Faith / Monastery
Porta (Khandzta) Monastery
Ardanuç, Artvin
A monastery founded at the end of the 8th century by Grigol Khandzteli in the Bağlık hamlet of Pırnallı village, preserving a medieval settlement fabric with its church, bell tower and fountain.
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Its story
The monastery was founded in the 780s by the Georgian Orthodox monk Grigol Khandzteli, first with a wooden church and cells, and expanded with a stone church in the early 9th century. The main church still standing today was built in the first half of the 10th century by the architect Amona. Set on a ridge descending southward between two valleys, the ensemble consists of the main church, small churches, a bell tower, a refectory, a cistern and a fountain. The monastery was abandoned at the end of the 16th century, after the region came under Ottoman rule. Together with the hamlet houses around it, it is one of the rare examples reflecting a medieval settlement layout; because of the village's old name, it is also known as the Porta or Pırnallı Monastery.
Key facts
- Period
- Founded late 8th century; main church 10th century
- Admission
- Free
- Getting there
- From the Artvin–Şavşat road to Pırnallı village, Bağlık hamlet
- Visit duration
- 45 minutes
Trip purpose
- Free
- Photography
- Quiet
Location
41.23778, 42.07409
Reviews
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Source: Web derlemesi (doğrulanmalı): https://www.kulturportali.gov.tr/turkiye/artvin/gezilecekyer/porta-manastiri | https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handzta_Manastırı | https://goturkiye.com/artvin/see | https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/3191908287