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Photos: Jon Gudorf Photography (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Wikimedia Commons

Alaverdi

Kakheti · Religion

Getting there
About 2–2.5 h (about 115 km) from Tbilisi via the Gombori Pass and Telavi on paved roads
Best time
April–October
Recommended stay
1 hour

About Alaverdi

Alaverdi Cathedral rises over the vineyards of the Alazani valley in Kakheti, about 20 km north-west of Telavi and 2–2.5 hours from Tbilisi. The 11th-century church of St George, about 50 m tall, was the tallest church in Georgia until Tbilisi's Sameba Cathedral in 2004, and the monks still make wine in qvevri clay jars. Visitors walk the walled grounds, see the frescoed interior and can buy the monastery's own qvevri wine; it combines easily with Telavi and Tsinandali.

Tours Including Alaverdi

See all 5 tours

Must-See Attractions

  • Cathedral of St George

    The early-11th-century church, about 50 m high to the top of the dome, with frescoes from the 11th to 17th centuries, including bunches of grapes painted as ornament.

  • Monastery walls and bell tower

    The walls enclose the cathedral, the bell tower and gardens with views of the Caucasus.

  • Palace of Paykar Khan

    The residence built inside the walls for a 17th-century Persian governor of Kakheti.

  • Monastery wine

    The monks make qvevri wine in the monastery cellar, dated to the 10th–12th centuries; bottles are sold at the monastery, and tastings are by arrangement.

Nearby

  • Telavi

    The main town of Kakheti, with Batonis Tsikhe palace and a 900-year-old plane tree, about 20 km (25 min) south-east.

  • Tsinandali Estate

    The 19th-century estate of Prince Alexander Chavchavadze with a museum and winery, about 30 km (35 min) south-east.

  • Ikalto Monastery

    A 6th-century monastery with the ruins of a medieval academy, about 15 km (20 min) south.

  • Gremi

    The 16th-century royal citadel of Kakheti on a hill, about 25 km (30 min) east.

Location42.0333° N, 45.3833° EView on map

Good to know

Getting there

About 2–2.5 h (about 115 km) from Tbilisi via the Gombori Pass and Telavi on paved roads; about 20 km (25 min) from Telavi.

Best time

April–October

Best time

September and October bring the grape harvest and the Alaverdoba feast, spring has green vineyards and snow on the Caucasus behind, and the cathedral is open all year.

Recommended stay

1 hour

Fees

Entry is free.

What to wear

Alaverdi is an active monastery: shoulders and knees covered, and women cover their hair; wrap-skirts and scarves are usually available at the gate.

Time needed

About 45 minutes for the cathedral and grounds, plus time for a tasting if arranged.

Heads-up

The cathedral is crowded on and around 27 September (Alaverdoba).

History & culture

Culture

Alaverdi is an active monastery and a pilgrimage site. Its feast day, Alaverdoba, is on 27 September, and in late September and early October pilgrims come from across Kakheti, often at harvest time. The monastery's own qvevri wines are sold under the 'Since 1011' label.

History

A monastery was founded here in the 6th century by Joseph of Alaverdi, an Assyrian monk from Antioch and one of the Thirteen Assyrian Fathers who spread monastic life in Georgia. The present cathedral of St George was built in the early 11th century by King Kvirike III of Kakheti, in the same period as Bagrati and Svetitskhoveli cathedrals. For centuries Alaverdi was a centre of learning where Georgian scholars worked. The frescoes date from the 11th century, with later layers from the 15th–17th centuries, and the wine cellar is dated between the 10th and 12th centuries. The cathedral survived earthquakes and invasions and was repaired many times without losing its original form.

Local Cuisine

Alaverdi monastery wines, made in qvevri from Kakhetian grapes such as Rkatsiteli and Saperavi, are sold at the monastery; tastings are by arrangement, so ask us when booking. For a full meal, go on to the wineries and restaurants of Telavi and Tsinandali.

Accommodation

No accommodation at the monastery. Telavi, 25 minutes away, has guesthouses, family-run hotels and several wine-estate hotels in the surrounding villages.