Monastery · Shemokmedi, Ozurgeti Municipality, Guria
Shemokmedi Monastery
შემოქმედის მონასტერი · Shemokmedi Monastery Complex
A walled monastery beside the Bzhuzhi River in the Guria village of Shemokmedi, where Prince Vakhtang I Gurieli built the domed 'Zarzma' church in the 16th century for the Transfiguration icon brought from Zarzma Monastery.
Where it is
41.9072, 42.0628
Why go
From the courtyard you can see Guria's mountain resorts, including Gomismta and Bakhmaro, and the high stone wall around the complex was built as a defence. Besides the Zarzma church there is a basilica and a bell tower restored in 1831. The monastery was a burial place of the Gurieli princes and for centuries held church treasures, most of which have been in the Georgian National Museum since 1924. It belongs to the Diocese of Shemokmedi, and by tradition barefoot pilgrims walk the path up to it every year on 21 September. The national tourism administration includes it in a one-day tour of Guria with Shekvetili and Gomismta.
Near Shemokmedi Monastery
Museum
Ozurgeti History Museum
The regional history and ethnography museum of Guria in Ozurgeti, holding finds from the ruined ancient city of Vashnari alongside Colchian Bronze Age tools and ancient coinage.
5 km · straight-line distance; driving distance and time differ
Lake
Tbikeli Lake
An oval mountain lake at 1,900–2,000 metres in the Kintrishi Protected Areas of Kobuleti municipality, home to the Red-Listed Caucasian newt and reached only on foot or horseback.
15 km · straight-line distance; driving distance and time differ
Waterfall
Merisi Waterfall
A waterfall between forested cliffs at Merisi village in the Keda highlands of Adjara, a short walk from the end of the paved road and fitted with stairs, handrails and a pool below.
38 km · straight-line distance; driving distance and time differ
Waterfall
Makhuntseti Waterfall
A fifty-metre waterfall dropping into a wide natural pool at Upper Makhuntseti in Keda municipality, a five-minute walk from the main road up the Acharistskali valley.
41 km · straight-line distance; driving distance and time differ