The Svetitskhoveli Cathedral
The Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta, the ancient capital of Georgia, is the largest ecclesiastical construction
extant in the country. According to legend, the cathedral rose on the site of Georgia's first Christian church of the
fourty century. Outstanding Georgian architect Arsukisdze built the cathedral in 1010-1029. The cathedral was
badly damaged at the end of the XIV century during the invasion of Thamerlane. The cupola was restored in the XV
century. The facades are decorated with ornamental carving and reliefs. Worthy of mention are the fragments
remaining of the original frescoes. The cathedral is the burial place of Georgian kings. It typifies the high standards of
the second heyday of medieval Georgian architecture which falls on the X-XIII centuries.