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The name of Aladzha monastery comes from the
Turkish word for colorful ("aladzha") due
most probably to the bright colors of its
wall paintings, dating back to the early
Middle Ages. The monk's cells, common rooms
and sanctuaries, dug directly into the
limestone rock and situated on two levels
high above the ground, were connected via an
external staircase.
The lower floor hosted
the monks' private cells, common rooms (i.e.
kitchen, dining room) and a small church,
while the upper level was dedicated entirely
to a chapel. According to some historians,
primitive monks' cells were built and
inhabited already in the 4th century AC. The
entire monastery is considered to date back
to the 12th century AC.
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