About Sights – Tbilisi National Park
Tbilisi National Park (Georgian: თბილისის ეროვნული პარკი) is located to the north of the city of Tbilisi and covers an area of 243 square kilometers (94 sq mi). The historical town of Mtskheta lies just outside of the western boundary of the park. The park was established in 1973 and is the oldest national park … Continue reading
About Sights – Bethlemi Hut
Located at a height of 3,653 m on Mount Kazbegi (Georgian: ყაზბეგის მყინვარწვერი), Bethlemi Hut is the highest located building in Georgia. Originally constructed of wood in 1933, it was designed as a shelter for climbers. In 1941, a stone building replaced the wooden one and served as a climber’s shelter and meteorological station. Annually, … Continue reading
About Tourism – Guesthouse “Shina” in Upper Omalo
Guesthouse “Shina” is located in the village of Upper Omalo in the historic region of Tusheti (Georgian: თუშეთი) in northeastern Georgia. Built of stone in traditional Tush style, the guesthouse can accommodate up to 18 guests in its 8 well equipped guest rooms. The medieval towers of Keselo (Georgian: კესელო) can be seen from the guesthouse balcony. … Continue reading
About Sights – The Neptune Fountain in Batumi
The statue of Neptune in front of Batumi Drama Theater in the city of Batumi was erected in 2010. The statue and its fountain is a copy of the Fountain of Neptune in the Piazza del Nettuno in the town of Bologna in Italy. The original sculpture was completed by the Flemish sculptor Giambologna in 1567. The statue was gold-plated in 2011. Four … Continue reading
About Sights – Ilia Chavchavadze Monument in Batumi
Ilia Chavchavadze is widely regarded as one of the founding fathers of modern Georgia. Revered as Pater Patriae (Father of the Fatherland) of Georgia, he spearheaded the revival of the Georgian national movement in the second half of the 19th century. A monument to Chavchavadze was erected in the city of Batumi on Georgia’s Black Sea coast … Continue reading
About Celebrations – Alilo Procession in Tbilisi 2015
Georgia marks Christmas according to the Julian Calendar and Christmas Day is celebrated on 7 January. On Christmas Day, Orthodox Christians throughout Georgia take part in a religious procession, called “Alilo”, as part of their Christmas celebrations. Icons, crosses and banners are carried through the streets and gifts are distributed to the needy. The procession was … Continue reading
About Events – Christmas Tree Festival in Tbilisi
As part of its program of Christmas events, the city of Tbilisi holds a Christmas Tree Festival. Christmas trees designed by well known Georgian companies are displayed in King Erekle II Street and the winner of the best design is announced at the end of the Christmas period. All photos courtesy of Tbilisi City Hall. … Continue reading
About Celebrations – Christmas Decorations in Tbilisi
Tbilisi celebrates Christmas in style, adorning its streets and parks with beautiful illuminated decorations. Most Georgians celebrate Christmas according to Orthodox tradition on January 7, but the street Christmas fairs and celebration events start earlier in December. The lighting of the main New Year Tree usually takes place on December 25 at the Old Parliament building on … Continue reading
About Sights – The Illuminated Fountains in Rustavi
The colorful, illuminated fountain in Rustavi City Hall Square in the city of Rustavi (Georgian: რუსთავი) in Kvemo Kartli region is one example of the transformation that has occurred in Georgia’s third largest city. Founded in the 5th–4th centuries B.C. Rustavi is one of the ancient towns of Georgia. Completely destroyed by a Mongol army in … Continue reading
About Dance – Ossetian Folk Dance
The Simd is a graceful Ossetian folk dance that was popular among young people who were traditionally forbidden to meet alone or talk to each other. They were however, allowed to dance together in a formal way, without bodily contact. Long-sleeved “chokhas” for the men and long-sleeved dresses for the women enforced a no-touching rule. … Continue reading
About Events – The 1984 Voyage of the Replica “Argo”
British explorer, historian and writer Tim Severin commissioned a replica of the Greek mythological galley “Argo” and in 1984 retraced the voyage of Jason and the Argonauts. Severin and his crew rowed and sailed from northern Greece, through the Dardanelles, across the Marmara Sea, and through the Straits of Bosphorus to the Black Sea coast … Continue reading
About Sights – Poti Lighthouse
The lighthouse in the port city of Poti (Georgian: ფოთი) in Georgia’s Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region is one of the oldest navigation facilities on the coast of the Black Sea. Made of cast iron, it was constructed in England and transported by steamship to Georgia in 1864. Ships approach Poti harbor from the north, parallel to … Continue reading
About Events – Ethnic Arts Festival “Under One Sky”
An Ethnic Arts Festival – “Under One Sky” (Georgian: მულტიეთნიკური ხელოვნების ფესტივალი – “ერთი ცის ქვეშ”) was held in Tbilisi in November with performances from Georgian, Armenian, Azeri, Kurd, Kist, Ukrainian, Russian, South Ossetian and Greek students living in Georgia. Established in 2008, the festival was founded by Manana Alphaidze, the head of the Composers … Continue reading
About Events – The Pazisoba Festival
The Pazisoba festival is an annual autumn celebration held in the port city of Poti (Georgian: ფოთი) in the region of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti on the eastern Black Sea coast in western Georgia. The city was built near the site of the ancient Greek colony of Phasis and derives its name from the same. The festival … Continue reading
About Events – Turkish Fashion Show held in the Tbilisi History Museum
Georgia hosted a month-long Days of Turkish Culture festival in October, celebrating all things Turkish as a way to celebrate and promote its close cultural ties with its neighboring nation. The festival opened with a fashion show at the Tbilisi History Museum featuring clothes belonging to the Ottoman Period. The festival was supported by Georgia’s … Continue reading
About Events – The Hundred Thousand Martyrs of Tbilisi
The Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates the Hundred Thousand Martyrs (Georgian: ასი ათასი მოწამე) on 13 November each year. The Martyrs were put to death by Sultan Jalal al-Din of Khwarazm for not renouncing Christianity following his capture of the Georgian capital of Tbilisi in 1226. The Metekhi Bridge is traditionally considered to have been the … Continue reading
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