Also along the Debed Gorge, a short distance away from the Sanahin and Haghpat Monasteries, is the newer Akhtala Monastery, probably built between 1212 and 1250, although there has been an earlier 10th C structure here, too – quite likely as part of a fortress. The main feature here, besides its once again spectacular location, are the 13th Century frescoes. Apparently, the church dome collapsed in the 18th Century, so how the frescoes have survived so vividly is a small miracle (although one source claims that some of the murals have been renovated in 1979).
the second Caucasus Blog
- 01. back to the Caucasus
- 02. the second Caucusus itinerary
- 03. Kutaisi
- 04. to Svaneti (1)
- 05 to Svaneti (2)
- 06. Ushguli
- 07 Mestia
- 08. a random day’s drive in Geogia
- 09. Tskaltubo
- 10. the Black Sea
- 11. Batumi
- 12. the Adjara region
- 13. Vardzia
- 14. Gori
- 15. another look back on Georgia
- 16. a short history intermezzo
- 17. Yerevan
- 18. Erebuni
- 19. Ashtarak
- 20. Gyumri
- 21. the Debed Gorge
- 22. to Lake Sevan
- 23. Noratus
- 24. the Selim Pass
- 25. the Arpa Valley
- 26. Goris
- 27. Kapan
- 28. Ughtasar
- 29. Sisian
- 30. the road back to Yerevan
- 31. looking back at Armenia
- to the first South Caucasus blog