Small monastery complexes that are worth visiting in Georgia. The Rkoni Monastery complex.

The oldest monument of the Rkoni is the Church of the Mother of God (VII century). In the XII-XIV centuries, the gates to this temple, the chapel, the one-nave church of John the Baptist, the refectory and the tower of Svimon Mesvete were erected; in the XVI-XVIII centuries - the bell tower, residential and outbuildings. 0.5 km from the monastery on the Tedzami River there is a single-span bridge, the best example of medieval bridges in Georgia. Between the monastery and the former settlement is the fortress of Rkoni (XVII century). Behind the fence, inside the territory, there are the ruins of a palace and a single-nave church.

In the XII-XIII centuries, a significant trade and military-strategic route ran along the Rkoni, which connected Shida Kartli with Javakheti and withTrialeti, and then, through Armenia, with the Middle East. This factor contributed to the construction of monasteries in Rkoni and its surroundings.

The main structure of the monastery of the VII century - the Church of the Mother of God (dimensions 18x12m.) - has three entrances, a vestibule (castoforium) and a sacristy. Small fragments of paintings of the XII-XVII centuries have been preserved in the interior. The last restoration of the temple was carried out in 1972-1974 . There is also a chapel of the hall type (the second half of the XII century) and a gate of the XIII century (3,809,5). Fragments of frescoes dating from the XIII-XIV centuries have been preserved in the chapel. The facade of the chapel is lined with hewn stone and decorated with decorative arches and carved ornaments.

The refectory, built at the turn of the XIII-XIV centuries, is located to the northeast of the main temple. The utility room (5.2x16.6 m.), covered with pointed arches and supported by 6 supporting arches, is currently in critical condition. Svimon Mesvete Tower is located 100 meters southwest of the refectory, on the other side of the river. Three floors have been preserved. The two-storey structure of the bell tower, dating from the XVII-XVIII centuries, is located to the southwest of the main temple. The second floor is a gazebo built of brick, resting on 8 open arches and having a cylindrical shape. It can be reached by a ladder attached to the west side of the tower. The Church of St. John the Baptist (7,3x4,3m.), built in the XIII-XIV centuries, is a hall-type church. This temple stands seven meters from the main church, on a two-tiered basement.

The Rkonsky Bridge (Tamara Bridge) is laid on the territory of the monastery complex across the Tedzami River. The bridge dates from the XII-XIII centuries. It is a semicircular, solid, monolithic structure with a length of 12.5 meters, a width of 2.2 meters, at a height of 7.6 meters from the surface of the river. It is built of broken stone and thick lime mortar. The bridge supports stand on a natural rock base.

The bridge has been preserved in its original form and is the best example among the bridges of Georgia of the feudal period. Not far from the Rkoni Monastery is the Church of St. George Ikvi and the Church of Chachubeti.