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 Food – Chakhokhbili

In this recipe we will show how to make a traditional Georgian dish called Chakhokhbili (Georgian: ჩახოხბილი). The name comes from the Georgian word “khokhobi” which means “pheasant,” but nowadays it is most usually made with chicken. Traditionally, a whole chicken, cut into pieces with the skin left on, is used but we made ours with chicken breasts. Ingredients: … Continue reading

About Celebrations – Saint George’s Day

St George has always been especially honored and respected as a patron saint of Georgia and there are hundreds of churches dedicated to him. Georgian Orthodox Christians celebrate Saint George’s Day, Giorgoba, (Georgian: გიორგობა) twice a year; on May 6 and on 23 November. St. George was born in the latter part of the third century … Continue reading

About Food – Cauliflower with Walnuts

Cauliflower dishes are popular in Georgia and there are many variations. In this recipe we show how to make a family dish made with cauliflower and walnuts. Ingredients: 1 medium sized cauliflower, 200 grams of walnuts, 3 white onions, 4 cloves of garlic, 1 tsp of dried marigold, 1 tsp of dried blue fenugreek, 1 tsp … Continue reading

About Food – Eggplant with Coriander and Parsley

Eggplant dishes are very popular in Georgia and there are many variations. In this recipe we show how to make a popular family dish made with fried eggplant, garlic, coriander and parsley. This is primarily a summer dish and is served cold. Ingredients: 2 large eggplants, 25 grams of fresh coriander, 25 grams of fresh parsley, 7 … Continue reading

About History – XI Century Gilded Bible

A beautiful XI century gilded Bible that had been on display in the central hall of the president’s palace was given by the President of Georgia to the National Center of Manuscripts. The president was presented with the Bible during his visit to the United States in 2004. Photos courtesy of the President’s Administration. CLICK on … 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 Food – Red Pepper and Onion Satsivi

Satsivi (Georgian: საცივი) is a thick paste made from walnuts and served cold (‘Tsivi’ means ‘cold’ in Georgian). It is used in a variety of meat (usually chicken and turkey), fish and vegetable dishes. In this recipe we show how to make red pepper and onion satsivi. Ingredients: 3 large sweet red peppers, 3 white onions, 300 … Continue reading

About Food – Spinach with Eggs

Spinach is a popular ingredient in Georgian cuisine. In this family recipe we show how to make a delicious spinach with eggs dish. Ingredients: 400 grams of spinach, 15 grams of fresh parsley (or green coriander), 100 grams of green onions, 1 tsp of red pepper, salt (amount dependent upon personal preference), 1 tbs of … Continue reading

About Food – Dark Grape Pelamushi

Pelamushi (Georgian: ფელამუში) is a favorite Georgian dessert made mainly with pressed, condensed grape juice (badagi) and flour or flour plus corn flour. In this recipe we show how to make dark grape pelamushi with flour plus corn flour. It has a different texture to pelamushi made solely with flour. Ingredients: 1 liter of badagi, … Continue reading

About History – Dzalisa Archaeological Site

Excavations in the 1970s at Dzalisa, near Georgia’s old capital of Mtskheta, revealed the remains of a Roman town dating to the 1st-4th centuries AD. It is considered to be one of the most significant archaeological sites of the Classical period in the kingdom of Kartli (Iberia) and has been identified as Zalissa, a town mentioned by the 2nd … 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