About Sights – Martvili Canyons

The Martvili Canyons (Georgian: მარტვილის კანიონი) in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region are named after the nearby town of Martvili. The spectacular canyons, caves and waterfalls were formed over time by the Abasha River and feature beautiful green and blue colors. The canyon is 2400 m long with a depth of 20-40 meters. In spring, when the … Continue reading

About Sights – Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi

Designed by architect Archil Mindiashvili and constructed between 1995 and 2004, the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi (Georgian: თბილისის წმინდა სამების საკათედრო ტაძარი) is commonly known as Sameba (Georgian: სამება for Trinity) and is the third-tallest Eastern Orthodox cathedral in the world. The Sameba Cathedral is located on Elia Hill, which rises above the left … Continue reading

About Sights – Davit Gareja

Founded in the 6th century by St. David Garejeli, Davit Gareja (Georgian: დავითგარეჯის სამონასტრო კომპლექსი) is a Georgian Orthodox monastery complex located on the slopes of Mount Gareja in the Kakheti region of eastern Georgia. The complex includes hundreds of cells, churches, chapels, refectories and living quarters hollowed out of the rock. Part of the … Continue reading

About Sights – The Mushtaid Garden in Tbilisi

Mushtaid Garden in Tbilisi was established in the 1830’s by Mir-Fatah-Agha, a religious leader (a mujtahid – hence the name Mushtaid). Accused of spying during the Russian-Iranian war he was exiled from Iran in 1828 and granted asylum and 5 hectares of land in Tiflis (the name of Tbilisi during the Russian Empire). After his … Continue reading

About Sights – The Baratashvili Bridge in Tbilisi

The Baratashvili Bridge (Georgian: ბარათაშვილის ხიდი) over the Mtkvari River in Tbilisi is decorated with bronze figures and is often referred to as the Bridge of Love, in reference to its name, honoring the Georgian romanticism poet Nikoloz Baratashvili. The 150 meter bridge was opened in 1966 and replaced the Mukhrani Bridge. The bronze figures … Continue reading

About Sights – Martvili Monastery

Martvili Monastery (Georgian: მარტვილის მონასტერი) is a monastic complex located in the village of Martvili in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region. The hill on which it stands was a former pagan site associated with fertility and prosperity. The Martvili-Chkondidi Cathedral was constructed in the late 7th century on top of the roots of an enormous oak tree … Continue reading

About Sights – Tbilisi Sioni Cathedral

The Sioni Cathedral of the Dormition (Georgian: სიონის ღვთისმშობლის მიძინების ტაძარი) in Tbilisi was originally built in the 6th and 7th centuries but was subsequently destroyed by foreign invaders and reconstructed several times. The current church is based on a 13th-century version. Named after Mount Zion at Jerusalem, it is commonly known as the “Tbilisi … Continue reading

About Sights – Tbilisi’s Traditional Architecture

Tbilisi’s traditional houses, with their wooden and wrought iron balconies, are undeniably beautiful and one of the city’s best known historical features. Many of the houses date from the 19th century as much of the city was destroyed by the devastating Persian invasion of 1795. Closer inspection often reveals weathered beams, peeling paint and potentially … Continue reading

About Sights – Mutso

Mutso (Georgian: მუცო) is one of the former Khevsur strongholds of the historic Georgian province of Khevsureti (now part of Mtskheta-Mtianeti region) in north-eastern Georgia. Its medieval fortified dwellings and towers are arranged on vertical terraces above the Mutso-Ardoti gorge. Recent restoration work by the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation will help to preserve … Continue reading

About Sights – Christmas Lights in Tbilisi

The beautiful Christmas illuminations in Tbilisi’s central streets. All photos courtesy of Tbilisi City Hall CLICK on the logo to visit GEORGIA ABOUT on Facebook and see photos and news about Georgia. Click LIKE on the page and become a friend of GEORGIA ABOUT.

About Sights – Kutaisi Botanical Garden in Autumn

The Kutaisi Botanical Garden (Georgian: ქუთაისის ბოტანიკური ბაღი) in the city of Kutaisi (Georgian: ქუთაისი) in Georgia’s Imereti region was established in the mid-19th century and contains about 700 plant species of trees and shrubs. After the National Botanical Garden of Georgia in Tbilisi the Kutaisi Botanical Garden is the second of the earliest botanic … Continue reading

About Sights – Tbilisi’s illuminated balconies

Many of Tbilisi’s traditional buildings are beautifully illuminated at night. Photos courtesy of ‘სინათლის ქალაქი’. CLICK on the logo to visit GEORGIA ABOUT on Facebook and see photos and news about Georgia. Click LIKE on the page and become a friend of GEORGIA ABOUT.

About Sights – Oliver and Marjory Wardrop Statue in Tbilisi

A statue of Oliver Wardrop and his sister, Marjory Wardrop can be found at the park behind the Parliament building in Tbilisi. Sir John Oliver Wardrop KBE CMG was a British diplomat, traveler and translator, known best for his role as Great Britain’s first Chief Commissioner of Transcaucasus in Georgia (1919–21), and also as the founder and … Continue reading

About Sights – The Café Fantasy (also called the Octopus) in Batumi

The Café Fantasy (Georgian: კაფე ფანტაზია) or the Octopus (რვაფეხა) was a coffeehouse situated in the seaside city of Batumi on Georgia’s Black Sea coast. Completed in 1975, it became a popular meeting point for both Batumi residents and visitors. During the Soviet period visitors to the Octopus could buy freshly brewed coffee, ice-cream and … Continue reading

About Sights – Tbilisi’s Old Town District

Tbilisi’s Old Town (Georgian: ძველი თბილისი) is one of the oldest parts of the city and nestles on the mountainside under Narikala fortress (Georgian: ნარიყალა). The Old Town is part of the Tbilisi Historic District and contains a number of officially designated monuments, churches, cobbled streets and picturesque pastel colored wooden houses with open, carved … Continue reading

About Sights – Martvili Canyons

The Martvili Canyons (Georgian: მარტვილის კანიონი) in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region are named after the nearby town of Martvili. The spectacular canyons, caves and waterfalls were formed over time by the Abasha River and feature beautiful green and blue colors. A boatman can be hired to take you through the quieter stretches of the canyons. How … Continue reading