Tbilisi, Georgia — Georgia
EN- 01Tbilisi · 11:39
Tbilisi The Vake District and Tbilisi History
1946 marked the opening of Vake Park, a space defined by its distinctive red sand pathways and a grand central axis of fountains. At the highest point of the hill overlooking this area, a memorial stands dedicated to those who served in the Second World War. In 2002, this part of Tbilisi experienced a seismic event when a magnitude 4.3 earthquake occurred in the vicinity. The local landscape also reflects more recent political history, as the building at 51 Chavchavadze Avenue once served as the Russian Embassy before diplomatic relations were severed in 2008 following a five-day conflict. The district itself is named after the prominent writer Ilia Chavchavadze, whose avenue serves as a major artery for the area. It is a notable shift from the street's original name, which honored the orientalist Nicholas Marr between 1935 and 1957.
- 0211:46
Memorials of Vake District
Boris Tsipuria, a People's Artist of Georgia, lived in this neighborhood for nearly four decades, from 1968 until 2005. A memorial plaque marks the residence where he spent those years, documenting his long presence in the area. Not far from that spot, the writer and professor Givi Gachechiladze resided between 1969 and 1974. These small markers serve as the primary record for the creative individuals who inhabited these streets during the late twentieth century.
- 0311:56
Tskneti and its ancient roots
It is good to find you back on this route through the Trialeti Range. While you have passed through here before, the slopes around Tskneti hold secrets that reach much further back than the modern settlement suggests. Archaeologists have uncovered pottery and tombs here that date back to the Late Bronze Age. These findings indicate that people were establishing their presence in this gorge long before it became a known summer retreat. Even now, three small churches built between the 17th and 19th centuries remain standing as quiet markers of those earlier generations. The climate here is quite distinct, with the Vere River valley creating a pocket of mild winters and long, warm summers. It is this specific geography that has defined the rhythm of life in Tskneti for centuries.