Getting There
You can use public transport, hire a taxi, or private car.
It takes about 40 minutes of driving from Tbilisi to Mtskheta.
What to Expect
Samtavro church is a typical example of a cross-in-square temple. The church has two entrances: southern, with the portal, and western. The facades are made of yellow and brown stones. Fragments of frescos remain in the dome and altar.
Apart from the main temple, the monastery includes a small church, the bell-tower, a cylindrical tower, remnants of palace and some modern structures, all surrounded by the wall. St. Nino’s Church
A small church, standing to right from the entrance, was rebuilt several times. It was said to be originally built by Saint Nino of Cappadocia, who converted Georgia into Christianity.
History
The monastery was constructed in the northwestern part of the old town of Mtskheta. According to the Georgian hagiographic sources, the monastery was established in the 4th century, during the reign of the King Mirian III of Iberia, when a small church was built here by Saint Nino in connection with the conversion of Georgia in Christianity.
