Monasteries in a natural area in Georgia. Ikalto and Shaumta.

The monastery complex currently includes three churches. These are: the main church of the Transfiguration of the Lord or "Khvtaeba" (VIII-IX centuries), built on the site of the old church in which Zenon of Ikalti was buried; the small domed church named after the Holy Trinity (Sameba, V century) and the one-nave Church of All Saints (XII-XIII centuries).

The longitudinal building of the Academy was built of cobblestone at the turn of the XII-XIII centuries. On the ground floor there is a common room (25m.x9m.), and the second floor consists of two rooms. In the ruins of the Academy, you can see educational and scientific attributes: the base of the department, typical recesses -windows. Here, as in the Gelat Academy, the educational process was conducted on the principle of "trivium and quadrivium". In addition, hammered and ceramic art, viticulture and winemaking were taught. On the territory of the monastery there are ruins of a refectory, a grape press carved in stone, many jugs for storing wine (kvevri) have been completely preserved.

Shuamta-Georgian architectural ensemble is located in the forest, in the Telavi district, 7 kilometers from Telavi. The ensemble consists of two parts: Dzveli (old) Shuamta and Ahali (new) Shuamta. The monastery got its name from its location - the monastery rises on the plain between the mountains surrounding it on three sides.

The Dzveli Shumta complex includes three churches: a three-nave basilica (V century), a church of the Jvari type in Mtskheta (VII century) and a small domed church (VII century). All three churches are built of cobblestone, travertine is used for the corners. In the XVI century. the monastery in Dzveli Shuamta was deserted. Not far from Dzveli Shuamta, the wife of King Levan II of Kakheti (1518-1574) Tinatin Gurieli founded a new monastery in Shuamta - a convent named after him. The Khakhul Mother of God. There is a legend that allegedly before her marriage Tinatin saw in a dream a place where dogwood was blooming, and on this place she allegedly was going to build a temple. When King Levan took her away from Guria after the wedding, on the way they stopped to rest in Shuamta, where dogwood really bloomed. Immediately after the wedding, she began the construction of the monastery.

The church, built of brick, is cruciform in plan, its walls are painted from the inside. Portraits of the ktitors (King Levan, Queen Tinatin and their son) have been preserved. The church was renovated by Heraclius II. The complex includes a belfry and other buildings. Queen Tinatin Gurieli, who took the veil as a nun, is buried in Akhali Shuamta. The poet and public figure Alexander Chavchavadze and others are also buried here.