| The entire wealth of monuments and places of interest of Tbilisi are shared between the two parts of the city - the historical centre Old Town and Rustaveli Avenue . It is there that the most interesting historical and architectural landmarks are concentrated.
HISTORICAL CENTER OLD TOWN
The historical centre of Tbilisi Old Town is situated at the foot of Mount Mtatsminda . It is the most ancient part of the city which has preserved the narrow brick paved ascending and descending streets where you can see the ruins of medieval structures: Narikala fortresses, Metekhi temple (1278-1293), ancient temples Norashen, Dzhvaris-mama, Betlemi, Metekhi, Sachino - the palace of Queen Daridzhan . The age of these structures amounts to 3-4 centuries. Almost all buildings in the historical center are historical or cultural monuments. The life there never stops: wandering tourists, artists showing their pictures, handicraftsmen offer numerous souvenirs. In the centre of Old Tbilisi there is also Armenian Apostolic church, synagogue and a Muslim mosque.
Mount Mtatsminda
In the very center of the city right across the main street of Tbilisi - Rustavi towers the Holy mountain Mount Mtatsminda or David Mountain named in the honor of St. David Garedzhi who lived as a recluse in a cave on one of its slopes. From the mountain you will see the panorama of entire Tbilisi which seems to fit your palm. Read more...
Narikala Fortress
The Holy Mountain Mtatsminda hosts the fragmnts of ancient Narikala fortress. It is the most known and ancient monument of Tbilisi 's antiquity; the townspeople call it the heart and soul of the city. The date of construction of the fortress is the 4 th century AD, i.e. it has been there from the city's beginning. Later the fortress was extended and expanded several times. In the 7 th - 8 th centuries it was done by Arabs. Read more...
Metekhi Temple
Yet another ancient monument of Tbilisi is Metekhi temple (the 12 th century) standing close to the edge of the rocky bank of the Kura which was the fortress and the residence of Georgian tsars. Under the vaults of Metekhi temple the first Georgian martyr St. Shushanik killed by her fire worshipper husband in the 5 th century AD was buried. Read more...
Sioni Cathedral
Sioni or Zion Cathedral in the name of the Assumption of the Mother of God is one of the most known monuments in the Old Town . The beginning of its construction is dated the 5 th 6 th centuries and the completion - the first half of the 7 th century. The Cathedral is named in the honor of Jerusalem Zion. Read more... Anchiskhati Church
In the Old Town there is the ancient acting St. Mary Church constructed during the reign of Dacha Udzharmeli, the successor of Vakhtang Gorgasali, in the 4 th century. The beautiful rectangular building of the church was build under the influence of ancient Palestinian architecture. The doors of Anchiskhati church are decorated with traditional Georgian cross similar to the one made by St. Nino. Read more...
Tbilisi Sulfuric Baths
In the old part of the city you can visit the well-known Tbilisi sulfuric baths or the baths of tsar Rostom. They are located in Grishashvili Street near the Kura embankment. The emergence of the baths was promoted by the abundance of hot sulfuric springs in the area. All of them were built I different times - approximately it the 17 th 19 th centuries. Read more...
Sameba Cathedral
The centre of Tbilisi is adorned with the most grandiose temple of Georgia Sameba Cathedral (the Holy Trinity). It can be compared to the Temple of the Christ the Savior in Moscow . The cathedral can accommodate 15, 000 people at the same time. Read more...
RUSTAVELI AVENUE
It is the main street of the city named in the honor of the well-known Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli (since 1918). Rustaveli is the main artery of the city. The avenue construction began in the 19 th century under prince Vorontsov. The length of the avenue is about one and a half kilometers. Its terminal points are the Square of Freedom and Rustaveli Square with the monument to the poet.
There are a lot of cafes, restaurants, gift shops, boutiques, galleries, theatres and hotels.
National Museum of Georgia
The spacious strict building is stylized to fit old Georgian architecture. Before, it was the building of the Caucasian Museum (from 1825). Read more...
Rustaveli Movie Theater
It is the main movie theater of a city, the place of premieres of glorious Georgian cinematography. Read more... Shota Rustaveli Theater
In the very beginning of the avenue there is the main cultural landmark of the city - Shota Rustaveli Theater. It is located in the building of the former Artistic Society constructed in 1899. Read more...
Melik-Azarjants House ( Tiflis Arcade )
It was first lodging house in Tbilisi constructed at the turn of the 19 th century. Townspeople still name it by the name of the first owner. Read more...
Z.Paliashvili Opera and Ballet Theatre
The main temple of art in Tbilisi is a spectacular tall structure in strict Mauritian style with turrets, arches and stained-glass windows. Read more...
The Government House
Despite the modern times construction (1953) the building is the sample of monumental architecture. Read more...
Vorontsov Palace
The oldest building on Rustaveli Avenue constructed in 1868 as the palace for the imperial governor-general in the Caucasus is Vorontsov Palace . It was erected on the place of the former palace of the governor-general and partially preserved it. Read more...
Russian Drama Theater named after Griboedov
The Russian theatre in Tbilisi is more than 160 years old. Since the date of its creation in the end of the 19 th century it has been the light of Russian culture on Georgian soil. Read more...
Georgian Fine Arts Museum
Near the Square of Freedom in the picturesque public garden stands the massive building with a portico and colonnade. Before, it was the building of Tiflis Theological Seminary. Now is the Georgian Fine Arts Museum with the rich collection including the Gold Fund with valuable masterpieces of medieval chasing (the 8 th 13 th centuries) and plique-a-jour (10 th 12 th centuries). Read more...
St .George Temple (Kashueti)
St. George temple was constructed in 1910 and is a copy of Samtavisi church (the 11 th century), the masterpiece of Georgian medieval architecture. Read more... Lake Turtle
The name of this picturesque lake, which is the favorite vacation spot of Tbilisi citizens and the city guests, was given to it due to the abundance of turtles living in these places. Read more...
Museum of Georgian Folk Architecture
On the way down from the lake there is the Museum of Georgian Folk Architecture (1960). It is located in the open air and looks like a huge village with houses, yards and manors from different ethnic regions of Georgia Kakhetia, Svaneti, Mingrelia and others. Read more...
Tbilisi Botanical Garden
In Tbilisi vicinities you will see the amazing Botanical garden which is located in the southern part of Tbilisi in the river Tsavkisis-Tskani gorge between Tabori and Sololaki ridges and on their slopes. Read more...
Betania Monastery
In the vicinities of Tbilisi ( 20 km ) there is a remarkable monument of Christian culture Betania Monastery (the 12 th the 13 th centuries). Read more... |
