Why go
Bodbe Monastery holds the tomb of St. Nino, the 4th-century Cappadocian woman who converted Georgia to Christianity. The existing complex dates primarily to the 17th century, rebuilt after Persian destruction, with 19th-century additions under Russian rule. Today it houses a working convent of nuns who tend the grounds and receive thousands of pilgrims annually. The site commands a sweeping valley position above the Alazani River, with Sighnaghi's fortified hilltown visible across terraced vineyards. Pilgrims come for the holy spring in the gorge below, believed to heal ailments. The combination of active monastic life, genuine historical weight, and Kakheti's most photographed landscape makes Bodbe essential.