It was built in the period from 978 to 1014, just when the Georgian king Bagrat III ruled. The style of architecture of the temple is so unique and unusual that it got its own name – Bagratidsky – for the unique stone carvings and mosaics. It is believed that in this temple, which is also called the Church of the Assumption, the famous and highly respected Georgian king David IV Akhashenebeli, whose surname means "builder", was once crowned.

Interestingly, it was David the Builder who was the founder of the construction of the Gelati Monastery near Kutaisi in 1106, which was one of the important religious centers of medieval Georgia. In those years it was the center of science, which housed the Gelat Academy, where one of the important subjects was ancient Greek philosophy. Nowadays Gelat Monastery – the place of the assumption of King David. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It should be noted that in Georgia to this day, churches continue to be built, which quickly become landmarks. Such a landmark of modern times is the temple of Simeon the Stylite in Katskhi, which was built in a forty-meter rock that looks like a pillar from a distance, on the site of the old temple. When visiting the attraction, it is important to know that according to the ancient testament of the founding fathers, women are forbidden to enter the temple, and men, in turn, must climb a metal staircase.

Not so long ago , almost 10 kilometers from Kutaisi was created Sataplia Nature Reserve, in which you will be surprised not only by karst caves with stalactites and stalagmites, but also by perfectly preserved dinosaur tracks. And for the bravest, a viewing platform with a transparent floor was erected on the rock, offering an incredible view of the city.

Do you know which region is called Georgian Switzerland?

Georgian Switzerland – The popular name of the Racha region is Lechkhumi, which it received thanks to the fascinating mountain range that runs along the border with the Sachkhera region. Unfortunately, these beautiful limestone mountains with a large number of caves and rocks do not have paved routes today, but a little to the west you can climb from the village of Martvili or the Lechkhum village of Mahura to the uninhabited plateau of Askhi, which is hidden by a mountain wall. This is another mysterious and beautiful place in Georgia. Majestic mountains and ancient pine trees hide Shovi Balneological Resort, famous for its mineral waters and crystal clear air.

The tourist maps of the Racha-Lechkhumi region offer only a small list of local temples and monasteries, although there are much more of them.

Nikortsminda Temple, Barakoni Temple and the monastery in Udabno is the most famous of them. But no less interesting is the synagogue in Oni, built in 1890-1895 in a rare Moorish style for Georgia (its project was brought from Europe by Rabbi Eliyahu Amshikavi). A large and expensive synagogue was built in a very poor village for a reason: In this way, Eliyahu wanted to draw attention and attract investments to his native region from Nobel and the Rothschild family, who were known for their religiosity.

Not only the monuments of ancient architecture are interesting here. In Ambrolaursky district the famous semi-sweet Khvanchkara wine is produced, and you can also taste other wines here: Usakhelauri, Twishi, Ocaleshi, Tsolikauri and exotic wines of the Lentekh district.

We want to remind you about what Colchis is, which we mentioned at the very beginning of our article. Ancient authors Pindar and Aeschylus wrote about this state in the middle of the 1st millennium BC. According to legends, Argonauts came here in search of the Golden Fleece, and Prometheus was chained to a rock somewhere in the Caucasus mountains.

You can read more about the formation of the Colchian Kingdom in article on the Madloba website. Also, on the pages of the catalog you will easily find useful information about the Georgian people, their development and prosperity. Recommendations from our experts will help you organize the perfect trip to the ancient kingdom of Georgia!