Tbilisi Historic District

Tbilisi, Georgia
6th century--Present
Tbilisi has served as the capital of Georgia from the sixth century to the present (under the Soviet regime it was the capital of the Georgian S.S.R.). The narrow streets of its medieval core are defined by traditional Tbilisi dwellings: two- or three-story residential buildings fitted with a wide wooden balcony adorned with carved panels, cornices, and columns. Also figuring into the fabric of Old Tbilisi are Orthodox churches, synagogues, mosques, and Catholic churches. Repeated invasions by Arabs, Persians, Turks, and others throughout the centuries changed the city's architectural character, but it was during Soviet annexation that sizeable historic portions were leveled to accommodate a modern infrastructure. Since independence in 1991, the changeover to private ownership of the traditional dwellings now poses the greatest threat to the city. Although funds and investments are becoming available for restoration, inappropriate alterations to the traditional structures are changing the city's character. Tbilisi is an active urban place and while no one advocates keeping the historic center a museum piece, investors need to be convinced that sensitive reuse and conservation will enhance the value of properties in this fragile historic area.

Listed in 1998