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Tbilisi is the capital of Georgia and this is where the old town is cozy and characterized by crooked streets, narrow alleys, old buildings and the elegant balconies that break the facades at some buildings in the area. Beautiful churches are also here in great numbers on both sides of the river Kura that winds through the city.
Parks and promenades are situated along the Kura, and from here there is not far to the city’s sights to the east and west. The mighty Trinity Cathedral, along with the presidential palace, stands on the slopes to the east, while the main street of Rustaveli Avenue starts at the city’s freedom square to the west. Splendid buildings can be seen at the avenue, one after another and among them many well-known state institutions.
It is also possible to enjoy a tour of the old mineral baths in Tbilisi. And if you want to see it all from above, both the Nariqala fort and Mtatsminda mountain are good choices where to see unforgettable panoramic views. From these places you get a good impression of how Tbilisi is located between mountains.
Mountains and beautiful monasteries are part of what awaits as you go on trips from Tbilisi, and in the town of Gori you can learn more about the Soviet Union leader Joseph Stalin, who was born here.
Metekhi is the name of this church and the neighborhood it is located in. The church was founded by King Vakhtang I Gorgasali, who also built a fort as a residence on the site. Hence the name Metekhi, which means ‘the area around the fort’.
The current church was built under King Demetrius II around the year 1280. In the middle of the 17th century, King Rostom had a citadel built around the church, where the garrison was about 3,000 soldiers. In the 1800s, the church was also used as barracks, while the 17th-century citadel was demolished in 1819.
Throughout Georgia’s Soviet era, the church functioned as a theater until 1988, when the building regained its original purpose under the country’s ecclesiastical patriarch.
To the west of the church you can see an equestrian statue of King Vakhtang I Gorgasali, who ruled Georgian Iberia in the fourth century. He has also been credited with the founding of Tbilisi. The monument was made by Elguja Amashukeli and erected in 1961.
The old part of Tbilisi is characterized by crooked streets, narrow lanes, old buildings and the very elegant balconies that you see in a number of places in the area. In terms of period, the buildings stretch from the 5th century to the present day, and the district is like an exciting and manageable labyrinth to explore. The many wooden balconies were mainly built from the 19th century.
Freedom Square is Tbilisi’s central square, and the magnificent Rustaveli Avenue starts here. There are various buildings around and near the square which bear witness to its importance. You can see, among other things, the city’s town hall and the headquarters of the National Bank of Georgia as examples of this.
Over time, many events have taken place at Freedom Square. It was here, for example, that people gathered during the so-called Rose Revolution, which led to a change of government in 2003. In 2005, the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II was marked in front of 100,000 people, when US President George W. Bush and Georgia’s Mikhail Saakashvili gave speeches here.
Freedom Square has had several names since its construction, where it was named Erivan Square, named after Ivan Paskevich, who had become Count of Erivan after the Russian conquest of the current Armenian capital of Yerevan under his leadership. In Soviet times, the square was first called Beria Square after the Georgian Soviet leader Laurenti Beria and then Lenin Square. Like other Lenin Squares in the Soviet Union, there was also a statue of Lenin here. It was removed in 1991.
Today, a 40 meter high, gilded monument of St. Jørgen stands in the center of the square where Lenin used to stand. The statue on top of the column is a gift from the Georgian artist Zurab Tsereteli.
Sioni Cathedral is a church originally built in the period 575-639 and it is among the most important in the Georgian Orthodox Church. The cathedral is named after Mount Zion near Jerusalem, and it has been destroyed and rebuilt several times over time. The current cathedral mainly dates from the 12th-13th centuries with certain changes during the 17th-18th centuries.
Until 2004, Sioni Cathedral was the seat of the Patriarch of the Georgian Church, the so-called Catholicos Patriarch. This status has now passed to the Holy Trinity Cathedral/თბილისის წმინდა სამების საკათედრო ტაძარი.
Inside, you can see murals, which were largely done in the 1850s by the Russian prince and artist Grigory Gagarin. The cathedral’s iconostasis is from the same time and replaced a wooden one that burned during a Persian invasion in 1795. There are also a number of graves here, where, among other things, a number of patriarchs are laid to rest. Outside the church building you can see a bell tower from 1812, which is an early example of Russian neoclassicism in this region.
On April 12, 1802, Sioni Cathedral entered the history books as it was here that Georgia’s incorporation into the Russian Empire was announced. The Russian general Karl von Knorring had assembled the Georgian nobility, who swore allegiance on that occasion.
