Skip to main content
Geotour

Gelati Monastery

Imereti & Racha · Religion

Getting there
About 11 km (20 min) north-east of Kutaisi on a paved hill road
Best time
April–June, September–October
Recommended stay
1–1.5 hours

About Gelati Monastery

Gelati Monastery, on a wooded hillside about 11 km north-east of Kutaisi in Imereti, was founded by King David the Builder in 1106 and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Inside the main Church of the Virgin you see a 12th-century gold mosaic of the Virgin and Child in the apse and walls of frescoes painted from the 12th to the 18th centuries, including portraits of Georgian kings. Outside are King David's grave, the ruined academy and two smaller churches. It is a 1-hour visit, often combined with Motsameta and Kutaisi.

Tours Including Gelati Monastery

See all 3 tours

Must-See Attractions

  • Church of the Virgin

    The main church, with the 12th-century apse mosaic of the Virgin and Child between archangels and frescoes that include portraits of Georgian kings, among them David the Builder.

  • King David's grave

    A plain slab under the south gate, where the iron gate of Ganja, a war trophy from 1139, is kept.

  • Academy building

    The roofless hall of the medieval academy, west of the main church.

  • Churches of St George and St Nicholas

    A domed 13th-century church with frescoes, and a small two-storey church standing on arches.

Nearby

  • Motsameta Monastery

    A small church on a cliff above the Tskaltsitela river, about 6 km away (10 min).

  • Kutaisi

    The centre with Bagrati Cathedral and the Green Bazaar, about 11 km (20 min).

  • Prometheus Cave

    Show cave near Tskaltubo, about 30 km (40 min).

  • Sataplia

    Dinosaur footprints and a cave in a nature reserve, about 20 km (30 min).

Location

View on map

Good to know

Getting there

About 11 km (20 min) north-east of Kutaisi on a paved hill road; Kutaisi is about 230 km (3–3.5 h) from Tbilisi on the E60 highway.

Best time

April–June, September–October

Best time

Spring and autumn are mild and green around Kutaisi; July and August are hot and humid, and the monastery is open all year.

Recommended stay

1–1.5 hours

Fees

Entry is free.

What to wear

Shoulders and knees covered; women cover their hair, and wraps are usually available at the gate.

Heads-up

Conservation work on the main church is ongoing, and parts of it may be under scaffolding or roofed over when you visit.

Photography

Ask before taking photos inside the church, and never use flash on the frescoes.

Time needed

About 1 hour.

History & culture

Culture

Gelati is an active monastery with a small community of monks. Georgians come here to honour King David the Builder, whose reign they see as the start of the country's golden age.

History

David IV, the Builder, founded Gelati in 1106 as a monastery and an academy, and scholars such as Ioane Petritsi and Arsen Ikaltoeli taught philosophy, theology and science there; medieval writers called it a 'new Hellas' and a 'second Athos'. The main church was finished under his son Demetrius I in 1130. David was buried under the south gate in 1125 at his own request, so that everyone entering would step over him. The churches of St George and St Nicholas were added in the 13th century. Gelati was listed by UNESCO in 1994; since 2017 it has been listed on its own, without Bagrati Cathedral.

Local Cuisine

In Kutaisi try Imeretian khachapuri (round, cheese inside), pkhali, and chicken or fish with nigvzis (walnut) sauce, with dry Imeretian white wines such as Tsolikouri and Tsitska.

Accommodation

No accommodation at the monastery. Kutaisi, 20 minutes away, has family guesthouses in the old town, mid-range city hotels and a few boutique hotels.

Nearby destinations

Guides for planning your trip

All travel guides

This page in other languages