The Stalin Cult in Gori
The house where Stalin (supposedly) was born
Giant statue of Stalin in front of Gori's city hall before removal
Famous "Profile" rock that looks like a face at Uplistsikhe
Church built over ruined pagan temple of the Sun God, Uplistsikhe
Unlike the majority of Georgia, Gori is full of people who still revere their home-town boy who made such an indelible mark on human history. The principal attractions (as well as the principal revenue earners) within the city are monuments to Stalin and they are all located on or nearby the main square along Stalin Ave.
Stalin Museum, 32 Stalin Avenue, ☎ +995 270 7 52 15 ( ), . 10AM–6PM. 10 lari for foreign tourists. �
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 careers 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. They are sometimes available and will often show you the inside of Stalin's home and train car.
Stalin's Birthplace:
If we are to believe the plaque, Stalin's birth house now resides within a cage of neoclassical Doric columns. There is not much here for the visitor other than a creepy photo opportunity and the plaque which reads in both Russian and Georgian:
|
Here I.V. Stalin was born on 21
|
|
December 1879, and here he
|
|
spent his childhood until 1883.
|
Stalin Statue
Few of the many statues of Stalin throughout the former USSR have survived to this day and Gori's is certainly one of the most magnificent and well-kept. This large statue long stood in front of Gori's city hall, located up Stalin Ave. from the end of the main square, opposite the Stalin Museum, until a bush-league surprise removal in the middle of the night by the current pro-Western government (over presumed objections by Gori residents and officials). There are plans, however, to move the deposed statue over to the Stalin museum. There are two other Stalin statues in Gori: a replica of the main statue is in Stalin Park and the second?of Stalin as a young man?can be found beside Gori State University.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Gori
