Motsameta sits on a narrow rocky promontory above the gorge of the Tskaltsitela River, about 6 km northeast of Kutaisi. The monastery's name means "place of martyrs" in Georgian — it was built over the tombs of two Abkhazian princes, David and Constantine, who were captured by Arab invaders in the 8th century and thrown into the gorge rather than renounce their Christian faith. Their remains were retrieved and enshrined here, and the site became a pilgrimage destination.
The setting is extraordinary: the gorge drops away sharply on three sides, and the Tskaltsitela river loops below in a deep green curve. The small church perched at the tip of the promontory, surrounded by old trees and stone walls, has the atmosphere of a place that has been important for a very long time.
Motsameta is usually visited together with Gelati Monastery, 2 km further along the same road. The round trip from Kutaisi by taxi or marshrutka takes two to three hours comfortably.