Gelati Monastery, Kutaisi

The nickname of The Gelati Monastery is the “Golden Age of Georgia”. The monastery was built during the Byzantine Empire which is known for the use of gold aesthetic in their paintings and buildings. It was built to show how Christianity encompassed all of this land and that Georgia was filled with Christian gospel all around even high up in the mountains. As the monastery is covered in arches that stretch over mountains show how encompassing the monastery is over the mountains and over the hills.

Lots of old, beautiful paintings cover the inner walls. The church is a bit far, but it's totally worth it for people who have not seen this style in churches before, or who is really into Georgian history. Otherwise I'd say it's pretty much as other churches in the country - not to underestimate the great importance it had it in Georgian history. It rained that day and it was foggy, so we could not see the landscape. I bet the view from there must be beautiful!