Nikortsminda Cathedral, a cross-domed church dedicated to St Nicholas, in the village of the same name, Ambrolauri Municipality. Built in 1010–1014 by order of Bagrat III, the first king of united Georgia, alongside Bagrati Cathedral in Kutaisi and Svetitskhoveli in Mtskheta. From the outside the church looks like a conventional cross-domed cathedral, but inside it opens into an unexpected hexagonal plan with six columns supporting the dome.
The cathedral is famed for its carved stone facades: continuous arcading and reliefs depicting the Transfiguration and the Last Judgement, saints and mythical creatures, among the finest in the South Caucasus. In 1534, during restoration under King Bagrat III of Imereti, the church received its celebrated frescoes: that's when Nikortsminda took on its present appearance. The three-tiered bell tower was built in the second half of the 19th century.
🎨 What you can see
- Carved stone facades with biblical scenes and reliefs
- 1534 frescoes inside the cathedral
- A three-tiered 19th-century bell tower
🧭 Where it is and how to get there
- Nikortsminda village, Ambrolauri Municipality, Racha-Lechkhumi
- Via Kutaisi or Ambrolauri along the regional road
💰 Free or paid
- Entry is free, check visiting conditions on site
