Georgia without leaving home: a virtual tour of the sights of Tbilisi. Walking route No. 1.

National Blue Gallery of Georgia

It was founded in 1917-1920, thanks to the famous Georgian artist Dmitry Shevardnadze.

The building was built in 1888, before the October Revolution, there was a military historical museum — the Temple of Glory, created by order of the Russian emperor. He glorified the strength of the Russian army during the war in the Caucasus.

The gallery houses more than 30 thousand exhibits: paintings, graphics, sculptures, art photography.

Currently, the gallery has 8 exhibition halls, two have permanent exhibitions, and the other six host various exhibitions and biennales.

There is a cozy cafe and a small souvenir shop in the gallery. This place is a must-visit for tourists, regardless of age, interests and hobbies.

April 9 Park in Tbilisi

In 1865, the first public garden in Tbilisi was opened here, called the Alexander Garden.

Subsequently, the park changed its name more than once, it received its current name in memory of the tragic events of April 9, 1989, when several people died as a result of the dispersal of protesting demonstrators. Currently, the park is known primarily for its numerous monuments.

There is a monument to the irresistible tragedian of Georgian cinema and theater, the famous actor Otar Megvinetukhutsi. The grand opening of the monument took place on January 17, 2015. Otar Megvinetukhutsi has performed dozens of roles in films and theatrical productions, but he gained wide fame thanks to his role in the film adaptation of the novel "Date Tutashkhia".

Monument to George Chanturia — this man organized anti-Soviet rallies, was one of the organizers of the April rally. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, he became a significant political figure.

The next monument is the monument to Anatoly Sobchak, installed on April 9, 2004. The installation of the bust was timed to coincide with the anniversary of the dispersal by Soviet troops of the rally for independence in 1989 in Tbilisi. Sobchak headed the government commission, which, according to the Georgian side, gave an objective assessment of what happened, thanks to which it was possible to relieve the social tension that arose between the authorities and society.

Another monument is the monument to Zichy of Hungary, the artist and illustrator of the poem "Knight in Tiger Skin".

Directly ahead is a monument to the famous Georgian poet of Soviet times — Georgy Nikolaevich Leonidze.

We leave the park on Atoneli Street, cross the road and stop at the Atoneli building, 31.

Atoneli No. 31 is one of the most famous hotels in Tiflis in the 19th century.

The former London Hotel

It was built in 1875. The hotel was equipped with the latest technology, there were: electricity, its own library, restaurant, casino and even a garage for cars.

Among the famous guests it is worth mentioning Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Knut Hamsun.

In 1890, London hosted the first session of listening to a melody on Thomas Edison's phonograph in Tbilisi.

At the beginning of the First World War, in 1914, Peter Zubalashvili transferred the hotel building to the state for a military hospital.

In Soviet times, in 1925, the building housed the Central House of the Peasant.

In 1950, the house was transferred to the police department. In 1960, it was inhabited by families of police officers, the house became residential.

In this building there is one of the most beautiful and famous front rooms, as well as a small chamber theater.

Dry Bridge and flea market in Tbilisi

There is a Dry Bridge behind the former London Hotel. It got its name because it was built over an arm of the Kura River, which was later filled in and gradually turned into a roadway, and the bridge remained.

Here is the main Georgian flea market known far beyond the borders of the country. The flea market is very interesting, fun and you can perfectly buy souvenirs, rare things.

If we go to the other side of the bridge, we will get to the park of Grandfather En.

Deda Ena Park

Its name is associated with the events of 1978, when mass rallies of intellectuals, teachers and university students took place in Tbilisi in support of the Georgian language as the only state language of the Georgian SSR.

First of all, a huge monument to the Georgian language catches the eye in the park. Its authors are sculptors Elguja Amashukeli and Nodar Mgaloblishvili.

This monument makes quite a strong impression, but it is very difficult to describe it: it looks like this: a soaring boy who ascends between tablets with texts in Georgian to a bell suspended on an arch.

Recently, this park has become popular with children and young people. A skatepark was opened here among the greenery.

