Кутаиси и Мцхета попали в список 16 старейших постоянно заселенных городов Европы, представленный британским изданием Telegraph.

Согласно Telegraph , на первом месте находится греческий город Аргос (население появилось 5000 г. назад до н.э., на втором - Афины (5000 г. назад до н.э.), затем Пловдив (Болгария, 4000 г. до н.э.), на четвертом месте расположился город Ханья (Крит, 4000 г. до н.э.), пятое место - греческая Патра (3500 г. до н.э.), шестое - греческая Трикала (3000 г. до.н.э.), 7-ая строчка- Фивы (Греция, 3000 г. до н.э.), 8-ая- Кутаиси (Грузия, население стало заселять этот город во втором тысячелетии до н.э.), 9-ая строчка- Ларнака (Кипр, 1300 г. до н.э.), на десятой строчке расположился греческий город Халкида (1300 г. до н.э.) 11-ое место- Лиссабон (Португалия, 1200 г. до н.э.), 12-ое - остров Лесбос (Митилини) (Греция, 1100 г. до н.э.), 13-ая позиция досталась испанскому городу Кадис (1100 г. до н.э.), 14-ое место - грузинский город Мцхета (1100 г. до н. э.), на 15 месте расположился хорватский город Задар (900 г. до н.э.


14. Mtskheta, Georgia
When did the earliest inhabitants settle? 1,000 BC
The placement of Georgia in Europe is perhaps contentious, but given the widely-accepted definition of the continent’s border beyond the whole Caucasus region, it is fair to consider the country as European. Mtskheta, north of the capital Tbilisi, is thought to have been founded around 3,000 years ago, and is notable as the place Georgians accepted Christianity – the country’s main religion today – in 317. Collectively, its historical monuments, including the Holy Cross Monastery of Jvari, Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and Samtavro Monastery, are a UNESCO's World Heritage Site. They are described as “outstanding examples of medievаl religious architecture in the Caucasus”, and archaeological findings inside them prove a high level of skill in masonry and pottery.
Picture: AP



8. Kutaisi, Georgia
When did the earliest inhabitants settle? 2nd millennium BC
Kutaisi, a city in western Georgia, was the capital of the Kingdom of Colchis, an ancient region of the southern Caucasus, from as early as the second millennium BC. The city has been the centre of multiple conflicts between Georgian kings, and Russians and Ottoman rulers, and was an industrial centre when Georgia formed part of the Soviet Union. Its state historical museum contains 16,000 artefacts relating to Georgian history and culture. More interestingly, perhaps, Kutaisi is also home to a martial arts museum. The Bagrati Cathedral, pictured, was restored in 2012, against the wishes of UNESCO, which then placed it on its list of World Heritage Sites in danger, saying the project would “undermine the integrity and authenticity of the site”.
Picture: AP