5 Tbilisi’S Unusual Attractions

Here is presented one of the most ancient and famous cities of Georgia – Tbilisi which is the capital of this country. The city was established in the 5th century AD and during the last 1500 years it has been under the domination of Persians, Arabs, Turks, and recently Russians. The city has always been an important center for the region and as a result, it has a diverse architecture and culture.

1. The Puppet Theater

Yet, it is located on one of the remote side streets and does not seem very attractive from the outside. But what is seen inside is a whole new realm of colored puppets and imagination. Popular puppet shows take place in a 120-seating capacity theater and are conducted behind a chest-high platform to offer a view of the puppeteers in action. The performances are in Georgian as may be understood from some form of basic appreciation but it is clear that the stories are being told in Georgian. If one does not watch the storytelling, even the mere sight of those highly detailed puppets dancing, fighting like knights, or spinning like princesses is a delight to the eyes. Children will enjoy it, but also anyone who wishes to get a taste of the fairy-tale-like and whimsical outlook on the part of the Georgian oral tradition.

2. Clock Tower on Machabeli Street.

Towers and clock towers are common in Tbilisi, but the one located at Machabeli Street is one of the most unconventional or should I say funny towers one could come across. This clock tower was constructed in the 1970s adjacent to the exterior brick wall of a residential structure: and it does not at all seem to have been added as an afterthought. The tower stands out with white and blue coloration checkered and is home to four clocks that one can tell need a little bit of polish. If you look closer under the clocks which are also stopped now, you are to be able to see the graffiti that says “Make Your Luck”. All in all, it resembles a kind of architectural build from some strange Seventies Lego set rather than a monument. But that is not the point, or is it? Of course not, that’s what makes it quirky. You should always try to capture a shot when walking in the area.

3. Street Mosaic Art

Many buildings in Tbilisi’s Old Town are outdated or neglected after several decades of disuse. However, the local artists have turned these structures into beautiful artworks of mosaic art Besides being home to the Steps of Mtatsminda Park, Leonidze Street has distressed buildings and turned them into beautiful houses of giant murals of tiles, mirrors, and ceramics. There is a huge three-story mural painting of a woman’s face, an underwater fantasy and there are several small unusual paintings. It is creative by adding a burst of joyful patterns among the otherwise faded buildings in the streets.

4. Dry Bridge Bazaar

A large-scale flea market, with a touch of a museum of peculiarities of the city – Dry Bridge Bazaar can give a fair idea of the peculiarities of Tbilisi of the past epochs. Surfing through the Web, people will stumble across rooms with dust-covered paintings, oxidized silverware sets, Soviet-style stacking dolls, stone-carved chessboards, and cigars dated back to grandparents. And lots and lots of books which may include 1920 Georgian poetry books or even technical books. As much as the stalls are numerous, there is no logic or order in the kinds of merchandise that are being sold. That is why it is so much fun to explore the cramped and cluttered corridors.
The absence of space is often felt in every corner, and yet the beauty of it is that it is not boring to look at. I could not help but anticipate that there would be some valuable and peculiar item to bring home. But do make sure that the skills of bargaining are polished well before using them!

5. Graffiti Under the Bridge

To experience a taste of Tbilisi’s modern creative direction, take a trip under the main bridge of the Mtkvari River. This bridge links old Tbilisi to the business part of the town and is popular with the younger people of the city who graffito the walls and pillars of the concrete structure. This is a very dynamic art since the tags and images are constantly painted over by new ones. Weekends particularly gather several groups of teenagers who contribute to the visual representations of the patterns by simply taking photographs, particularly selfies, against the backdrop. The pieces of art that this graffiti presents are cartoons, political messages, patterns, etc, they all portray the youthful energy of the rising generation of Tbilisi.

So when you’re wandering around the city of Tbilisi, and you’ve done all the usual tourist sites in the city be sure to check out some of these five odd places. One is sure to come back home with many interesting stories to tell, or even better, remarkable experiences to cherish. And, of course, some possibly whimsical mementos that one acquires somewhere on the road too! The fascinating and artistic side of the city, which is easy to miss if one sticks to conventional tourist itineraries, can be seen everywhere from the unique architecture of different buildings to murals that appear on the walls at random.

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