Saphara Monastery is one of the most interesting monuments of Georgian architecture, located just 15 kilometres South-East of Akhaltsikhe. The first records of Saphara date back to the 10th century and in the 13-14th centuries the monastery included 12 churches and chapels. The monastery is surrounded by a wall equipped with an observation tower and even has a fortress where people from neighboring villages used to hide during times of war. Saphara is still functioning today.