A book market stretches along the Kura embankment. All the books are laid out in neat trays — boxes, which are decorated with modern, bright drawings.

Not only political passions are boiling in Deda Ena Park, but recently it has also been a venue for various cultural events, holidays and festivals.

In winter, a New Year's town and a Christmas fair appear here, where festive treats, handmade toys, themed installations, concerts are waiting for guests.

In early May, the park hosts a festival of young wine and its territory is occupied by tables, tents for tastings. As a rule, tasters are recruited by several thousand people. This is a very significant festive event.

The next point of our walk in Tbilisi is the House of Justice.

Houses of Justice in Georgia

The Houses of Justice in Georgia are designed to unite all public services under one roof. They began to appear in major cities of Georgia since 2011.

It is believed that any citizen, having come here, can settle their affairs with state structures in one place.

The Houses of Justice have become symbols of change in the new Georgia.

After the House of Justice, we went to Mtkvari Street. This short street will take us straight to the Carrefour store. At this store, you need to turn onto Atoneli Street and walk along it, we will reach the bell tower of the Armenian Vank Cathedral.

Rezo Gabriadze Puppet Theater

Performances are not very often held here, there are not always tickets for them. The schedule of performances is sometimes classified right up to the show itself.

The theater was founded in 1981 by an amazing man — director, sculptor, artist and playwright Rezo Gabriadze. His personality is multifaceted. He participated in the creation of cult Soviet films, monuments in St. Petersburg, including "Chizhik-Pyzhik".

But the main brainchild of Gabriadze is the theater named after him in Tbilisi, which surprises even with its building.The facade is woven from many interesting details to match the theater itself, it can be called a puppet, and its main highlight is the clock tower.

The clock tower, which is also called drunk, because of its unstable position, however, this instability is artificial. The main decoration of the tower I would call a handmade tile mosaic by the author, which is Rezo Gabriadze himself.

Every day at 12:00 p.m. and at 19:00 p.m. the clock strikes, a golden-winged angel appears in the window near the bell.

Gabriadze Cafe in Tbilisi

This cafe is appreciated not only for its cuisine, but also for the interior, which was created for the cafe by Rezo Gabriadze himself. It turned out to be very cozy and atmospheric.

At the entrance, guests are greeted by a copy of the St. Petersburg Chizhik-Pyzhik, the tables are painted with quotes from their favorite films, the screenwriter of which was Rezo Gabriadze. And there are drawings, posters, dolls, colored ceramics and funny curtains.

The cuisine on the menu is Georgian and European, but mostly donuts, ice cream and tea are praised.

Immediately behind the puppet theater is the Anchiskhati Church.

Pedestrian Bridge of the World

The Pedestrian Bridge of Peace was opened in Tbilisi in 2010, its author is the Italian Michele de Lucchi. Like other futuristic creations, it causes the most contradictory assessments.

The 156-meter bridge is covered with a glass wave-like structure, on which the backlight lights up in the evening. There are more than 10 thousand lamp strips built into the backlight, which turn on every day an hour and a half before sunset. Flashing lights transmit coded messages in the language of Morse Code: the name of the chemical elements of the periodic table, which make up the human body.

From a practical point of view, the Peace Bridge is just a convenient link between the newly built Rike Walking Park and the old part of Tbilisi. The bridge offers fascinating views of the city, especially if you come to it during sunrise or sunset.

Rike Park

This park appeared on the banks of the Kura River in 2010 and quickly became popular among the townspeople. It's nice to walk and relax here. The park is not yet distinguished by an abundance of greenery and lush trees, but it pleases with a lot of lawns.

Another Tbilisi landmark of Italian origin is clearly visible from the park — the Palace of the President of Georgia, also known as the Avlabar residence. It is a building with a classical colonnade and a huge glass dome.

Unusual benches are placed throughout the park. There is a cubic drinking fountain directly ahead. And in the center of the park there is a light and music fountain with a holographic projector, which arranges evening shows every day.

