Look at the Republic of Georgia’s Weird and Awesome Architecture

The ancient Narikala fortress overlooks Georgia’s capital city Tbilisi and offers some of the best views from its perch atop a steep hill. This impressive walled structure was once a Persian citadel, with the oldest parts being constructed in the 4th century.

Opened in 2010, Tbilisi’s Bridge of Peace stands in stark contrast to the historical landmarks of Tbilisi’s downtown. This glass and steel pedestrian bridge brightens up the Kura River with its interactive LED light display. Motion sensors create the impression that the lights come on for every individual crossing the bridge and a Morse code message is played every hour.

Though construction of Tbilisi’s Holy Trinity Cathedral, or “Sameba” as it is commonly known, only finished in 2004, it has become a national symbol of Georgia and is one of the biggest religious buildings in the world. A contest was held to find the perfect design for what was to become the main Georgian Orthodox church, and it was funded mainly by anonymous donations.

The Gabriadze Theater was the first Georgian puppet theater, but don’t be fooled into thinking that these shows are for children. Under the direction of famed Rezo Gabiadze, performances are very artistic and may involve mature themes. Gabiadze also designed the exterior of the theater himself.

The Presidential Palace is the main office of the Georgian President’s administration. This modern landmark stands high above downtown Tbilisi, facing opposite the Narikala fortress. It was designed by the same architect responsible for the Bridge of Peace and was created in 2009.

The Svaneti region of Georgia is located on the southern slopes of the Caucasus mountains in northwest Georgia. The landscape of the region is sprinkled with fortified tower houses that date as far back as the 9th century. Due to the rugged terrain and distance between villages at the time, it was more practical to make each home its own fortress than to secure a larger area. More than 200 of these towers still exist, and they are now protected UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Many people may not know that Joseph Stalin was Georgian. At the Stalin Museum in the Georgian city of Gori, the house where Stalin was born has been preserved. A memorial was originally opened here in 1937, and a protective pavilion was later built around it.

The Alphabetic Tower sits 130 meters high in the seaside city of Batumi. Overlooking the Black Sea, this structure’s unique architecture is meant to symbolize the uniqueness of the Georgian people and their alphabet. The Georgian alphabet is used exclusively for the Georgian language. The tower combines these letters with the DNA double helix.

Vardzia is a cave monastery complex located in the south of Georgia. Constructed in the 12th century, this series of caves includes historical wall paintings and is closely linked to the golden age of Tamar the Great, the first woman to rule Georgia in her own right.

The Dadiani Palaces Museum complex is considered to be one of the oldest museums in the country and houses three palaces that were associated with the Dadiani dynasty, the royal family of Megrelia. Some of the museum’s most interesting artifacts are connected to Napoleon Bonaparte, including one of his four death masks.