Page 37 - MASALA Magazine Vol.15 Issue 8 | December - January 2025

CULTURE
Georgia’s culture is a very unique blend of Asian and European
influences. Due to its geographical location, Georgia was conquered
by the Romans, Persians, Arabs, Turks, Mongols, Ottomans, and
even the Russians in the 19th Century. Resilience, it seems, is
woven into the very fabric of their being. As a traveller, visit the
following places in Tbilisi to see how the Georgians have managed
to rise up from rubble again and again. Where else to go in Georgia?
• Kutaisi – the capital of ancient Georgia possesses the
perfect blend of history, nature and culture with caves,
rivers and monasteries to visit.
• Mtskheta – one of the oldest cities in Georgia, where
you can take in medieval architecture and majestic
Svetitskhoveli Cathedral.
ART
• Tato Art Bridge - I accidentally stumbled across this
bridge in an attempt to get a photo of the peace bridge,
and boy, was I thankful I did! Art lined the walls of the
bridge with compelling stories of Georgian history.
• Georgian Museum of Fine Arts - built to house the
HOLY TRINITY CATHEDRAL OF TBILISI best artwork Georgia has to offer, with artworks from more than
On my way to the Cathedral, a local taxi driver said, “We Georgians 3,500 artists.
are very religious people, faith has really kept us going.” And the • Street art at Fabrika, Chugureti (Marjanishvili) – during my four
Cathedral, built in 2004, is evidence of how devout the people days, I visited twice because there was so much to take in!
truly are with churches and services across the city.
FOOD
MEIDAN BAZAAR As a vegetarian, I was slightly concerned about what food would be
The bazaar has been a hub for trade since the 4th century, where available to me, but fortunately, I had no trouble finding food in
merchants from East and West would sell their goods to each Tbilisi. Here are my top three dishes and where to try them:
other. Excitingly, it was even a central stop along the famous Silk
Road. Today, the spirit of the bazaar lives on as a cultural bazaar, Khinkali, Georgia’s version of dumplings, comes with a variety
selling tourists a range of Georgian goods ranging from wine to art. of fillings for meat lovers and vegetarians alike. While I was
there, I sampled the gooey, cheesy-filled dumplings and meaty
NARIKALA FORTRESS mushrooms, both succulent and unexpectedly filling. Try them
Although the fortress itself was closed when I was in Tbilisi, the at Sofia Melnikova’s Fantastic Douqan, a rustic Georgian
short hike up the mountain and the view were well worth the visit. experience with outdoor and indoor seating. Their prices are
Overlooking the city, I could see how the old blended into the affordable, with a menu that covers local and international
new and where history has left its mark. cuisine, especially a good spot if you are travelling with a big group

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