SHIDA KARTLI IS SPREAD IN THE VERY HEART OF GEORGIA, ON THE AREA OF 6200 SQ. KM (9,2% OF THE TOTAL TERRITORY OF THE NATION). THE REGION INCLUDES SIX ADMINISTRATIVE AND TERRITORIAL ENTITIES AS SPECIFIED BY THE GEORGIAN LEGISLATION: TOWN OF TSKHINVALI, MUNICIPALITIES OF GORI, KASPI, KARELI, KHASHURI AND JAVA.

HISTORICAL PROVINCE OF KARTLI CONSISTED OF SEVERAL PARTS AND INCLUDED ZEMO (UPPER), SHUA (MIDDLE) AND KVEMO (LOWER) KARTLI. SHIDA KARTLI SPREAD IN THE EAST UP TO RIVER ARAGVI AND TBILISI, IN THE NORTH – UP TO THE CENTRAL RANGE OF KAVKASIONI (CAUCASUS MOUNTAINS), IN THE WEST UP TO THE LIKHI RANGE, AND IN THE SOUTH – UP TO TRIALETI RANGE AND PARAVANI LAKE (JAVAKHETI). TODAY SHIDA KARTLI IS AN IMPORTANT TRANSIT JOINT WHEREFROM ONE CAN GET TO ANY CORNER OF GEORGIA: ITS TERRITORY IS CROSSED BY INTERNATIONAL EXPRESSWAY AND RIKOTI TUNNEL CONNECTING IT WITH IMERETI REGION. RIKOTI TUNNEL CONSTRUCTED UNDER ROCKI PASS IN 1983 IS ONE OF THREE BACKBONE ROADS THAT CONNECT GEORGIA WITH ITS BIG NEIGHBOR – RUSSIA. SHIDA KARTLI IS

CROSSED ALSO BY TRANSCAUCASIA CENTRAL RAILWAY BACKBONE. THERE ARE MANY NATURAL, ARCHITECTURAL AND CULTURAL MONUMENTS ON THE TERRITORY OF THE REGION. AMONG THEM THERE ARE SOME OUTSTANDING ONES: SIONI OF ATENI, CHURCH OF KINTSVISI, CHURCH OF SAMTAVISI, UPLISTSIKHE, RKONI MONASTERY, GORI FORTRESS, SURAMI FORTRESS, TSROMI CHURCH, KVATAKHEVI...