Situated on a high left bank of the Mtkvari river, it was an important city in ancient and early medieval Iberia as Georgia was known to the Greeks and Romans.

In graves were found locally produced and imported golden, silver, ceramic, class and bone artifacts of artistic value.

Ruins of a fortress, rich baths, pagan sanctuaries and even a Jewish temple suggest the importance of the city.

Burned structures and round catapult stones indicate the city may have been under a siege and subsequently sacked in c. 3rd century BC.

Both Urbnisi Monastery and the Ruisi Cathedral are known for a major ecclesiastic council convened here in 1103–1104 by the Georgian king David the Builder to cope with problems within the church hierarchy.