Holy Trinity Cathedral is the primary church of the Georgian Orthodox Christians and it is the seat of the patriarch of the church. The church was built in the years 1995-2004 as one of the region’s largest religious buildings.
The idea for the building came to light in 1989, and it was the idea that the 2000th anniversary of the birth of Jesus as well as the 1500th anniversary of the establishment of the Georgian Church as one of five autocephalous churches with its own patriarchate should be celebrated with its completion.
After an architectural competition, Archil Mindiashvili won with his imposing cathedral that stands on Elia hill. The 84 meter high cathedral was built according to a traditional pattern, with the upper part being a 7.5 meter high gilded cross. There are quite a few chapels inside, some of which are located in the underground part of the cathedral complex. In the entire complex around the cathedral there is, among other things, a free-standing bell tower and a residence for the patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church.
Nariqala is a fortress that dates back to Tbilisi’s modern beginnings in the 4th century. Its name is Persian and refers to the impregnability of the fort. It is also located above the city on top of the mountain Sololaki.
Since 1827, the fort has been in ruins following explosions caused by lightning strikes, and the preserved parts date from the 7th-17th centuries, when the latest extensions were made by Turks and Persians. In 1827, Tbilisi was part of the Russian Empire, and as the fort had thereby lost its strategic importance, it was not rebuilt.
The upper part of Nariqala Fortress was a citadel that acted as a last bastion of defense in case of attack and loss of the lower fort and its walls. The citadel was difficult to access with steep cliffs on three sides.
Vake Park is a park named after the district of Vake where it is located. The park is 200 hectares in area and opened in 1946 as Sejrsparken. The occasion was the Soviet victory in World War II, which in the Soviet Union was called the Great Patriotic War.
The entrance to the park is to the north, and in a southerly direction from there there is an impressive facility with large fountains, cascades and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The end to the south is formed by a series of stairs leading up to a monument of a Georgian woman. In addition to the formal facility, there is a large, green area with many walking trails in the western part of the park.
Mtatsminda Park is a park located above Tbilisi. It is the city’s largest park with an area of over 100 hectares. There is a beautiful view from the park, and because of the view, the place has been a favorite excursion destination for many years. Today, the park itself has been supplemented by an amusement park.
Tbilisi was founded precisely here due to the good location and the presence of the hot springs that spring with 38-40 degree hot water. The water’s minerals and other components have a therapeutic effect and have attracted many people over time.
There are several baths in Tbilisi. The old and traditional baths are located on a large area on Grishashvili Street, while the Motley bath (Abano Street 33/აბანოს ქ 33) with its fine, Arabic-inspired facade is located close to it in the same area.
Rustaveli Avenue is Tbilisi’s main street. It is named after the Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli, who lived 1172-1216. The street starts from Frihedspladsen and is about 1.5 kilometers long. Along the street are a number of important institutions such as the Georgian Parliament and the city’s opera and ballet theatre.
During a visit to Tbilisi, one should take a walk along Rustaveli Avenue, formerly called Golovin Avenue after the Russian nobleman and governor, Yevgeny Golovin/Евгений Головин.
On the Sololaki ridge stands the large statue of Mother Georgia, which is visible from large parts of Tbilisi. The statue symbolizes the Georgian capital, which is popularly called Mother Georgia. The artist behind the statue was the Georgian sculptor Elgudscha Amaschukeli.
In her left hand, Mother Georgia holds a bowl of wine for friends, while a sword awaits enemies in her right hand. The monument is made of aluminum and was erected in 1958 on the occasion of the city’s 1500th anniversary. After Georgia’s declaration of independence in 1991, the previously lowered head was raised and a laurel wreath was placed on it.
The National Museum in Tbilisi is one of Georgia’s most important historical museums. Its history goes back to the Caucasus branch of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society, which was founded in 1852. At that time, it was established as a regional museum.
The museum building was built in 1910, and over the years the institution has had several names. In 1919, the museum was changed to be a Georgian museum rather than a museum for the entire Caucasus, and since 1947 it has been named after the Georgian historian Simon Janashia.
At the museum you can see an extensive archaeological and ethnographic collection from Georgia and also from the other parts of the Caucasus. Georgia’s own development is followed through finds and effects from ancient times to recent times, and among the countless effects in the exhibitions you can see icons, goldsmith’s work and the 1.8 million-year-old finds from Dmanisi of early humans. They are called homo erectus georgicus.
