TBILISI
Tbilisi is the capital of Georgia. It was founded in the fifth century AD and its name derives from the word “Tbilisi” which means “warm” in Georgian. Tbilisi really justifies its name being one of the rare cities to make an unforgettable impression on its visitors. This is a location of historic Silk Road where Europe and Asia meet each other and form a specific cultural blend with Oriental markets, narrow streets, marvelous samples of European architecture, sulphur baths and Persian style Caravanserai.
More important, in Tbilisi you will meet unique people who are open, hospitable and love life. Tbilisi is a city where different religions, confessions and nations coexist in a peaceful way for many centuries.
For those looking for nightlife the city offers European style clubs and discos, traditional Georgian restaurants and much more.
Sights of Tbilisi:
Abanotubani
Old baths of Tbilisi, which are linked with the legend of its founding. Especially distinguished are the so-called Orbeliani or Motley Bathes.
Narikala
Citadel dating back to the 4th century. Like the city itself, it has been destroyed and rebuilt several times. However, the walls have preserved several construction layers.
Metekhi Temple
Temple of the 13th century is located on the Metekhi Plateau and offers a fascinating view on old Tbilisi. The current building replaced an old temple, which was one of the oldest buildings of the city.
Tbilisi Mosque
The only functioning mosque in Tbilisi. It was built at the end of the 19th century and replaced the Sunni mosque. Currently it serves both Sunni and Shiite population of Tbilisi.
Tbilisi Synagogue
Since the late Middle Ages, Tbilisi became home for a large community of Jews. There have always been several synagogues operating in the city. One of the currently functioning two-storey, so-called Big Synagogues was built at the beginning of the 20th century. It is located in Leselidze Street.
Sioni Cathedral
One of the first temples in Tbilisi, foundation of which was laid by the king Vakhtang Gorgasali. The cathedral has been destroyed and reconstructed several times. Its current design dates back to 1657, though it has been restored several times since that time. Sioni Cathedral is named after the Blessed Virgin and is house for one of the greatest sanctities of Georgia - St. Nino’s Cross.
Anchiskhati
Oldest church extant in Tbilisi. It was built in the 6th century, though has been redesigned several times since then. During one of the restorations of the 19th century, constructors even added a cupola, which was removed again in the 20th century restoring initial design of the church.
Rustaveli Avenue
The first avenue in Tbilisi. It was built at the beginning of 19th century and is now a place where the City Hall, Parliament, Opera House, Shota Rustaveli Theatre, Kashueti Church are located in.