DZVELI SHUAMTA BASILICA
176 km from Tbilisi
6th C
Dzveli Shuamta (Old Shuamta). The term "Shuamta" means "a place between mountains". The Shuamta complex consists of two sites: The Old and the New Shuamta. In the Old Shuamta complex boasts three churches, several chapels and ruins of human dwellings.
It is an excellent example of Georgian early Christian architecture. The main church is a three-nave basilica built in 6th century. There are also two tetra-conch cupola churches built in 7th century. In one of them the remains of mural paintings can still be seen. The site was abandoned in the 14th