Kintsvisi Monastery (Region of Shida Kartli)
Kintsvisi Monastery (Georgian: ყინწვისის მონასტერი) – The Kintsvisi Monastery Complex is one of the best examples of Georgian architecture. A typical example of domed churches of the developed feudal era of Georgia, although brick was used instead of the traditional building material – stone. The painting of the cathedral was done in different periods of the late feudal era and is of great importance for the history of the development of Georgian and medieval monumental painting in general. An important stage in the history of the Kintsvisi Monastery is associated with the reign of Queen Tamara (XII  century), known as the “golden age” of Georgian statehood and culture. The monastery is located on a hill in a mountainous area, surrounded by forest. The Dzama River (Georgian: ძამა) flows nearby.
The main building, built at the beginning of the XIII century and dedicated to St. Nicholas, is a cross-domed church. It is believed that the church was built during the reign of Queen Tamara. Over time, the building of the church was rebuilt and restored several times. On the walls of the church, a fresco depicting Queen Tamara has been preserved, and such paintings are few and far between. In the church, you can see the famous fresco depicting an angel symbolizing the Holy Spirit. The Church of St. Mary is the oldest in the complex. Its masonry is a thousand years old and it was laid in the X-XI centuries. In the altar of the Church of the Virgin Mary, a heavily damaged painting (XIII century) has been preserved, distinguished by a unique iconographic program and a high artistic level.
Village of Kintsvisi (Georgian: სოფელი ყინწვისი ), Kareli Municipality (Georgian: ქარელის მუნიციპალიტეტი)