Akhali Shuamta

About

Established by Tinatin, the wife of King Levan of Kakheti, Akhali Shuamta is a late medieval Georgian Orthodox monastery nestled near the city of Telavi. Home of the revered St. Mary’s Icon of Khakhuli, a revered shrine that adorns the right side of the temple and depicts the Virgin Mary adorned with gold and precious stones, it’s significant for its prized treasures that are now preserved in the State Museum of Art in Georgia. The monastery has housed valuable treasures donated by kings over the centuries, including chalices, candelabras, and a richly stocked bookstore, and is the resting place of Tinatin. The complex also features an old church founded in the 6th century, showcasing the triple-church basilica style. Inside, wander through fine frescoes depicting scenes from the life of Christ and portraits of the Royal Family. The terracotta-tiled roof and unadorned fieldstone walls create a magical atmosphere where history and religion converge.