First published: 11/04/18.

Shannon O'Donnell

Tbilisi Historic District

Tbilisi Historic District (On tentative list)

Absolutely one of the most charming cities in the world, I would recommend Tibili's Old Town to any traveler looking for inspiration that might reignite the travel spark. The Republic of Georgia itself is fascinating and my favorite places in the lower Caucasus region — the food, wine, architecture, history, and culture are completely unique in the world. 

For the Historic District itself, the best way to explore is on foot and with a camera in hand. The aesthetic is just gorgeous, with lattice-worked balconies sighing from colorful buildings. It's a fading glory though, and you can feel some of the Soviet-era destruction and just lack of ability to maintain. In that way, Tbilisi reminded me a lot of Havana, Cuba — it's so pretty, but some of that comas as a decaying beauty that is the priced the city (and residents) paid for living through history. 

The impressive Narikala fortress and Mother Georgia statue rise above the Historic District, which are also completely explorable and enjoyable. I've visited quite a few other UNESCO cities, including Antigua, Guatemala; Luang Prabang, Laos; and Hoi An, Vietnam — this one ranks high on this impressive list of cities. 

Perhaps even more enjoyable, however, are some of the more intangible aspects of traveling in the Republic of Georgia. The hospitality, the beautiful polyphonic signing (also UNESCO), the long history of wine (and the drinking of it that is quite present in current culture). Then, the city also makes for a great day trip out to other cities filled with historic monasteries, ruins, and more. 

When you visit Tbilisi, you can absolutely feel the history and understand why this charming city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

 

 

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