Samtavro Monastery sits just north of Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in the centre of Mtskheta and is one of the oldest continuously functioning monasteries in Georgia. The current nunnery church dates mainly from the 9th century, with later additions, and contains the graves of King Mirian III and Queen Nana — the monarchs who made Christianity the state religion of Kartli in 337 AD under the influence of Saint Nino.
The monastery complex includes a small chapel said to mark the spot where Saint Nino lived in a thicket of brambles when she first came to Mtskheta. The nuns still run the monastery; the church is open to visitors during services. The atmosphere here is noticeably more contemplative than at the cathedral — fewer tour groups, quieter, and with the smell of incense from the constant candlelight.