georgia

 

 

Tbilisi is the capital city of the country of Georgia. Tbilisi lies in the centre of eastern Georgia, in the foothills of the Trialeti mountain range. According to Georgian legends, it was founded in the 5th century by King Vakhtang Gorgasali who, while hunting, shot a pheasant which fell into a warm spring and was either boiled or healed. Either way, the king was inspired to found a city on the site, and the name of the city derives from the Georgian word tbili meaning "warm". Although the city has been destroyed and rebuilt some 29 times, the layout of the Old Town is largely intact with narrow alleys and big crooked houses built around courtyards.

Places to visit in Tbilisi:

Museums

§ G. Chitaia Ethnographical Open-Air Museum, Tortoise’s pond lane. Every day, except Monday 11:00AM-4:00 pm. 70 houses and thrift buildings characteristic for the various parts of Georgia. 8000 household devices and samples of craft are exposed in the museum Adults: 3 GEL; Students: 1.5 GEL; Guided tour: 10 GEL.

§ Numismatic Museum, G. Leonidze str.N3/5 (Building of the National Bank of Georgia). Coins dating back to the IV century BC, Kolkhian Tetries, antique coins, Arabian Dirham, coins of then Georgian kings Lasha-Girgi, Rusudan, Demetre I, Giorgi III, also the Turkish coins , Persian Abaz, Austrian and Polish Thalers.

§ Museum of Art, L. Gudiashvilistreet 1, ☎ (+995 32) 99 99 09. Every day, except Monday 11:00AM-4:00 pm. Adults: 3 GEL; Students: 1.5 GEL; Guided tour: 10 GEL.

§ Janashia Museum, Rustaveli avenue 3,. This museum houses hundreds of thousands of Georgian and Caucasian artifacts of archeology and ethnography. A permanent exposition chronologically follows the development of Georgia’s material culture from the Bronze Age to the early 20th century. The most valuable exhibits include Homo Ergaster fossils discovered at Dmanisi; the Akhalgori hoard of the 5th century BC which contains unique examples of jewelry, blending Achaemenid and local inspirations; a collection of approximately 80,000 coins, chiefly of Georgian minting; medieval icons and goldsmith pieces brought here from various archeological sites in Georgia; a lapidary which includes one of the world’s richest collection of Urartian inscriptions, etc. Adults: 3 GEL; Students: 1.5 GEL; Guided tour: 10 GEL.

§ Puppet Museum, Shavteli N 17a, ☎ (+995 32) 99 53 37. every day except Monday. Summer: 11:00am-18:00pm; Winter: 11:00am-17:00pm. Adults: 3 GEL; Children: 1 GEL.

§ Galaktion Tabidze Museum, Marjanishvili N 4. Every day except Sunday and Monday: 11:00 am till 17:00 pm. The museum of the eminent Georgian poet, Galaktion Tabidze.

Art Centers & Galleries

§ Tiflis Avenue is an art center and a gallery that represents a variety of Georgian artists working in different media. The gallery is located in an old town, on King Erekle II Street, where exhibitions of art are held regularly. Tiflis Avenue also runs an online art store with the largest selection of contemporary Georgian art. Gallery open Tuesday-Sunday 12noon-9pm. Entrance free.

Religious architecture

§  Mamadaviti, (south –west of Tbilisi on Mtatsminda). Constructed in 1859-1871, domed in 1879.

§  Sioni Church, (upper Kala).

§ Sameba Cathedral/Holy Trinity Cathedral Church. Constructed in 2002, the largest church in Georgia and one of the most grandiose orthodox churches. 101 meters high.

§ Metekhi Church

§ Anchiskhati - constructed by the king Dachi Ujarmeli in VI century

§ Kvashveti - Was constructed in 1910 and it is a copy of Samtavisi church of the 11th century

§  Synagogue, K. Leselidze street. Functioning synagogue constructed in 1910. Women and men are seated separately. 

Other Sights

§  Mtatsminda Pantheon of Writers and Public Figures, Many famous writers, as well as the mother of Joseph Stalin, are buried here.

§  Old Tbilisi. Perhaps one of the most distinctive pleasures of walking through the Old City, with its old-style balconies, ancient churches, winding streets, and charming shops. Be prepared to see a number of eclectic sights, from the abandoned streetcar near Erekle Street to the art galleries of Chardini Street to the stunning modern art lining Sioni Street. Sub-neighborhoods include Sololaki, with its elegant restaurants and art nouveau architecture, Old Tbilisi proper - with sites ranging from churches to mosques to sulfur baths, Betelmi - housing two of the city's oldest churches and the stunning vistas of the Narikala Fortress - and Mtsasminda, just up the mountain from Rustaveli Avenues, a more sedate, "livable" district filled with charming old houses and a number of families.

§ Vake. Located around Chavchavadze and Abashidze avenues, this is one of Tbilisi's posher districts, home to many expats and nouveaux riches. While not quite as atmospheric as Old Tbilisi, Vake is home to some lovely parks, pleasant nineteenth-century architecture, and some of the city's most high-end shopping, including luxe furniture store Missioni. There are also plenty of elegant, if understated, bars and restaurants in this area...