Old Tbilisi

The old town of Tbilisi (Georgian ძველი თბილისი / Dsweli Tbilisi) is located in the center of the Georgian capital on the right bank of the Kura. It is a separate municipality, was established in the early 19th century, but is home to a large number of urban products from the 5th to the 18th century. The cultural monument was submitted by Georgia in 1993 for the list of UNESCO world heritage.

History and Structure

Cause of the late emergence of the old town is the extensive destruction of Tbilisi in the city was conquered by the Persian army Aga Muhammad Khan in 1795. The city was completely rebuilt under Russian rule and expanded. The Russian administration put its focus on the development of new, more modern neighborhoods outside the Old Town, while the historic city center was rebuilt by local craftsmen. The reconstruction of the old town was completed by the mid-19th century.

The old town was built in the 5th century corresponds to the historic city center. During the reconstruction in the 19th century, the irregular, winding streets and medieval urban structure were obtained. Even today, the streets have the old cobblestone streets.

Significantly, the residential buildings from the traditional Tbilisi Type: There are two and three story brick building with a system of extensive, wide wooden balconies, arcades, outdoor staircases and a courtyard that serves as a vestibule. The outer and inner organization of the houses overlap. In summer, the balconies form a center of family life.

Buildings

The Old Town combines historic religious buildings of many religions: Three Georgian Orthodox churches, the Sioni Cathedral ( 5th century), the Metekhi (13th century) and the Anchiskhati Basilica (6th century), the Armenian- Gregorian Church, the Sephardic synagogue and the mosque.

The caravanserai (Georgian Karwasala ) Built in the 19th century on the foundations of a 17th century caravanserai. It testifies to the Silk Road, a historic east- west connection, once Marco Polo traveled on through Tbilisi. Today it is a shopping center with cafés and Ioseb - Grishashvili Museum of Tbilisi History. The Gorgasali Square was once a convergence of the camel caravans. In the small houses of the former bazaar at the Shardeni - street art galleries and shops have settled for arts and crafts and traditional jewelery. Streets bear the names of old crafts. Near the synagogue on Gorgasali Street to find Jewish restaurants and shops.

The old town includes the sulfur baths in the spa district Abanotubani from the (17th century). Tolstoy, Pushkin and Alexandre Dumas have visited and praised. Admission costs just 5 euros, a thorough massage for about 15 euros.

Parts of the old city walls have been preserved at the Baratashvili Street. In the gaps homes were built. A memorial wall commemorates the defense of the old city against the invading Persians in 1795 by a vigilante group headed by the court actor David Matschabeli. Opposite the wall stands a 23 -meter-high stele. It commemorates 300 Aragwinern, a Georgian military unit, the King Irakli II rescued at this point from Persian encirclement and the cost of their lives.

Repair

Over the centuries, the old town is falling apart. It was restored in 1934 for the first time. She was one of the few restoration projects in the Soviet Union. In 1975 it was officially declared a " historic district ". The houses were mapped in 1998 with funds from the World Bank to establish a basis for monument protection.

In September 2003, the Euro Europe and the Georgian government signed an agreement to Tbilisi project, which provides for a repair, modernization and revitalization of the historic center. The UNESCO and the International Organization for the preservation of cultural heritage took part in the realization of the project ( ICCROM ).

In the context of establishing new district boundaries in Tbilisi Old Town has its own municipality in 2007. He bears the name of Old Tbilisi ( ძველი თბილისი, Dsweli Tbilisi) and took over parts of the city districts Mtazminda - Krzanisi, Isani - Samgori and Didube - Tschughureti.