Skhalta Monastery

The region of Skhalta was well advanced in the Middle Ages. The shortest road from Ajara towards Artaani passed through here. The Skhalta monastery is more or less originally preserved sample of medieval sacred architecture in Ajara. The main construction of the complex is Skhalta Virgin Church. It is a single-nave hall-type church. There is no information available about the construction of the church. Traditional reports and artistic peculiarities connect the construction of the Skhalta Church to Queen Tamar and the middle of the 13^th century.The so called Skhalta Small Church is situated south-west to the church. The distinguished frescoes of the church belong to the 14^th-15^thcenturies. The decorations are based on centuries-old wall painting traditions as well as novelties of modern Byzantine wall painting. The frescoes were restored in 1990s.