket office, ask about an English or German-speaking guide. Guided tours start regularly. They are sometimes available and will often show you the inside of Stalin's home and train car.

66km

Gori Fortress

67km

Tusheti

geographic region

108km

Khujabi Monastery

If you make it to Khorakert, you should be able to make it to this soaring, majestic and lost work of architecture, further along the border.

114km

Haghpat

village in Lori Province of Armenia

124km

Timotesubani monastery

128km

Likani Villa

An official residence of the President of Georgia with a beautiful garden.

143km