The 150-metre-long Peacy Bridge was opened in 2010, and it is a beautiful sight from both the water and land sides, as well as from a walk over it. The bridge arches over the Kura River and connects the Georgian capital’s old town in a modern way with the newer areas on the opposite bank.
The bridge was designed by Italian architect Michele de Lucchi, and its lighting was created by French Philippe Martinaud. The light runs different programs that provide an interesting play of colors.
The Wedding Palace in Tbilisi was designed by architect Victor Djorbenadze and built in 1984. Its function was to register and celebrate marriages, as was the case with similar institutions elsewhere in the Soviet Union.
The style of the palace is futuristic with inspiration from several architectural directions. It is one of Tbilisi’s and the entire former Soviet Union’s most characteristic in this style from this time. In the early 2000s, the palace was bought by a private person as a residence.
The Presidential Palace of Georgia is one of Tbilisi’s best-known modern buildings. The palace was primarily designed by the Italian architect Michele de Lucchi and built in the years 2004-2009. However, the large, characteristic glass dome was designed by Georgian Vakhtang Zesashvili and Italian Franco Zagari. The glass was produced in Germany, and the space under the glass roof is used for various receptions and ceremonies.
In front of the palace you can see a revolving monument symbolizing the legislative, executive and judicial powers. A presidential museum has been set up in the palace, where you can not least see a number of the gifts that foreign guests have given the Georgian president over the years. Among the finest items on display in the building is a handwritten Bible from the 11th century.
Behind the palace is a mosaic that visualizes important periods and people in Georgian history from the beginning to the present and in the future. The mosaic depicts, among other things, kings, military leaders, decisive battles and the Rose Revolution.
The Ethnographic and Open-Air Museum of Georgia is a museum beautifully situated in a forest and nature area. It gives visitors fine impressions of Georgian culture and daily life. The country’s regions are reflected through their traditional architecture and handicrafts.
Here are, for example, flat-roofed stone houses from eastern Georgia, wooden houses from the western part of the country, observation towers, water mills and a church. The effects here include clothes, furniture, ceramics, etc., and the houses in the museum are furnished so that you get an exciting insight into life in the country over several centuries. The museum was established in 1966 and is today part of the National Museum of Georgia.
The Monastery of the Cross is a monastery located breathtakingly on top of a hill directly opposite the former Georgian capital of Mtshketa. Below the ridge, the rivers Kura (Mtkvari) and Aragvi flow together. The importance of the place is great in Georgia, as according to tradition it was precisely here that Saint Nino erected a wooden cross that could perform miracles.
Saint Nino was born in Cappadocia, Greece, and she came to the Georgian kingdom of Kartli-Iberia around the year 320, where the pagan king Mirian III ruled. Saint Nino preached Christianity, and she healed Queen Nana, who thereby converted to the new faith and was baptized by Saint Nino. The king was skeptical, but was convinced after a hunt in which he was struck blind, prayed to the god of Saint Nino and regained his sight. In 337 he made Georgia the second Christian country in the world.
Saint Nino’s wooden cross soon became a place of pilgrimage for many from all over the Caucasus, and in the middle of the 5th century a small church was built over it. The current church in the monastery dates from the years 590-605, and in the Middle Ages the monastery complex was expanded with fortifications. Today you can see a newer cross in the church. It rests on the foundation of Saint Nino’s cross.
The city of Mtshketa is the former capital of Georgia. It was the one in the kingdom of Kartli-Iberia, and it is one of the places in the world that is believed to have been permanently inhabited for the longest time. Remains of settlements from before 1000 BC have thus been found.
Mtshketa is strategically located at the very place where the rivers Kura (Mtkvari) and Aragvi flow together. Even after Tbilisi became the capital, Mtshketa retained its importance as the coronation and burial place of the Georgian kings.
In central Mtshketa is the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral/სვეტიცხოვლის საკათედრო ტაძარი [sveticxovlis sakatedro tadzari], which is the seat of the Archbishop of Mtshketa and Tbilisi, who is also the head of the Georgian Church. He is the katholicos-patriarch of all Georgia.
The current church building was built in the 11th century, and it is known as the place where Jesus’ clothing lies as a relic. According to tradition, the Georgian Jew Elias brought the cloth to the country, and when his sister Sidonia touched it, she died. The cloth could not be taken from her and she had to be buried with it, which happened on the site of the present cathedral.
