Category: Sights

The highest mountain of თბილისი is easy to spot: on top of the holy mountain (Mtatsminda) the TV tower with its special shape is located and it is illuminated at night. The 750 meters high mountain is holy because Davit came to Georgia in the 6th century CE to teach Christianity to the Georgians. He was living in a cave within the Mtatsminda and often went to the city to preach. Later the inhabitants turned against him and went to the David Gareji monastery until the end of his life.

It is one of the coziest places of თბილისი: the Leghvtakhevi canyon. From the Metechi church you can see the spa quarter on the opposite side of the Mtkwari river. A tiny stream runs through this quarter and you can follow it on narrow paths and by passing on several bridges. Atop the high rocks next to it houses are standing directly at the chasm and their balconies are also reaching out; a really nice view. At the end of the canyon you will find the small Leghvtakhevi waterfall.

It is one of the lesser visited sights at თბილისი, probably because it is located outside the city center on a hill and you need to travel by taxi to get there. You can also reach this place by metro and bus if you like to accept the challenge – it takes you to the suburbs of the capital city and shows you ordinary life. The Chronicle of Georgia is an impressive monument created by Zurab Konstantinovich Tsereteli in 1985, still during Soviet time. The massively high columns were never fully completed and show the history of Georgia at the top and the story of Christ at the bottom.

At the touristic center of თბილისი, next to the city history museum and river Mtkwari you can find the Sioni cathedral some meters below todays street level. It is a classic Orthodox church building like you can find them throughout all of Transcaucasia – but for the Georgian Christians it is the most important sacred place dating back to the year 575 CE. It is named after Mount Zion, the temple mount in Jerusalem.

The city of თბილისი was one protected by the fortress Nariqala – which translates to ‘impregnable fortress’. It was created in the 4th century CE by the Persian Sassanids and was altered by Vakhtang I of Iberia as well as by Arabs, Mongols, Turkish and Persian forces. Today entering the fortress through its main gate might be a bit disappointing as the walls look pretty new and a modern style church is built within. Really impressive is the upper part of the fortress that is a citadel standing at three sides directly at the abyss.

Since 1958 a giant woman made of wood and covered in aluminum is standing high above the city of თბილისი. Kartlis deda, the mother of Georgia, symbolizes the city of Tbilisi and carries a bowl of wine for her friends in one hand and a sword for her enemies in the other. It was erected for the 1500th anniversary of the city and in 1997 it received an update: now holding her head up high and crowned with laurels. The monument reminded me much to the Mother Armenia at Երևան.

The Sameba cathedral at თბილისი (also called Holy Trinity Cathedral) is a vast modern church in the city quarter Avlabari, located on Elias hill. It was built until 2004 and is the largest church building in Transcaucasia. The church itself is vast, but it is already special by its surroundings: the nine hectares large park around it, the stairs leading from the main gate to the church accompanied by columns showing Christian history. It consists of a campanile and nine chapels dedicated to saints, apostles and archangels. Most beautiful is the impressive mosaic behind the altar.

The historic center of თბილისი is a rock next to river Mtkwari and todays Europe square. On top you will find the Metechi church, an orthodox church from the 13th century surrounded by a nice garden with many pomegranate trees. While it is today standing alone on top of the rock it was formerly surrounded by the royal palace of თბილისი. The Russians converted the palace into a jail that was also used to incarcerate dictator Joseph Stalin (born at Gori close to Tbilisi). In 1937 the buildings were demolished leaving only the church in this location.

In 2003 the Revolution of Roses occurred at Georgia, removing president Eduard Shevardnadze and replacing him by the leader of the opposition, Mikheil Saakashvili. In the upcoming years Saakashvili successfully fought corruption and developed the country. He brought western architects to თბილისი and built modern elements like the Bridge of Peace, the Rike Concert Hall or the new presidential palace at Avlabari, high above river Mtkwari.