Above is a view of Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. The Mtkvari River runs straight through the city, with churches and homes built along its steep banks. The second photo shows a government building in the downtown area, where colorful lights and fountains created a popular gathering place for people to relax and socialize.
Above is a nighttime view across Tbilisi, where several of the city’s old churches can be seen illuminated across the hills. The second photo shows the remains of an old fortress wall. Tbilisi has a long history stretching back more than 1,500 years, and historic churches, fortifications, and other structures can be found throughout the city.
These photos show the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi, commonly known as Sameba. The cathedral was completed in 2004, so when I visited in 2006 it was still brand new. The massive complex includes the main cathedral along with several chapels, gardens, and a bell tower. It’s one of the largest Orthodox cathedrals in the world and is visible from many parts of Tbilisi.
The first photo is another shot from the Holy Trinity Cathedral complex, this time from inside the main cathedral. At another nearby church I came across a statue of King Vakhtang Gorgasali, the Georgian ruler traditionally credited with founding Tbilisi during the 5th century. He remains an important historical figure in Georgia, and one of the country’s military decorations was named the Vakhtang Gorgasali Order in his honor.
When I visited Georgia in 2006, George W. Bush was president of the United States and Georgia was building closer political ties with the West. President Mikheil Saakashvili’s government received strong support from the United States, and one of Tbilisi’s major roads was renamed George W. Bush Street following the American president’s visit to Georgia in 2005. The first photo shows a small gathering at night near a fountain, where kids were playing in the water and music was playing nearby.
Here are some interesting houses built along the steep banks of the Mtkvari River in Tbilisi. Some of them seem to sit almost directly above the water, making this one of the more unusual parts of the city’s architecture.
These two pictures show some of the more attractive architecture and restaurants I came across in Tbilisi. Traditional balconies are one of the distinctive features of the city’s older neighborhoods, while renovated areas are filled with restaurants and cafés. This was definitely one of the nicest parts of Georgia that I came across during my trip.
In a restaurant in Tbilisi, a Georgian man eats some of the country’s traditional dumplings, known as khinkali. Just outside Tbilisi I also visited the ancient city of Mtskheta, the former capital of Georgia and one of the country’s most historically important places.
Here are a couple more views from around Mtskheta. The city served as the capital of the ancient Georgian kingdom of Iberia and remains an important religious center today. The colorful apartment buildings in the second photo are an example of the Soviet-era architecture that can still be found throughout Georgia.
Once I traveled outside Tbilisi, many of the religious symbols and places of worship I encountered were Christian. Georgia has one of the world’s oldest Christian traditions, with Christianity becoming deeply rooted in the country during the 4th century. Above are a Christian plaque and bell tower from places I visited not too far from the capital.
