Tour of the Palace of Ceremonial Rites

The Palace of Ceremonial Rites was built in 1984 during Soviet rule by Georgian architect Victor Jorbenadze, aiming to bring ceremonial grandeur and socialist values to wedding rituals. The architect sought to solve one of the main challenges of that era: blending traditional Georgian elements with the innovative language of modernism. The palace was meant to be groundbreaking. However, its fate took a different turn — it was not accepted by society, fell into neglect after the collapse of the USSR, and was eventually acquired by Georgian businessman Badri Patarkatsishvili. On this tour, you will closely explore and analyze the building of the Palace of Ceremonial Rites, examining its architectural significance and cultural value for Georgia. You’ll also visit another palace nearby — the Arkadia Palace — built later during the country’s "transitional" historical period.