Friday, September 19, 2014

Kutaisi Afternoon Tour 1st part; Gelati Cathedral

4-days Solo Trip in Winter Republic of Georgia 
January 28 to February 01, 2014


Gelati Monastery, eulogized as the "New Athens" and the "Second Jerusalem", was one of the greatest ispritual and cultural centers of Georgia in the Middle Age. The monastery was founded by King Davit Admashenebeli (1089-1125) in 1106. At the monastery there functioned an academy, where there lived and worked outstanding Georgian scientists, philosophers and theologians. Since 14th century Gelati has been an Episcopal Cathedral. Central building of the Monastery is a central cupola church of the Virgin. Its interior is covered with paintings of different times. Alter alpse is decorated with a brilliant mosaic composition of a standing Virgin holding the Child with archangels on her sides dated to 1125-1130. Other architectural monuments are 12th and 14th centuries. These are; the Academy, Church of St. George, interior of which was painted in XVI century, a two storied building of the Church of St. Nicholas and a bell tower, one of the oldest in Georgia. Gelati Monastery was also a burial of vault of King David. Since 1994, Gelati Monastery has been inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage.

How to go to Gelati Monastery;
From Kutaisi Bus terminal (where the only McDo is located), negotiate a cab for roundtrip (including waiting time for your church stroll and photo-ops) going to the three famous Kutaisi Monasteries (Gelati, Bagrati and Motsameta) for 30 GEL ($17.4) max. All taxi drivers know this places. Travel time to Uplistsikhe is around 5 minutes only. No entrance fee. I strolled this three monasteries around more than an hour including photo-ops and a little bit meditation embrace.

Gelati Cathedral of Kutaisi

Gelati Cathedral of Kutaisi

Gelati Cathedral of Kutaisi

Gelati Cathedral of Kutaisi

Gelati Cathedral of Kutaisi

Gelati Cathedral of Kutaisi

Gelati Cathedral of Kutaisi

Gelati Cathedral of Kutaisi

Gelati Cathedral of Kutaisi

Gelati Cathedral of Kutaisi

Gelati Cathedral of Kutaisi


Kutaisi afternoon tour 2nd part; Motsameta & Bagrati Cathedral
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