Nino Bagrationi Giorgi Bagrationi	Giorgi Bagrationi Gia Shervashidze

Urta basilica dates from the 10^th century. The good physical shape in which the building survives owes to its later conversion into a mosque. It appears that the vaults had already collapsed by the time the church was accommodated to serve as a mosque since the roofs have been completely restored. However, the structure and other key features of a basilica are preserved.

There is a semicircular apse on the east pierced by a window in the centre and flanked with three rows of niches on each side.

The apse has square pastophoria on both sides.

This is a three-nave basilica. Three pairs of massive round columns divide the wide central nave from narrow side naves. The columns have monumental stylized Ionic capitals. The huge size of the capitals is further highlighted by the use of the green and lapis lazuli colours in the interior as was typical of mosque decoration. There are two niches for icons to the east, which are also lavishly adorned with floral ornaments.

The east façade has triangular niches. The conch in one the niches bears an image of a human face. This can also be a representation of an angel found in other churches, including at Ishkhani and Kumurdo.

The exterior masonry is of neatly hewn stone. The building has lost a shape of a basilica due to the modern roofing.