About Sights – The Tbilisi State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre
Opened in 1851, the Tbilisi State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre was the first opera theater in all Transcaucasia. Situated on Rustaveli Avenue, in the centre of Tbilisi, it is the oldest opera house in Georgia. Designed by by the Italian Architect, Antonio Scudieri, the theater had a capacity of 800 spectators and was comparable to European … Continue reading
About Sights – Batumi Lighthouse
The 21-meter stone lighthouse situated in Miracle Park in the city of Batumi (Georgian: ბათუმი) on Georgia’s Black Sea coast was built by French engineers in 1882. Batumi’s first lighthouse was built in 1863 during Ottoman rule, while the Russians erected a second one in 1878. Miracle Park is situated on the last stretch of … Continue reading
About Sights – Aerial Photographs of Gori Fortress
Gori Fortress (Georgian: გორის ციხე) is a 13th century castle, situated on a hill above the city of Gori (Georgian: გორი) in the Shida Kartli region of eastern Georgia. It was captured by the Ottomans in the 16th century and then continually changed hands between the Turks, the Georgians, and the Persians. Much of the … Continue reading
About Sights – The Treasure Caves of Khvamli
The Khvamli (Georgian: ხვამლი) or Khomli (Georgian: ხომლი) limestone massif is located near Georgia’s second city, Kutaisi, and contains numerous sinkholes and caves. One of the most distinctive caves is called Tekenteri (თეკენთერი) whose entrance is through the hollow of a large tree. The cave contains a lake of cold, clean water that was drawn up in buckets by local herdsmen to … Continue reading
About Sights – Niko Pirosmanashvili State Museum in Mirzaani
Niko Pirosmani (Niko Pirosmanashvili) (Georgian: ნიკო ფიროსმანი) is considered to be one of Georgia’s greatest artists. Born in the village of Mirzaani in the Kakheti region, he taught himself to paint but it was only after his death in 1918 that his naive style became admired. The Niko Pirosmanashvili State Museum was established in Pirosmani’s home … Continue reading
About Art – Shalva Kikodze
Shalva Kikodze (Georgian: შალვა ქიქოძე) (1894 – 1921) was a Georgian expressionist painter, graphic artist and cartoonist. After studying at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture he returned to Georgia to work as a theater decorator for Jabadari Theater in Tbilisi. In 1921 Kikodze moved to Paris where his work was exhibited in … Continue reading
About Tourism – New Mountain Rescue Station at Stepantsminda
A new mountain rescue station was recently opened at Stepantsminda (Georgian: სტეფანწმინდა) in Kazbegi municipality in north-eastern Georgia. So far this year, the Department of Emergency Management has rescued 87 people, including 29 foreigners, in the mountainous regions. Photos courtesy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia. CLICK on the logo to visit GEORGIA ABOUT on Facebook and see … Continue reading
About Sights – Roller Coaster at Mtatsminda Park
Located on Mtatsminda Mountain, 800-meters above the city of Tbilisi, Mtatsminda Park (known as Bombora) spreads over more than 1 sq km. Attractions include a flume ride, a Ferris Wheel, numerous children’s rides and a 60 meter high roller coaster that incorporates a loop and double corkscrew. The roller coaster is 500 meters long and the ride takes 1.5 minutes to complete. Georgia … Continue reading
About Art – Bronze Statuettes in Tbilisi’s Rustaveli Avenue
Rustaveli Avenue (Georgian: რუსთაველის გამზირი) in central Tbilisi is named after the medieval Georgian poet, Shota Rustaveli. The Avenue starts at Freedom Square and extends for about 1.5 km. Small bronze statues of old Georgian characters line both sides of the avenue for much of its length. The statues were sculpted by talented young Georgian … Continue reading
About Achievements – The First Georgian in Space
Fyodor Yurchikhin is the first astronaut from Georgia. Born on January 3, 1959, in Batumi, Georgia, he is of Pontian Greek descent. He has flown on three spaceflights, including missions to the International Space Station. Yurchikhin has spent over 370 days in space and has undertaken several spacewalks. His first spaceflight was a 10-day Space Shuttle … Continue reading
About Sights – The Tusheti Ethnography Museum of Keselo
The Tusheti Ethnography Museum of Keselo is located in a 3-storey fortified tower in the village of Keselo in the district of Upper Omalo in Akhmeta municipality (Georgian: ახმეტის მუნიციპალიტეტი) in Kakheti region. The museum contains part of the ethnographic collection of the Akhmeta Local Museum. The museum contains traditional household items, agricultural tools, and … Continue reading
About History – Hand Colored Photographs of Farming in 1950’s Georgia
With its rich natural abundance of fertile soil, clean water and favorable climate, Georgia has been producing a wide range of agricultural products for more than 3,000 years. During the Soviet era, Georgia was a leading agricultural country within the Soviet Union, providing up to 10% of inter-republic trade in the highest quality food. Soviet era … Continue reading
About Sights – Miracle Park in Batumi
Miracle Park, in the city of Batumi (Georgian: ბათუმი) on Georgia’s Black Sea coast, is situated on the last stretch of Batumi Seafront Boulevard and contains the Alphabet Tower, the Statue of Love and the Ferris Wheel. It often hosts concerts and festivals, such as Julio Iglesias’s concert in 2011. The 130 meter Alphabet Tower in Miracle … Continue reading
About Sights – Ushguli
Ushguli (Georgian: უშგული) is a small community of 4 villages located at the foot of Shkhara peak (Georgian: შხარა) in the central part of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range. Shkhara is the highest point in Georgia and the villages of Ushguli are considered to the highest habitation in Europe. The Ushguli villages contain buildings that are … Continue reading
About History – Georgian Military Road
The Georgian Military Road (საქართველოს სამხედრო გზა) is the historic name for a major route through the Caucasus from Georgia to Russia. The 208 kilometer road from Tbilisi (Georgia) to Vladikavkaz (Russia) follows the traditional route used by invaders and traders throughout the ages. Although the route has been used since ancient times, the Georgian … Continue reading
About Celebrations – Georgian qvevri wine-making method added to UNESCO Heritage List
In 2013, the traditional Georgian qvevri (kvevri) wine-making method was recognized by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The making of wine in qvevri is the oldest known method of wine production and it was from Georgia that wine-making in qvevri spread to Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece and beyond. Qvevri are handmade from a special clay … Continue reading
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