The Davati church stands about half a kilometre southwest of Davati village in Dusheti Municipality. The hall is very small, about four metres by three, laid of rubble stone and shirimi, the local volcanic tuff, and the south wall is cut entirely into the mountain slope. Sources place the building in the span from the 10th to the 15th century.
The door is cut in the north wall, narrow and low, barely taller than a person, with arched niches in the jambs. An arched window is cut on the axis of the semicircular apse with a rectangular niche on either side, and the sanctuary floor is raised by a step and levelled with lime mortar. The hall is covered by a barrel vault and the arch of the conch rests on imposts of shirimi.
The most interesting part is the roof. It is laid with flat tiles, not of clay but hewn from shirimi, and each tile is dressed with relief: arches and equal armed crosses with broad ends. Carved stone roofing like this is not often met with.
💡 Tip
- Stone tiles of shirimi with relief crosses
- The south wall is cut entirely into the mountain slope
- The door is cut in the north wall, narrow and low
🚗 Getting there
- Davati village, Dusheti Municipality, Mtskheta Mtianeti
- The Build Route button will take you to the spot
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