One perfect day in Tbilisi

“A great sense of freedom and well-being permeated me. All my tiredness had gone and I felt strong enough to lift a mountain” – Alexandre Dumas, after a visit to the Sulphur Baths in 1858. Fed by naturally hot mineral waters (47°C), the sulphur baths have been an essential part of Tbilisi life for centuries. The brick-domed underground baths were built in the 17th century and produce 3 million litres of water every day. To make your visit to the baths complete, make sure to take the invigorating massage.

In the Old Town there is the ancient acting St. Mary Church constructed during the reign of Dacha Udzharmeli, the successor of Vakhtang Gorgasali, in the 4 th century. The beautiful rectangular building of the church was build under the influence of ancient Palestinian architecture. The doors of Anchiskhati church are decorated with traditional Georgian cross similar to the one made by St. Nino. On the western facade of the temple there is a stone medallion with the cross which has survived since the earliest version. The upper parts and arches were reconstructed in the 17 th - 19 th centuries.

Relatively newly constructed the Bridge of Peace is definitely the attraction one wouldn’t want to miss in Tbilisi. It is a pedestrian glass and steel bridge in a bow-shaped design that sits over the Mtkvari (Kura) river in Georgian capital. It was officially opened in May 2010. The bridge was brought to Georgia from Italy in 200 unassembled components. The bridge is 156 meters long and has more than 10 000 LED bulbs built-in, that are switched on daily 90 minutes before the sunset. The pulsating lights are communicating the message in Morse code; the message says chemical elements from the Mendeleev’s periodic table that make up a human body. The idea of the Italian designer Michele De Lucchi was to broadcast the message which is “the anthem of life and piece among people and nations”.

The Holy Trinity (Tsminda Sameba) Cathedral is listed among the largest Orthodox churches in the World. Constructed between 1995 and 2004, the cathedral rises on Elia Hill, on the left bank of Mtkvari River and keeps traditional Georgian architectural style. The complex includes nine chapels, various supplementary buildings, and enchanting gardens. The Cathedral is the highest one not only in Georgia but in whole Caucasus region. The height from the ground to the top of the cross is 105,5 meters. The golden dome of the cathedral is practically visible from any point in Tbilisi and is an unmissable landmark any time of the day of night.

Metekhi Church (13th century) with the equestrian statue of the city’s royal founder standing above the steep cliffs of the Mtkvari River is one of the classic images of Old Tbilisi. The church has been destroyed many times by the enemy. During the Tsarist regime there was a prison there and in Soviet times Metekhi was used as a theatre. In was only in the late 1980s that the church was reconstructed again.

The Holy Mountain Mtatsminda hosts the fragments of ancient Narikala fortress. It is the most known and ancient monument of Tbilisi 's antiquity; the townspeople call it “the heart and soul of the city”. The date of construction of the fortress is the 4 th century AD, i.e. it has been there from the city's beginning. Later the fortress was extended and expanded several times. In the 7 th - 8 th centuries it was done by Arabs. Historians assert that Narikala standing on the Silk Road was the most fortified and impregnable of all in Tbilisi . In 1827 the fortress was destroyed by the earthquake and since then the citadel has not been restored completely. But the surviving stone towers of Narikala remain the silent witnesses of the ancient city's history.

A huge outdoor museum sprawling over 50 hectares on the hill above Vake Park. It consists of over 70 buildings and more than 8000 implements and artefacts from traditional Georgian life. The museum is divided into ten zones, each depicting a different aspect of Georgian ethnology. The buildings have been brought from all over Georgia and painstakingly re-errected. There is a example of a guard tower form the Northern Svanetia and a Kachetian winery as well as houses and other buildings from Abkhazia, Ajara and other regions. Each building has its own relevant display of costumes, ceramics, tools and items from daily life. At the Kartli house, arrive before 16:00 and when you step inside, look up.... The museum also has great views over the city.

“Georgian national treasure” – this is how Mr. Rezo Gabriadze, one of the most talented art professionals, is recongnized worldwide. His influence on the Georgian culture has been lasting and profound. Mr. Gabriadze's work continues creating an unforgettable memories for those who experience it. As an artist, first and foremost, he has gained an international reputation as screenwriter, stage director, painter, sculptor and puppeteer. His most famous screenplays include such films as “Don’t Grieve”, “Mimino”, and “Kin-Dza-Dza”. In 1981 he founded the Gabriadze Theater which is based in Tbilisi. His productions of “Alfred and Violetta”, “The Autumn of our Springtime”, “Ramona” and “The Battle of Stalingrad” brought the theater an international recognition. It has been touring the world since then.

Shardeni Street is one of the most popular and beautiful streets in Tbilisi. This pedestrian street is so well known that any guest that travels to Georgia never leaves this country without visiting Shardeni Street. In past, Shardeni Street was called “Dark Row”. This small, narrow street was located in the old town as it is today. The street was a center of the cultural and social life. Shardeni Street was intended for trading and as it was covered with the roofs, people called it a dark row. In the 20th century, the street was reconstructed (1981) and renamed as a “Shardeni Street” in honour of Jean Chardin. Nowadays, popular restaurants, open cafes and bars, nightclubs and galleries are located on this street. Shardeni is the best place to visit to explore Tbilisi’s nightlife. Furthermore, many exhibitions, celebrations and concerts are organized here.

Sioni or Zion Cathedral in the name of the Assumption of the Mother of God is one of the most known monuments in the Old Town . The beginning of its construction is dated the 5 th – 6 th centuries and the completion - the first half of the 7 th century. The Cathedral is named in the honor of Jerusalem Zion. Today Sioni is the residence of the Catholicos - the Patriarch of Georgian Christian church. There the greatest relic of Georgia , the cross of St. Nino who established Christianity on Georgian soil, is kept there. The cross is made of two grapevines and is intertwined with the Saint's hair according to the legend.