In Rike Park there is the lower station of the cable car, which lifts tourists to the Narikala Fortress and the Mother Georgia monument. Hikers can climb there on their own from the Bethlehem quarter.

Metekhi district in Tbilisi

Metekhi Temple and an icon monument to Tsar Vakhtang Gorgasali, laid out on the Metekh rock above the city. The whole area is known as Metekhi. It occupies a special place in the history of Tbilisi, and it is often from here that the excursions of local tours start.

The history of Metekhi began in the 5th century, when Vakhtang Gorgasali discovered hot springs and founded a new city of Tbilisi in their place. Now on the site of those springs is the area of Sulfur baths.

There is a bridge under the Metekh rock, along which we will return to the central part of the city.

Maidan Square in Tbilisi

Maidan Square Tbilisi is one of the oldest and busiest in the city. You will not find Maidan in modern reference books and on maps, instead it will have the official name - Vakhtang Gorgasali Square.

Once it was the center of the city's trade, a colorful oriental market with numerous shops. Now the Maidan, unfortunately, is overloaded with cars. But there are many cafes and restaurants for every taste.

Ahead of us is the place where the history of Tbilisi began — this is the Abanotubani district with the famous sulfur baths. Getting to them from the Maidan is not difficult at all: we need to walk along the bank of the Kura in an easterly direction.

Square of the first President of Azerbaijan

This square is named after the first president of Azerbaijan — Heydar Aliyev. It was opened in 2004 as a sign of friendship.

The square is small in size, benches are installed, trees are planted and flowerbeds are broken, there are also drinking fountains.

Abanotubani district in Tbilisi

Immediately behind the square, sulfur baths begin. The Abanotubani district starts from these sulfur baths, covers the territory adjacent to the Tbilisi Juma Mosque and the Botanical garden, ends at the Narikala fortress. The district is located in the center of the city of Tbilisi.

The oldest bathhouse in Tbilisi is located here 2-3 century AD, but it has not been fully excavated. There are excavations here every summer. It was discovered recently, about 10 years ago during the construction of a brick building.

Next to the sulfur baths there is a strange sculpture called Kochi. Kochi is a toy made of a sheep bone.

For a long time in the baths of Tbilisi people entertained themselves with a game of backgammon or dice, the game was called Kachaoba.

The legend of the foundation of Abanotubani and Tbilisi itself.

It is believed that King Vakhtang Gorgasali once hunted here, and one day his falcon chased a pheasant. When the king overtook the falcon, he saw that the pursued pheasant had fallen into a sulfur spring and boiled in it.

In Georgia, this story is believed, and in memory of the legendary events there is a monument to the falcon in the center of the quarter.

In total, there are more than a dozen sulfur baths in the Abanotubani area. Many of them are domed buildings lined with tiles from the outside, but some stand out with an original design, for example: a colorful Orbelian bathhouse with a beautiful blue facade.

A very interesting place in Abanotubani is Legvtakhevi.

Legvtakhevi is a natural wonder of the city of Tbilisi

Legvtahevi translated "fig gorge" is a natural wonder of Tbilisi. It starts at the Orbelian bath and ends with a waterfall.

Once upon a time in the distant 19th century there were groves with figs, now there are none. The waterfall is formed by the Tsavkisistskali River. The name of the river comes from the name of the village of Tsavkisi.

During the time when Georgia was ruled by Communists, the river was hidden in a collector, fig groves were cut down, and gorges were filled with earth. After 2010, when tourism began to develop, due attention was paid to the gorge, the land was removed and the collector was opened, after which the Legvtakhevi waterfall again appeared in the heart of the city.

Now there is a whole tourist area with bridges and paths to the waterfall, there are also souvenir shops.

The waterfall does not always have the same appearance: it then expands, then narrows, depending on the fullness of the river.

The water temperature is most often from 11 to 14 degrees. In winter, at subzero temperatures, the waterfall freezes right on the rock, forming new ice figures every time.

Not far from the waterfall there is a spiral staircase, along which you can go to Botanic Street, and from there get to the botanical garden, in front of the entrance to it there is a viewing platform on the gorge itself.