Bagrati Cathedral (Region of Imereti)
Bagrati Cathedral (Georgian: ბაგრატის ტაძარი) (Cathedral of the Assumption of the Holy Virgin Mary) – One of the best examples of late medieval architecture, Bagrati Cathedral is characterized by exquisite, harmonious proportions, elegant varieties of decoration and overall interior space. Bagrati Cathedral is a magnificent example of original Georgian architecture of the X-XI centuries. Majestic in size and proportions, the temple became a fundamentally new word in the history of Georgian architecture, was lavishly decorated with carvings and mosaics and played an exceptional role in the medieval history of Georgia. Bagrati Cathedral was built on a rocky hill on the right bank of the Rioni River (Georgian: რიონი)which is called Ukimerioni (Georgian: უქიმერიონი).
By its architectural and artistic value Bagrati Cathedral occupies a special place in Georgian temple architecture as the final work of the developed medieval style. The temple is a symbol of united Georgia and bears the name of Bagrat III, the first king of united Georgia. It is worth noting that an archaeological expedition found traces of human impact of the Eneolithic-Early Bronze Age on the territory of the temple. It turned out that the current Bagrati temple was built on old structures. The oldest building probably dates back to the early antiquity, but the most interesting are the remains of a huge basilica of the VI century, probably destroyed by the Persians. The so-called “Kutaisi Temple” of the VII-VIII centuries was also found here. In 1994 Bagrati Cathedral was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
City of Kutaisi (Georgian: ქალაქი ქუთაისი), Municipality of Kutaisi (Georgian: ქუთაისის მუნიციპალიტეტი)