Ikalto Monastery

Kakheti


This monastery, beautifully situated in a cypress grove, was one of two famous medieval Georgian Neoplatonist academies, the other being Gelati near Kutaisi. Shota Rustaveli, the national poet, is thought to have studied here. The main Transfiguration Church was built in the 8th and 9th centuries. The roofless building along the south side of the compound was the Academy; an 8th-century stone wine press survives to its left (Georgian monasteries have always been enthusiastic winemakers).

The monastery is 2km uphill from the Telavi–Akhmeta road: turn off just after the 54/19 Km post. Marshrutky from Telavi terminate in Ikalto village, leaving you with a pleasant-enough 1.5km road-walk up to the monastery.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Kakheti attractions

1. Bazari

4.74 MILES

Telavi’s busy market bursts with fresh produce from the area’s villages and is a chaotic visual feast to wander through.

2. Batonistsikhe Castle

4.97 MILES

Batonistsikhe was the residence of the Kakhetian kings in the 17th and 18th centuries and remains today a superbly preserved old castle right in the…

3. Alaverdi Cathedral

6.57 MILES

At the beginning of the 11th century, when Georgia was entering its cultural and political golden age, King Kvirike of Kakheti had this majestic cathedral…

4. Schuchmann

8.63 MILES

A very professional modern operation 7km southeast of central Telavi, producing 1.5 million bottles a year – 30% is qvevri wine (under the Vinoterra label…

5. Twins Old Cellar

9.49 MILES

A family-run operation making qvevri and European wine, 23km north of Telavi. Visits include its comprehensive qvevri wine museum and a tasting of three…

6. Chavchavadze Estate

9.93 MILES

Prince Alexander Chavchavadze (1786–1846) was one of the most colourful and influential characters in Georgian history, and the palace and gardens he…

7. Shumi

9.99 MILES

This interesting smallish winery produces wines of numerous appellations under the Shumi and Iberiuli labels, and has a vineyard of 432 vine varieties,…

8. Gremi Fortress

15.04 MILES

From 1466 to 1672, Gremi was the capital of Kakheti, but the town down to the west of the citadel was totally devastated by Shah Abbas in 1616. Within the…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "georgia/kakheti/attractions/ikalto-monastery/a/poi-sig/1522920/359317",
      "destination": "Kakheti",
      "continent": "Europe",
      "country": "Georgia",
      "region": "Kakheti",
      "position": "superzone"
    }