The gravel road took us through depressive villages to a beautiful setting above a bend of the pretty, grapevine-strewn Tana valley. There is located impressively ancient church. Ateni Sioni. It was built in the 7th century and modeled on Mtskheta’s Jvari Church. Beautiful reliefs of stags, a hunting scene, and a knight were later carved into the exterior walls. Inside, the 11th-century frescoes depicting biblical scenes and Georgian rulers are among the finest medieval art in the country.
Parking location – Ateni Sioni: 41.904769N 44.094741E