Ikalto Monastery Complex
Ikalto Monastery Complex
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4.0
44 reviews
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20
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16
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7
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Татьяна
Perm, Russia12,737 contributions
Jun 2024 • Family
The ancient Ikalto Academy is famous for the fact that, according to legend, the outstanding Georgian poet of the 12th century, Shota Rustaveli, studied here. The monastery is located on the slopes of the Kakheti ridge not far from the village of the same name. The place is quiet, except for the many tourists. As elsewhere, work is in full swing in old monasteries, grass is being cut, restoration is being done.
Written 18 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mike J
Chepstow, UK881 contributions
Oct 2018 • Couples
An interesting 6th century monastery complex a little off the beaten track so not too many other visitors to the area when we visited. Apparently the well known Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli studied here.
Written 3 November 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
deyan55
Sofia, Bulgaria74 contributions
May 2016 • Friends
5 min drive. ikalto is the second academy of the georgian church. beautiful scenery, strong spiritual atmosphere, interesting remnants.
Written 31 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lee K
Prairie Village, KS1,109 contributions
Jun 2024 • Friends
This was part of our tour and well worth it. 6th century structure that has suffered from unstable soil. A guide is highly recommended to understand the function of the monastery and school.
Written 14 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dirk W
Alexandra Headland, Australia10,142 contributions
Sept 2023 • Solo
Founded in the late 6th century by Saint Zenon, one of the Assyrian Fathers (monastic missionaries sent to Georgia from Mesopotamia), this place is hugely important in Georgian history. During the rein of David The Builder in 1106 an academy was added, where students were instructed in a vast range of subjects, including practical skills such as pottery, metal and pharmacology. Legend has it Rustaveli studied here.
Persian Shah Abbas destroyed the academy and there's not much left of it to see, other than some walls. There are, however, three churches that you can visit. During my visit, there were no tourists, so I could wander the site in peace and tranquility, adding to the spiritual experience.
PS the gardens are littered with hundreds of qvevri amphoras, so the monks clearly did not only study . . .
Persian Shah Abbas destroyed the academy and there's not much left of it to see, other than some walls. There are, however, three churches that you can visit. During my visit, there were no tourists, so I could wander the site in peace and tranquility, adding to the spiritual experience.
PS the gardens are littered with hundreds of qvevri amphoras, so the monks clearly did not only study . . .
Written 30 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NswAustraliaDidi
NSW AUSTRALIA1,141 contributions
Sept 2019
A short distance from Telavi, this small monastery is off the main road and in a quiet rural setting.
Written 15 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Departure811861
Germany1,081 contributions
May 2018 • Solo
Iqalto Monastery is idyllic, interesting, and important in Georgian history. It was founded in the 6th century, and its monks were not only famous for their spirituality, but for agriculture and viticulture. They experimented with different vintages and with herbs. It is written that they built a "pipeline" for their wine. I found that original and funny. If you do not believe it, you can look at the enormous qwevris on the grounds of Iqalto Monastery, which will be proof enough. Then you will be convinced that the monks must have been great inventors indeed!
The three churches that belong to the monastery complex are younger than the 6th century, parts of them date from the 19th century only. Iqalto did not play the same important role in the Georgian Orthodox Church as Gelati, but it has been associated with very famous names from Georgian history. I enjoyed walking around Iqalto Monastery complex, which is embedded in lovely nature. Photographers will find many motives, especially among the ruins, which were the result of a Persian attack in the early 17th century.
The three churches that belong to the monastery complex are younger than the 6th century, parts of them date from the 19th century only. Iqalto did not play the same important role in the Georgian Orthodox Church as Gelati, but it has been associated with very famous names from Georgian history. I enjoyed walking around Iqalto Monastery complex, which is embedded in lovely nature. Photographers will find many motives, especially among the ruins, which were the result of a Persian attack in the early 17th century.
Written 11 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
clairechen62
Moscow, Russia56 contributions
May 2018 • Friends
If you're staying in Italko, this pleasant little monastery is worth visiting on your way to somewhere.
Written 20 May 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EarlyRetirementAbroa
Princeton, NJ3,127 contributions
Apr 2016 • Friends
We have enjoyed a pleasant walk around the monastery. No tourists and we love that (our visit was off season, I guess). Unique peaceful place. The restoration work is underway but we did not see any workers, therefore nobody disturbed our visit.
As other reviewers mentioned, the famous Shota Rustaveli did study here.
As other reviewers mentioned, the famous Shota Rustaveli did study here.
Written 30 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AndersUA
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates2,385 contributions
Jun 2014 • Solo
Located not so far from Tsinandali and Telavi, Ikalto monastery was founded by Saint Zenon in the late 6th century. An academy was founded at the monastery in the early 12th century. According to a legend the famous 12th century Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli studied there.
Academy still has the postament from which the teachers were delivering their speech and ancient cemetery. There are three churches on the monastery grounds - Khvtaeba, Kvelatsminda and Sameba. The main church, Khvtaeba (Holy Spirit), was built in the 8th-9th century
Worth short visit
Academy still has the postament from which the teachers were delivering their speech and ancient cemetery. There are three churches on the monastery grounds - Khvtaeba, Kvelatsminda and Sameba. The main church, Khvtaeba (Holy Spirit), was built in the 8th-9th century
Worth short visit
Written 7 July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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