Tbilisi was founded in the 5th century by King Vakhtang Gorgasali when he discovered natural volcanic hot springs while hunting in this area. That’s why King Vakhtang named it “Tbilisi” (“Tbili” means warm in Georgian). With a population of 1.5 million people Tbilisi, today is the heart of all the Caucasus!
Geographically, it’s located between the main and small Caucasus mountain ranges, along the Mtkvari River. Tbilisi’s location played a large role in its development and has strategic importance. Many mountains serve Tbilisi as natural defensive barriers, which were a great help historically. In the Caucasus, all roads lead to Tbilisi.
Tbilisi is governed by the active political party “Georgian Dream” which has been in power since the 2012 parliamentary election. The current Mayor is Mr. Kakha Kaladze, who has been governing Tbilisi since November 13, 2017. Mr. Kaladze has done a lot as a Mayor: he modernized the public transportation system; introduced taxi reform; issued various massive renovation projects of roads, parks, historical buildings, and even entire districts.
What Makes Tbilisi Special?
Tbilisi has a rich and diverse history, representing a beautiful and intertwined mix of cultures. The main ones include Russian, Persian, and Arabic, but recently we see the gradually increasing influence of European styles. In this city, you can start your day by going inside the IV century medieval castle – “Narikala”; then witness Neoclassical and Renaissance-era buildings located in the center; Enjoy the beauty of nature in Tbilisi’s botanical garden; then marvel at attractive modern architecture, most notably in many of Georgia’s government buildings (House of Justice, Ministry of Internal Affairs), then enjoy coffee and dessert in one of the many traditional Georgian houses in Old Tbilisi.
To finish your day off on an intriguing note, experience the feeling of Soviet Brutalism and postmodernism in the outer neighborhoods of Tbilisi. The real fun starts when the sun goes down and the Night Life of Tbilisi begins. This is just a little part of what this city can offer. It’s an unforgettable experience.
Take in the Atmosphere!
There’s a lot to see in this peaceful and romantic city. Firstly, there are countless recreational possibilities, for example: try out the volcanic hot springs to get an idea of the lives of Georgian kings and nobles. Go and enjoy nature in many of Tbilisi’s magnificent parks, or go up to Mtatsminda and be amazed by breath-taking views of the city. Tbilisi is rich with vast and beautiful green areas like Vake, Rikhe, Vera, and Mziuri parks – all are unique in their own way and will absolutely be among “long walks in the park” lovers’ favorite places. After relaxing, it’s time to have fun and, in Tbilisi, you won’t have any problems finding something to suit you – bars, clubs, events, street musicians, museums, dancing, nightlife – everything you could want. Just go and see for yourself, make new friends, and enjoy pleasant evenings in a peaceful atmosphere with music.
Education, Safety and More
Tbilisi is also Georgia’s educational capital. Out of 50 state and private universities in Georgia, 37 are located here. The main ones include The University of Georgia, Ivane Javakhishvili State University, Ilia State University, and the State Medical University. Tbilisi provides its students with vast and interesting possibilities due to its highly successful and long-term cooperation with top European universities. The education That Tbilisi can provide is respected all around the world.
Georgia ranks fifth out of the 125 countries in the 2018 Crime Index by Numbeo. It’s one of the safest countries in the world. There are very few insignificant crime reports and the police are highly effective since their reform in 2004 following The Rose Revolution and their more recent further modernization.
To sum it up, Tbilisi is a highly functioning city, that offers you good facilities, almost guaranteed safety, numerous recreational possibilities, and vivid nightlife. Your life will become unimaginable without local food! The sun peeking from the mountains will never fail to amaze you at any moment of your day, from beautiful sunrise till romantic dawn. The historical nature of this city and its spiritually pleasing atmosphere may very well serve as inspiration… for you.
