TBILISI: Bourgeois Sololaki

At the turn of the 19th-20th centuries, Tiflis underwent a colossal transformational leap toward becoming a modern European city. You will see firsthand in what historical, economic, and aesthetic context the Sololaki district emerged, proudly called the "Asian Paris" by contemporaries.

The guide will take you through the most iconic buildings of that era, and together, you will "read" the styles, typologies, architecture, and layout of the urban fabric.

During the tour "Bourgeois Sololaki: What Rich Tiflis Residents Built a Century Ago," you will see:

Eclecticism, modernism, orientalism, gothic, renaissance, and rococo;

The largest house in Tiflis before 1917;

The most charming square in Tbilisi.

You will also learn:

What architecture is and how to "read" it;

How skyscrapers are designed;

How Tiflis transformed from a traditional city to a modernized one and became part of the European community;

How architects of the capitalist boom era in the Russian Empire managed to create the unforgettable appearance of the capital city, which still influences Tbilisi’s architecture today.

Duration: 2-2.5 hours.