10 Things to Do in Georgia’s Beautiful City of Tbilisi

Tbilisi is the capital of the stunning country of Georgia and is known for its wealth of incredible architectural sites and rustic atmosphere. The cobbled streets in the old town, its fascinating history and the ornate churches make it one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. The city itself is sat in a picturesque location inside a river valley surrounded by greenery and nature. Alongside its historic buildings you'll find a recent modern and contemporary influence and quaint cafes all over the town making it the perfect weekend getaway. Here are the top 10 things to do when visiting the city of Tbilisi:

1. Jvari

A beautiful monastery perched on the top of a dramatic hill, this UNESCO heritage site dates back as far as the 6th century. An important Georgian Orthodox monastery, it's one of the most significant historical structures in the country and stands at the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers overlooking the historic Kingdom of Iberia. Around the building you'll find a beautiful domed tetraconch along with a four-apse church. Many of the sculptures here are influenced by Hellenistic and Sasanian design decorating its facade.

2. Svetitskhoveli Cathedral

The Georgian Orthodox cathedral is an exquisite and ornate structure dating back to the 11th century. The church is adorned with beautiful stones both inside and outside with colorful pillars and gorgeous frescoes. It is situated at the confluence of Aragvi and Mtkvari Rivers and the cathedral was built by Arsukidze. It is symbolic church and is a copy of the Chapel of Holy Sepulchre.

3. Anchiskhati Basilica

The church is the oldest surviving church in Tbilisi and is a Georgian Orthodox church that was established in the 6th century. The church was built by King Gorgasali’s son Dachi and has survived that wrath of time and still looks beautiful. The three nave basilica shows weathered frescoes and walls of big stone blocks. The three-span basilica is divided by two abutments that forms the horseshoe shaped conches, it was initially constructed with yellow tuff stone and later restored with brick.

4. Georgian National Museum

Photo by commons.wikimedia.org

The Georgian National Museum was established in the year 2004 and is dedicated towards preserving the rich culture and heritage of the country. It is one of the significant places to visit with lot of information about the history and heritage. It organizes many research and educational activities. It is a 3-storey building that represents classic Georgian architectural style and in total has total of 13 museums unified. It has a large collection from versatile period of time and epochs along with samples from Caucasian national culture and Bronze Age.

5. Metekhi Cathedral

The Metekhi Cathedral reflects the elegance of the architecture and is located on the left bank of the river Mtkvari. It is perched on the cliff plateau and the first church was built by Vakhtang Gorgasali which resembled the Virgin Mary’s tomb in Gethsemane Garden located in Jerusalem. There are a lot of historical facts associated with the church that makes it prominent and significant as architecture. It has a dome that was built in the 17th century and has been renovated many types post attacks.x

6. Holy Trinity Cathedral

Photo by k_samurkas/shutterstock.com

The Holy Trinity Cathedral is one of the Georgian Orthodox churches that was constructed between 1995 and 2004 and currently is the third tallest Eastern Orthodox cathedral. It is also known as Sameba Cathedral owing to its architectural style and is perched on the Elia Hill that lies on the left bank of Kura River. It shows the brilliance of Georgian style architecture that has a cruciform plan, a prominent dome and dome is surrounded by tall gilded gold cross of around 7.5 m. It has nine chapels.

7. Narikala Fortress

The Narikala Fortress is an ancient citadel overlooking the city of Tbilisi. It is constructed on a hill and is divided into two walled section that is beautifully divided by Sulphur baths and botanical gardens. The fort dates back to 4th century and owing to its amazing architecture, it has gained massive attention. The fort was expanded by Umayyad in the 7th century. The royal Sulphur bath is one of the main attractions of the fortress. Some part of the fort was damaged in 16th and 17th century and also in the earthquake of 1827. It offers spectacular view of the city.

8. Tbilisi Funicular

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It is one of the most entertaining activities to participate in while in Tbilisi as it opens you to the bewitching natural view. The recently reconstructed Funicular offers a spectacular ride up to Mt. Mtatsminda and the view from top is amazing. It is a great way to reach Mtasminda Park that is located on a hill and there are number of amazing cafes and restaurants to relax and chill with friends. It is a unique carriage ride and takes you on a memorable ride. The funicular was initially constructed in 1900 by Belgian engineer Alphonse Roby.

9. Tbilisi Open Air Museum Ethnography

Photo by en.wikipedia.org

The open air museum represents the rich folk architecture and wide range of exquisite traditional craftwork from various parts of Georgia. The museum was founded by Georgian Ethnographer Giorgi Chitaia in the year 1966 on 27th April. It is a historical village that is spread across sprawling campus of around 52 hectares and is organized into 11 zones. There are around 70 buildings that houses more than 8000 items. The museum represents fiat roofed stone houses that boast of openwork wooden house that is integrated with gable straw roofs. It has number of items traditional items to represent.

10. Samvatro Monastery

The monastery is basically an orthodox church and nunnery that was built in 4th century by King Mirian III of Iberia. It was again reconstructed in 11th century by King George and is one of the best places to visit for spiritual awakening. It was constructed in 1820 that was replaced by the small wooden church that was built in 4th century. It is a three storied bell tower built within 15th to 16th century. The baked stone architecture beautifully represents the medieval essence from the architecture.

◎ Closing

Tbilis is a medieval city with lot of ancient charm as you walk into the cobbled street and narrow alleys. There is a gorgeous architecture at every corner and is a city that has some of the most baroque churches.

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