The Gelati Monastery (including in UNESCO - World Heritage list from 1994,  2017), was built in 1106, by King David IV (Builder) of Georgia. Historically, Gelati was one of the main cultural and intellectual centers in Georgia. The monastery is on top of a grassy hill that overlooks the old capital of Kutaisi. As it stands on top of the hill for all to see, it has a significant part to what the monastery represents, a way to be closer to god. The monastery encompases the atmosphere and how that balances the exterior architecture. It was designed to show the surrounding forest complimented the monastery in a god like way. On top of the hill as it overlooks the country field of Georgia right below the hill is the Tskaltsitela. Monastery had an Academy which employed some of the most celebrated Georgian scientists, theologians and philosophers. The Gelati Monastery has preserved a great number of murals and manuscripts dating back to the 12th to 17th centuries. Gelati is the burial site of its founder and one of the greatest Georgian kings David IV. Near King David's grave are the gates of Ganja (historically an important city  Ganja has been part of the Sassanid empire, Great Seljuk Empire), which were taken as a trophy by King Demetrius I (the son of the king David IV) of Georgia in 1138. The Monastery still  is a functioning church.  All of the original parts of the monastery are still intact and are still able to function as a stable building. Tourists come from all over, to see this masterpiece.