Tbilisi

Tbilisi

Located on the banks of the Kura River, Tbilisi is the capital and largest city of Georgia. It is situated in the South Caucasus at an altitude of 380-770 meters above sea level and has the form of an amphitheater enclosed by mountains on three sides. To the north, the city limits are formed by the Saguramo Mountains, to the east and southeast by the Iori Plains, and to the south and west by different ends of the Trialeti Mountains. The city has served as the capital of several Georgian kingdoms and republics since it was founded by Vakhtang I of Iberia in the fifth century AD. Tbilisi was the seat of the Caucasian Viceroyalty, which governed both the northern and southern parts of the Caucasus, from 1801 to 1917, when it was part of the Russian Empire. Throughout history, the city has been a point of contention between global powers due to its location at the crossroads between Europe and Asia and its vicinity to the Silk Road. The city's position as an essential transportation hub for energy and trade projects continues to this day. Its rich history is mirrored in the architecture, a blend of medieval, neoclassical, Beaux Arts, Art Nouveau, Stalinist and modern buildings. Over the years, although the population is predominantly Eastern Orthodox Christian, Tbilisi has been home to people of many cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. Among the major tourist attractions are the Sameba and Sioni Cathedrals, Freedom Square, Rustaveli and Agmashenebeli Avenues, the medieval Narikala Fortress, the pseudo-Moorish Opera Theatre, and the Georgian National Museum.