A cedar tree grew on the grave, which Saint Nino had cut into seven columns in the fourth century, which were to be used for a new church building. The six pillars were set down as planned, but the seventh was floating, and only the prayer of Saint Nino made the pillar settle into place. This scene can be seen on an icon in the church.
The interior of the church is beautiful, and you can see, among other things, a 300-century baptismal font, where King Mirian III was baptized. You can also see the tombs of the kings Vakhtang Gorgasali and Erekle II.
The town of Gori is known as the birthplace of the Soviet leader Josef Stalin, and it is also Stalin and the Stalin era that is at the forefront in terms of tourism. The main street bears Stalin’s name, and at the end of the axis it creates in the city is his preserved birthplace as the starting point for the large museum behind it, which opened in 1957.
Stalin was born here in 1878, and the museum itself was built from 1951, supposedly to house a local history museum; from the start, however, it was clear that the house should be a memory of the city child. In the museum itself, Stalin’s life is reviewed chronologically through a large number of effects, photographs and other things that put the time and the person Stalin in relief. The museum also includes Stalin’s personal and armored railway car, which among other things brought him to the conferences in Yalta and Tehran.
In the city you can also see Gori Fort/გორის ციხე [Goris Tsikhe], whose history dates back to the centuries BC. The impressive ruins that you can see today date from the 17th-18th centuries, and from here there is a beautiful view over the whole of Gori and the surrounding area.
Ananuri is a beautifully located church and castle complex at the western end of the Zhinvali water reservoir. From here the Dukes of Aragvi ruled from the 13th century until 1739, when Ananuri was attacked by a neighboring duchy. On that occasion, the members of the Aragvi dynasty were killed, and throughout the following time, the area was ruled by various rulers.
The castle was in use until the beginning of the 19th century, and it actually consisted of two castles that were built together. Today, the upper castle is relatively well preserved, while the lower castle stands as a ruin. You can also see two 17th-century churches, the largest of which in particular is beautifully decorated with traditional Georgian motifs.
The city of Stepantsminda is located in northeastern Georgia, close to the border with Russia. Stepantminda is surrounded by high mountains and is itself 1,740 meters above sea level. Stepantsminda is a well-visited place because of the natural beauty, but also because of a church.
At an altitude of 2,170 meters overlooking Stepantsminda is the Gergeti Trinity Church/წმინდა სამება (Tsminda Sameba), which is the area’s best-known attraction. The church is particularly beautifully situated in the mountains, and from here there is a view of beautiful nature in all directions. Among other things, you can see the mountain Kazbek, whose characteristic peak reaches a height of 5,033 metres.
Tsabadze Street 8
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Station Square 2
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Rustaveli Avenue/Rustavelis Gamziri, Pekini Avenue/pekinis gamziri, Vazha Pshavela Avenue/v. pshavelas gamziri, Ilia Chavchavadze Avenue/ilia chavchavadzis gamziri, Tsabadze Street/g. tsabadzis kucha, Davit Aghmashenebeli Avenue/davit aghmasheneblis gamziri
Tsirki
Heroes Square 1
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Georgia Ethnography and Open-Air Museum
Tortile Lake Road 1
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Mtatsminda Park
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Archaeological studies indicate that the area around Tbilisi has been inhabited for millennia, while the actual history of the city began in the latter half of the 300s with King Varaz-Bakur’s fort on the site. The fort fell quickly into Persian hands before being subjected to Georgian kings in the 400s.
King Vakhtang In Gorgasali, Tbilisi expanded during his reign in the 400s. However, according to tradition he founded the city in 458. It was said that he was hunting falcon in the forests here. During the hunt, the king’s falcon caught a pheasant, and both birds fell into a hot spring and died. Thus, the site of Tbilisi should have been chosen, and the name Tbilisi also refers to the old Georgian Tpili, which means heat with reference to the sources in the area.
After Vakhtang I Gorgasali, King Dachi I Ujarmeli took the throne and moved the capital from Mtskheta to Tbilisi, as the previous king had wished. Dacha In Ujarmeli expanded the city, which as its capital grew steadily; not least because of its favorable location on trade routes between Europe and Asia.
The city’s central location in the Caucasus on trade routes between Europe and Asia, however, also led to other than favorable growth opportunities; for example, the region’s powers came to take over or influence the country in turn; generally, however, with substantial autonomy.
Byzantine, Persian, and Seljuks were just some of the people and powers that sought dominance with Tbilisi and this area of Georgia. Culturally, they had a major influence on the development of the city, and governmental power often shifted from the 500s.
