About History – Early Photographs of St. David’s Church in Tbilisi
St. David’s Church (Mamadaviti) is located on the slope of Mount Mtatsminda (Geo. მთაწმინდა, meaning the Holy Mountain) in Tbilisi. The church is named after St. Davit Gareji, a Syrian priest who helped spread Christianity in Georgia in the 6th century and lived in a small cell where the church is now located. Each week, … Continue reading
About Sights – Statues in Tbilisi
Like most capital cities, Tbilisi honors famous people with statues and monuments. These are some of them. The sculpture of a man holding a horn in Tbilisi is modeled on an ancient Colchian statuette and is affectionately known as ‘Tamada’ (Georgian: თამადა) – toastmaster at Georgian feasts. The sculpture can be found at the beginning … Continue reading
About Sights – Rike Park in Tbilisi
Rike Park (Georgian: რიყის პარკი) is a public recreation area in Tbilisi, popular with families, tourists and residents out for a stroll. During summer evenings, a music and light show accompanies a choreographed fountain display. Located on the left bank of the Mtkvari River the park is easy to access from the Old Town via … Continue reading
About Sights – Atskuri Fortress
Built in the 10th century, Atskuri Fortress (Georgian: აწყურის ციხე) occupied a highly defensible position on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Mtkvari River, near Borjomi in Samtskhe-Javakheti region. Atskuri was the last of the major fortifications along the Mtkvari River and of significant strategic importance. If it fell, southern Georgia would be open to enemy … Continue reading
About Sights – Samtavisi Cathedral
Samtavisi (Georgian: სამთავისი) is an eleventh-century Georgian Orthodox cathedral in the region of Shida Kartli. Heavily damaged by a series of earthquakes, the cathedral was partially reconstructed in the 15th and 19th centuries. Built in 1030 by the architect Ilarion Samtavneli, the cathedral is remarkable for the beauty of its proportions and refinement of carving on the … Continue reading
About Sights – Old City Wall in Tbilisi’s Pushkin Street
Pushkin Street is one of six streets that radiate out from Freedom Square in Tbilisi. Named after the famous Russian poet and author Alexander Pushkin, the street underwent refurbishment in 2012 during which part of the city’s XII – XIII century fortified wall was discovered. The remains of several towers were also discovered. The wall … Continue reading
About Sights – Batumi Port
The Ancient Greeks established a colony on Georgia’s Black Sea coast at the site of modern day Batumi (Georgian: ბათუმი) and called it Bathus – derived from the Greek phrase bathus limen meaning “deep harbour”. Located on a bay just northeast of Batumi city. the port of Batumi is an important oil export point providing access to … Continue reading
About Sights – Aerial Tramway in Batumi
A 2 km long aerial tramway opened in the city of Batumi (Georgian: ბათუმი) on Georgia’s Black Sea coast in August 2013 and links the heart of the city’s waterfront with the Argo Entertainment Center development on Anuria Mountain. With a capacity of 500 passengers per hour, the aerial tramway provides spectacular views of the city. An impressive, angular, … Continue reading
About Sights – Leghvtakhevi in the Bath District of Tbilisi
The Tsavkisistskali River gorge is commonly referred to as “Leghvtakhevi” (Georgian: ლეღვთახევი) – fig gorge. Part of the gorge is located in the National Botanical Garden of Georgia and part is located in the Bath District (Abanotubani) of Tbilisi’s Old Town. In 2012, paths and bridges were constructed, trees planted and houses renovated in the Bath District section of … Continue reading
About Literature – Nikoloz Baratashvili
Nikoloz Baratashvili (Georgian: ნიკოლოზ ბარათაშვილი) was a Georgian poet, affectionately known as Tato (ტატო). Born in Tiflis (Tbilisi) in 1817, Baratashvili died of malaria in Ganja, in Azerbaijan, at the age of 26. Unpublished at the time of his death, his poetry did not receive its deserved recognition until later in the 19th century when … Continue reading
About Sights – Heroes Memorial in Tbilisi
“Heroes Memorial” in Heroes Square (Georgian: გმირთა მოედანი) in Tbilisi honors all those who died protecting the territorial integrity of Georgia. Erected in 2009, the memorial is 51 meters high and comprises 16 segments faced with marble. The names of the Georgian military pupils that died in fighting against the Red Army in 1921, the … Continue reading
About Sights – Concert Hall and Exhibition Center in Tbilisi
A new concert hall/exhibition center is nearing completion in Rike Park on the left bank of the Mtkvari River in Tbilisi. Its designer is Massimiliano Fuksas, whose other works include the nearby Tbilisi Public Service Hall. Add it to your list of sights to see in Tbilisi! Photos courtesy of the President’s Administration and Tbilisi Government. … Continue reading
About Sights – Batumi Art and Music Center
Designed by the Georgian architect Lado Khmaladze, the Batumi Art and Music Center opened with a performance of the musical “Keto and Kote” on August 14 2011. How to get there? The Art and Music Center is located in the city of Batumi in Ajara on Georgia’s Black Sea coast. Address: Odissey Dimitriadi str. 1 Georgia About … Continue reading
About Sights – New Life for Old Tbilisi
Tbilisi’s Old Town (Georgian: ძველი თბილისი) is one of the oldest parts of the city and nestles on the mountainside under the 4th century 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 … Continue reading
About Sights – Batumi Botanical Garden
The Batumi Botanical Garden (Georgian: ბათუმის ბოტანიკური ბაღი) overlooks the Black Sea and is one the largest and richest botanical gardens in the world. Located 9km north of Batumi at Mtsvane Kontskhi (Green Cape) it contains thousands of beautiful species of plants. Created by the Russian botanist Andrey Nikolayevich Krasnov in the 1880s, the Garden officially opened on … Continue reading
About Sights – Tbilisi Zoo
Tbilisi Zoo (Georgian: თბილისის ზოოპარკი) was established in February 1927 and contains a collection of animals from the Caucasus Region, together with exotic species from around the world. Its mission is to protect and conserve animals and promote best practice through educational programs and research. Over 300 different types of animals live at the zoo, including … Continue reading
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