34 Facts About Tbilisi

Tbilisi was founded in the 5th century AD by Vakhtang I of Iberia, and since then has served as the capital of various Georgian kingdoms and republics.

Tbilisi's history is reflected in its architecture, which is a mix of medieval, neoclassical, Beaux Arts, Art Nouveau, Stalinist and the Modern structures.

King Dachi of Iberia, the successor of Vakhtang I, moved the capital of Iberia from Mtskheta to Tbilisi and began construction of the fortress wall that lined the city's new boundaries.

In 1121, after heavy fighting with the Seljuks, the troops of the King of Georgia David IV of Georgia besieged Tbilisi, which ended in 1122 and as a result David moved his residence from Kutaisi to Tbilisi, making it the capital of a unified Georgian State and thus inaugurating the Georgian Golden Age.

In 1226, Tbilisi was captured by the Khwarezmian Empire Shah Jalal ad-Din, and its defenses severely devastated and prone to Mongol armies.

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The nation itself maintained a form of semi-independence and did not lose its statehood, but Tbilisi was strongly influenced by the Mongols for the next century both politically and culturally.

In 1386, Tbilisi was invaded and sacked several times by the armies of Tamerlane.

In 1522, Tbilisi was garrisoned for the first time by a large Safavid force.

Under the later rules of Teimuraz II and Heraclius II, Tbilisi became a vibrant political and cultural center free of foreign rule—but, fearful of the constant threat of invasion, Georgia's rulers sought Russian protection in the 1783 Treaty of Georgievsk.

From 1918 to 1919, the city consecutively served as the headquarters of the country's German garrison and later the British 27th Division; Tbilisi was the main office of the British Chief Commissioner in Transcaucasia, Oliver Wardrop and the High Commissioner to Armenia, Colonel William N Haskell.

Under the national government, Tbilisi turned into the first Caucasian University City after the Tbilisi State University was founded in 1918.

In 1921, the Democratic Republic of Georgia was occupied by the Soviet Bolshevik forces from Russia, and until 1936 Tbilisi functioned first as the capital city of the Transcaucasian SFSR, and afterward until 1991 as the capital of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic.

Tbilisi witnessed mass anti-Russian demonstrations during 1956 in the 9 March Massacre, in protest against the anti-Stalin policies of Nikita Khrushchev.

Since the break-up of the Soviet Union, Tbilisi has experienced periods of significant instability and turmoil.

Average citizens of Tbilisi started to become increasingly disillusioned with the existing quality of life in the city .

Since 2003, Tbilisi has experienced considerably more stability with decreasing crime rates, an improved economy, and a real estate boom.

Tbilisi is located in the South Caucasus at 41° 43' North Latitude and 44° 47' East Longitude.

Tbilisi has a humid subtropical climate with considerable continental and semi-arid influences.

The largest stadium in Tbilisi is the Dinamo Arena and the second largest is the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium .

The basketball club Dinamo Tbilisi won the Euroleague in 1962 but never repeated any such feat.

Tbilisi is most notable for its abundance of Art Nouveau buildings and details, which flourished from the mid-1890s to through the end of Russian rule.

Tbilisi was designated as the World Book Capital for 2021 by UNESCO.

Beyond traditional attractions, Tbilisi has developed burgeoning nightclub culture which started to attract international media attention in the 2010s.

Public transport system and the relevant infrastructure in Tbilisi is primarily managed by the Transport and Urban Development Agency.

Tbilisi Metro serves the city with rapid transit subway services.

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Tbilisi is the busiest intersection of Georgian Railways services, primarily centred within Tbilisi Central Railway Station.

Tbilisi joined the global trend, unveiling cycling lanes in city's central areas, such as Vake, Vera and the bank of the Kura River.

The head of the city's transport department told Euronews Georgia that Tbilisi is working on a 20-year long urban mobility development strategy.

Tbilisi had a tram network, since 1883 starting from horse-driven trams and from 25 December 1904 electric tramway.

In 2019, the company operating yellow minibuses in Tbilisi was asked to replace the entire fleet by the end of 2020.

Since 2012, Tbilisi has a modern, high-capacity gondola lift which operates between Rike Park and the Narikala fortress; each gondola can carry up to 8 persons.

The top of the hill is the highest point of the city, offering many different views of Tbilisi, and is home to the Tbilisi TV Broadcasting Tower as well as some amusement rides, including a roller-coaster and a ferris wheel.

The Free University of Tbilisi was established in 2007 through the merger of two higher education schools: European School of Management and Tbilisi Institute of Asia and Africa .

The number of foreigners living and working in Tbilisi has risen in recent years together with the openings of international schools, businesses, expat's communities, and online networks.