At the end of the century, Persia captured Tbilisi, and in 627 attacked, among other Byzantine armies. In the 730s, Arab armies conquered the city and their rule continued in various forms until 1050, despite Georgian attempts to bring back the Arabs.
After fierce fighting against the Turkish seljuks, a numerically inferior Georgian army prevailed under the country’s King David in 1122. Thus, both western and eastern Georgia with Tbilisi were free after many centuries.
King David made Tbilisi the capital of the united country, thereby moving his own residence from Kutaisi. With the new status, Tbilisi flourished through the 1100-1200s and became a regional power factor and economic center.
Culturally, too, Tbilisi marked itself and it had grown to about 120,000 inhabitants. Among them was the author Shota Rustaveli, who in this Georgian golden age wrote his famous poem The Knight in the Tiger Skin.
After more than 100 years of Georgian freedom and independence, the country came under the control of the Mongols in 1236 after their defeat, although the country of Georgia continued as its own unit. Both politically and culturally, the country was influenced by the Mongols forced out of the country in the 1320s, after which an independent Georgia again emerged.
The Tbilisi of the 1300s-1700s was characterized by many changing conquests of the city and the country, and over the centuries Persians were among the most frequent in the area and later also the Ottomans of Turkey.
Despite several successful liberations of the capital under several Georgian kings, the Persians remained a strong opponent, and following Tbilisi’s fire in 1795, King Erekle sought assistance from Russia.
The Georgian kingdom became part of the growing Russian empire in 1801, and Tbilisi became the administrative capital of the new government for the region.
As part of Russia, Tbilisi flourished rapidly and investment was made in the city. Many newbuildings shot up, and roads and later railroads were constructed as connections to other parts of the empire; eg to the nearby cities of Baku and Yerevan.
Tbilisi became one of the cultural and economic centers of the Caucasus, and many notables came to town; for example, Alexander Pushkin and the Russian Zar family, Romanov, who built their Caucasian residence on the city’s main street.
Following the Russian Revolution in 1917, Tbilisi became the capital of the Transcaucasian Republic in 1918. It was in the former Russian royal palace that in May of that year Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaidjan declared their independence as three nations.
Until 1921, Tbilisi was the capital of the Republic of Georgia, and during those years a number of national institutions such as the city’s State University were established, which saw the light of day in 1918.
On February 25, 1921, the Soviet Red Army penetrated Tbilisi, making Georgia part of the Soviet Union. In the beginning, Tbilisi was the capital of the Transcaucasian SFSR, but after the division of the area into several Soviet republics, the city again became the Georgian capital.
Throughout time as part of the Soviet Union, the nation’s apparatus of power was concentrated in Moscow, and several Georgian politicians made their mark on the development; not least Josef Stalin, who took power after Lenin’s death and maintained it until his death in 1953.
With the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Georgia declared its independence, and Tbilisi again became the capital of an independent Georgian country. In recent years, the economy has been continuously improving, and large investments have been made in Tbilisi, which has also experienced increasing tourism.
Tbilisi, Georgia[/caption]
Overview of Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital of Georgia and this is where the old town is cozy and characterized by crooked streets, narrow alleys, old buildings and the elegant balconies that break the facades at some buildings in the area. Beautiful churches are also here in great numbers on both sides of the river Kura that winds through the city.
Parks and promenades are situated along the Kura, and from here there is not far to the city’s sights to the east and west. The mighty Trinity Cathedral, along with the presidential palace, stands on the slopes to the east, while the main street of Rustaveli Avenue starts at the city’s freedom square to the west. Splendid buildings can be seen at the avenue, one after another and among them many well-known state institutions.
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Vake Park is a park named after the district of Vake where it is located. The park is 200 hectares in area and opened in 1946 as Sejrsparken. The occasion was the Soviet victory in World War II, which in the Soviet Union was called the Great Patriotic War.
The entrance to the park is to the north, and in a southerly direction from there there is an impressive facility with large fountains, cascades and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The end to the south is formed by a series of stairs leading up to a monument of a Georgian woman. In addition to the formal facility, there is a large, green area with many walking trails in the western part of the park.
Mtatsminda Park is a park located above Tbilisi. It is the city’s largest park with an area of over 100 hectares. There is a beautiful view from the park, and because of the view, the place has been a favorite excursion destination for many years. Today, the park itself has been supplemented by an amusement park.
Tbilisi was founded precisely here due to the good location and the presence of the hot springs that spring with 38-40 degree hot water. The water’s minerals and other components have a therapeutic effect and have attracted many people over time.
There are several baths in Tbilisi. The old and traditional baths are located on a large area on Grishashvili Street, while the Motley bath (Abano Street 33/აბანოს ქ 33) with its fine, Arabic-inspired facade is located close to it in the same area.
Rustaveli Avenue is Tbilisi’s main street. It is named after the Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli, who lived 1172-1216. The street starts from Frihedspladsen and is about 1.5 kilometers long. Along the street are a number of important institutions such as the Georgian Parliament and the city’s opera and ballet theatre.
During a visit to Tbilisi, one should take a walk along Rustaveli Avenue, formerly called Golovin Avenue after the Russian nobleman and governor, Yevgeny Golovin/Евгений Головин.
On the Sololaki ridge stands the large statue of Mother Georgia, which is visible from large parts of Tbilisi. The statue symbolizes the Georgian capital, which is popularly called Mother Georgia. The artist behind the statue was the Georgian sculptor Elgudscha Amaschukeli.
In her left hand, Mother Georgia holds a bowl of wine for friends, while a sword awaits enemies in her right hand. The monument is made of aluminum and was erected in 1958 on the occasion of the city’s 1500th anniversary. After Georgia’s declaration of independence in 1991, the previously lowered head was raised and a laurel wreath was placed on it.
The National Museum in Tbilisi is one of Georgia’s most important historical museums. Its history goes back to the Caucasus branch of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society, which was founded in 1852. At that time, it was established as a regional museum.
The museum building was built in 1910, and over the years the institution has had several names. In 1919, the museum was changed to be a Georgian museum rather than a museum for the entire Caucasus, and since 1947 it has been named after the Georgian historian Simon Janashia.
At the museum you can see an extensive archaeological and ethnographic collection from Georgia and also from the other parts of the Caucasus. Georgia’s own development is followed through finds and effects from ancient times to recent times, and among the countless effects in the exhibitions you can see icons, goldsmith’s work and the 1.8 million-year-old finds from Dmanisi of early humans. They are called homo erectus georgicus.
The 150-metre-long Peacy Bridge was opened in 2010, and it is a beautiful sight from both the water and land sides, as well as from a walk over it. The bridge arches over the Kura River and connects the Georgian capital’s old town in a modern way with the newer areas on the opposite bank.
The bridge was designed by Italian architect Michele de Lucchi, and its lighting was created by French Philippe Martinaud. The light runs different programs that provide an interesting play of colors.
The Wedding Palace in Tbilisi was designed by architect Victor Djorbenadze and built in 1984. Its function was to register and celebrate marriages, as was the case with similar institutions elsewhere in the Soviet Union.
The style of the palace is futuristic with inspiration from several architectural directions. It is one of Tbilisi’s and the entire former Soviet Union’s most characteristic in this style from this time. In the early 2000s, the palace was bought by a private person as a residence.
The Presidential Palace of Georgia is one of Tbilisi’s best-known modern buildings. The palace was primarily designed by the Italian architect Michele de Lucchi and built in the years 2004-2009. However, the large, characteristic glass dome was designed by Georgian Vakhtang Zesashvili and Italian Franco Zagari. The glass was produced in Germany, and the space under the glass roof is used for various receptions and ceremonies.
In front of the palace you can see a revolving monument symbolizing the legislative, executive and judicial powers. A presidential museum has been set up in the palace, where you can not least see a number of the gifts that foreign guests have given the Georgian president over the years. Among the finest items on display in the building is a handwritten Bible from the 11th century.
Behind the palace is a mosaic that visualizes important periods and people in Georgian history from the beginning to the present and in the future. The mosaic depicts, among other things, kings, military leaders, decisive battles and the Rose Revolution.
The Ethnographic and Open-Air Museum of Georgia is a museum beautifully situated in a forest and nature area. It gives visitors fine impressions of Georgian culture and daily life. The country’s regions are reflected through their traditional architecture and handicrafts.
Here are, for example, flat-roofed stone houses from eastern Georgia, wooden houses from the western part of the country, observation towers, water mills and a church. The effects here include clothes, furniture, ceramics, etc., and the houses in the museum are furnished so that you get an exciting insight into life in the country over several centuries. The museum was established in 1966 and is today part of the National Museum of Georgia.
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