The fabulous land” is how Alexander Pushkin described Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia since the fifth century. And staring at this defiantly lovely city, which straddles the steep banks of the Mtkvari river, One can see why. The busy heart of the bleak and mountainous region that stretches beneath Russia’s southern border, Tbilisi has positioned itself for centuries as a crossroads between Europe and Asia, and proof of its long, tumultuous, bloody history of occupation is immediately evident – among other things – in the pastel-coloured onion layers of its higgledy-piggledy architecture.



Locations

lying on the banks of the Kura River

Also knows as

Tiflis

Famous for

Because of its location on the crossroads between Europe and Asia, and its proximity to the lucrative Silk Road, throughout history Tbilisi was a point of contention among various global powers.

Weather

−0.8 to 31.2

Founded

Mid-5th century

Main cultural attractions

Narikala Fortress, Old Town (Altstadt) Tbilisi, Tsminda Sameba Cathedral, Georgian National Museum, Uplistsiche Cave Town, Stalin Museum

Population

11,18,035

Airport

Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport