Kartli

Kartli is the historical heart of Georgia, cut through by the river Mtkvari and known for its scenic beauty and historic monuments. Its boundaries, which were never strictly defined, have significantly fluctuated over the course of history.

Today, the area is divided into two administrative regions, Shida (inner) Kartli and Kvemo (lower) Kartli.

Gori is the centre of Inner Kartli and Rustavi is the capital of Kvemo Kartli.

History

Located on the ancient Silk Route, Kartli is considered the cradle of Georgian civilization, steeped, marinated and glazed in layers of historyIn Georgian, the country is called Sakartvelo, a name derived from this province and the tribe, the Karts, that settled there. By the late 4th-early 3rd centuries BC, the Kartli Kingdom had emerged as a powerful force and created a single Georgian civilization.