Historical places in Tbilisi

1. The Baths district (Abanotubani) - This is the place where Tbilisi was founded in 5th century, AD. The district is known for its sulphur baths and anyone is welcome to experience them. According to a legend the King of Iberia, Vakhtang Gorgasali’s falcon fell exactly on this place, leading to the discovery of the hot springs and to the foundation of the new capital - Tbilisi. The surrounding place is a center for various religions - visitors can observe orthodox, catholic, Gregorian churches, a mosque and synagogue in the same district.

2. Next is the Mtatsminda Pantheon – it is the necropolis for prominent Georgian poets, writers, political and public figures. The first distinguished person to be buried at this place was the Russian writer Alexander Griboyedov (1795–1829) and his Georgian wife Nino Chavchavadze (1812–1857). Visitors have also a possibility of seeing the graves of Zviad Gamsakhurdia, the first president of Georgia and Ilia Chavchavadze, a well-known writer and public figure who contributed a great deal to the promotion of national ideals. 

3. Rustaveli Avenue – the main thoroughfare in Tbilisi is made up of modern and 20th Century architecture. The former Parliament of Georgia, the Georgian National Opera Theatre, the Rustaveli State Academic Theatre, the Georgian Academy of Sciences, Kashveti Church, Simon Janashia Museum of Georgia (part of the Georgian National Museum), Rustaveli Cinema, Rustaveli metro station, the Biltmore Hotel, shopping malls, etc are all located on Rustaveli. The Avenue was named after the medieval Georgian poet, Shota Rustaveli. His work “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin” is translated into various languages. Rustaveli Avenue has witnessed many marches and demonstrations which have occurred in Tbilisi, among them the 9th of April 9, 1989 march – when pro-independence demonstrators were crushed by Soviet forces.

4. The National Museums of Georgia – The Museum of Georgia and the Soviet Occupational Exhibition Hall are both located on Rustaveli Avenue, 3. The Museum of Georgia includes an unique collection of natural and human history, with animal remains dating back 40 million year as well as archaeological and ethnographic collections from the Paleolithic, Neolithic, Bronze, Iron and Middle Ages. The Soviet Occupational Exhibition Hall houses the state's personal files of "subversive" Georgian public figures, orders to shoot or exile, and other artifacts representing Soviet-era cultural and political repression in Georgia. 

5. The Tbilisi History Museum is located on Sioni St. 8. The museum preserves archeological, ethnological and archival materials as well as the pieces of national and applied arts, and a rich photo-collection. They reflect Tbilisi's history from the end of the 4 millennium BCE to the present day. Together with older works, the museum also exhibits pieces of contemporary art. Since 1986, various exhibitions of Georgian and foreign artists have been displayed at the museum.