About Sights – Tbilisi Funicular Railway
The Tiflis Funicular railway was constructed to develop the uninhabited Mtatsminda plateau that overlooks the city and was opened on 27 March 1905. The railway carriage accommodated up to 50 people and the journey time was 6 minutes. Vaso Kvavilashvili, the first locomotive-driver of the Funicular recalls: “At first people feared that the rope might … Continue reading
About History – Tbilisi Trams
The story of the tramway in Tbilisi began in 1883 with the first horse-drawn tramcar. These were replaced in 1904 by an electrified tramway line. By the close of the Soviet era Tbilisi had more than 100 kilometers of line and about 300 tramcars. In 2004 the Tbilisi electric tram network celebrated its 100-year anniversary but … Continue reading
About History – The Yerevan Square “expropriation”
An audacious and bloody robbery, involving Joseph Stalin, took place in Tiflis (old name for Tbilisi) in 1907. Organized by the Bolsheviks, it netted the equivalent of 4 million US dollars in today’s money. In April 1907 leading Bolsheviks, including Lenin and Stalin, met in Berlin to discuss a robbery to obtain funds for their revolutionary activities. … Continue reading
About Achievements – A Golden Age of Architecture
Georgia has a rich architectural heritage of ancient cave cities, medieval castles and towers, churches and monasteries, monuments and much more. Georgia is also blessed with stunning examples of contemporary architecture. This post is dedicated to some of the beautiful structures that can be found in Georgia’s cities and towns. Click on a picture to see … Continue reading
About Achievements – Gallup Poll Confirms Georgia’s High Level of Citizen Safety
Research conducted by Gallup Poll in 2011, finds that citizens of Georgia have the highest feeling of personal security among citizens of 143 countries in the world. Georgia is now one of the safest places in Europe and its capital, Tbilisi, has become one of the safest capitals in the Western world. Significant improvements in public safety … Continue reading
About Tbilisi – A Smart City
In his blog, “Smart Cities for Dummies,” published last November, Dan Hoornweg contends: “At its core a smart city is a welcoming, inclusive city, an open city. By being forthright with citizens, with clear accountability, integrity, and fair and honest measures of progress, cities get smarter.” Tbilisi is fast becoming known as a smart city … Continue reading
About Art – Niko Pirosmani
Over the course of a brief and often impoverished life, self-taught Georgian artist Niko Pirosmani (Niko Pirosmanashvili) (Georgian: ნიკო ფიროსმანი) produced an immense number of paintings, many of which have been lost over time. Posthumously, his reputation grew when his naïve style became admired in the art circles of Paris after the end of the First World War. Naïve art is a … Continue reading
About Development – Congratulations Georgia!
Two Georgian initiatives were awarded prestigious United Nations Public Service Awards at a ceremony held in New York in June 2012. The Ministry of Justice was given an award in the category of “Improving the Delivery of Public Services” for its public service halls, and the Civil Service Bureau won an award in the category “Preventing … Continue reading
About Development – Tbilisi Sea
Tbilisi is about 278 km (173 miles) from the sea but Tbilisians don’t have to travel that far to sunbathe on a beach – they go to Tbilisi Sea. Located to the north-east of the city, Tbilisi Sea (Georgian: თბილისის ზღვა) is a large artificial lake just 20 minutes drive from the city center. It is a … Continue reading
About Events – Tbilisi Beer Festival 2012
Tbilisi Beer Festival is being held in Rose Revolution Square in Tbilisi this weekend (21-22 July). Organised by the Georgian drinks company Natakhtari it is the third and the biggest beer festival held so far. Georgia About was there to join in the fun. Cheers! Georgia About and everyone who came to the 2012 Tbilisi Beer … Continue reading
About Travel – Tbilisi Airport Railway
Tbilisi International Airport (Georgian: თბილისის საერთაშორისო აეროპორტი) is located 17km southeast of Tbilisi and is served by taxis, buses and trains. In 2007 a new train station was opened that links the airport to the Central Railway Station (Georgian: ვაგზლის მოედანი) in Tbilisi. Located just 70 meters from the airport terminal, this stunning building, clad with golden glass, was … Continue reading
About Development – Tbilisi Emergencies Control Center
In May 2012, a futuristic building, looking very much like a flying saucer, became part of Tbilisi’s cityscape. The building houses Tbilisi’s Emergencies Control Center and unifies control of fire, rescue, medical emergency and patrolling services. Emergency services are available 24 hours a day by dialing telephone number 112 from any mobile and fixed telecommunication network. … Continue reading
About Law Enforcement – Georgia is now one of the safest places in Europe
According to a 2011 crime and security survey conducted by Jan Van Dijk, Professor of Victimology and Human Security at Tilburg University in The Netherlands, Georgia is now one of the safest places in Europe and its capital, Tbilisi, has become one of the safest capitals in the Western world, comparable to Lisbon or Vienna. The results of … Continue reading
About Sights – Narikala Fortress
Narikala (Georgian: ნარიყალა) is an ancient fortress on a steep hill overlooking Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, and the Mtkvari River. The fortress was established in the 4th century and considerably expanded over subsequent centuries. Much of what remains today dates from the 16th and 17th centuries. In 1827, parts of the fortress were damaged by an earthquake and demolished. … Continue reading
About Sights – The Bridge of Peace
The Bridge of Peace (Georgian: მშვიდობის ხიდი) is a bow-shaped pedestrian bridge over the Mtkvari River in Tbilisi, capital of Georgia. The 150 metre (490 ft) bridge was designed by the Italian architect Michele De Lucchi and was officially opened on May 6, 2010. The wavy steel and glass canopy is fitted with thousands of LED lights that are switched on 90 … Continue reading
About Sights – Aerial Tramway in Tbilisi
On 23 June 2012 a new aerial tramway opened in Tbilisi. It connects the newly constructed Rike Park, that sits just across the Mtkvari river from the Old Town, with Narikala, the fortress that overlooks the city. The terminus at Rike Park with the Bridge Of Peace in the Background A one-way journey costs 1 GEL. … Continue reading
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