Gudarekhi Monastery (Region of Kvemo Kartli)
The monastery complex of Gudarekhi (Georg. გუდარეხის მონასტერი), is part of the remains of a medieval urban settlement and one of the oldest architectural monuments. The monastery complex contains several buildings: the Main Temple, bell tower, chapel, fence, gate, palace, stable, and other buildings. The monastery is built of well-cut stones, with richly inlaid and decorated facades.
The main temple of the Gudarekhi monastery complex was built in 1222. The blocks that make it up have two colors – a light beige and a darker one, which is why the temple resembles a chessboard. On the southern wall there is a special block with text carved on it in the Georgian script – “Asomtavruli”(Georg. ასომთავრული). Fragments of the ornamented iconostasis of the Gudarekhi Church are kept in the Georgian Art Museum.
The bell tower of the Gudarekhi monastery complex is one of the most famous such structures among all Georgian architects. The lower floor of the building is a walk-through; there is a stone staircase along which you can climb to the second floor, which at one time was divided into two parts by special ceilings. In addition to the temple and bell tower, the Gudarekhi monastery complex also includes several dilapidated stone structures.
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