Gelati Monastery

Gelati Monastery tickets: which one to buy

Gelati Monastery stands on a wooded hill about eleven kilometres north-east of Kutaisi, in western Georgia, and entry is free. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important monuments of the Georgian Golden Age, famous for its mosaics and frescoes. Tours from Kutaisi combine Gelati with Motsameta Monastery, perched on a cliff above a river gorge, the Bagrati Cathedral, the Prometheus Cave and Sataplia.

A taxi or marshrutka from Kutaisi is the easiest way to reach it. The monastery is active, with a community of monks, and visitors should dress modestly, with women covering their heads; wraps are available. Restoration work has been ongoing on the main church, and parts may be covered with scaffolding. The views over the valley are beautiful. Marshrutkas from Kutaisi's centre run to Gelati several times a day, and taxis are inexpensive.

Visiting Gelati Monastery: what to see

The monastery was founded in 1106 by King David IV the Builder, the greatest of the Georgian kings, who wanted it to be a centre of learning, and its academy became one of the most important in medieval Georgia, where philosophy, theology, astronomy and science were taught. David is buried at the monastery's south gate, under a stone slab, so that all who entered would walk over him, as a sign of humility. The main church, dedicated to the Virgin, holds a magnificent mosaic in the apse, made in the early twelfth century, showing the Virgin and Child between the archangels Michael and Gabriel on a gold background, one of the largest mosaics in Georgia. The church's walls are covered with frescoes from the twelfth to eighteenth centuries, including portraits of Georgian kings.

The complex includes the churches of Saint George and Saint Nicholas, a bell tower and the ruins of the academy. The church of Saint George, built in the thirteenth century, has frescoes of the sixteenth century. The church of Saint Nicholas stands on an unusual arched base. The bell tower, beside the main church, rises over the entrance. The academy's ruins include the walls of the main hall, where students once studied. The monastery's gates held iron gates taken from Ganja, in Azerbaijan, as a trophy of war. The main church's frescoes include a portrait of King David the Builder holding a model of the church. The dome's painted interior shows Christ surrounded by angels. The monastery's walls enclose a peaceful courtyard with trees.

Gelati Monastery opening hours and the best time to go

The monastery is open daily. Western Georgia has a humid climate, and spring and autumn are the best seasons, with pleasant temperatures. Weekends bring Georgian visitors and pilgrims. Orthodox holidays bring services and celebrations. The monastery is quiet in the early morning. Motsameta Monastery, a short drive away, is set dramatically on a cliff above the Tskaltsitela river. Allow about forty-five minutes for Gelati, and combine it with Motsameta and Kutaisi. The Prometheus Cave, about half an hour's drive from Kutaisi, has illuminated halls and underground boat rides.