Leaning tower
Gabriadze's fantasy.
Benreis — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Gerd Eichmann — CC BY 4.0 · Benreis — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Benreis — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Andrew Milligan sumo — CC BY 2.0 · U.S. Army photo by Sgt. LaShic Patterson — Public domain · Gerd Eichmann — CC BY 4.0 · Moahim — CC BY-SA 4.0
A leaning clock tower straight out of a fairy tale, on Shavteli Street in Tbilisi's Old Town beside the marionette theatre of Rezo Gabriadze, the celebrated Georgian director, screenwriter, painter and sculptor. Gabriadze designed the tower himself, and with its stones, tiles and little balconies it looks as though it might topple at any moment. Every hour a small door opens near the top and an angel comes out to strike the bell. Twice a day, at noon and 7 pm, a short wordless puppet show called «The Circle of Life» plays in the tower's window, telling a love story from first meeting through marriage, children, old age and farewell. Two panels of coloured tiles designed by Gabriadze decorate the lower facade, and the theatre's small café sits in front. Locals make a wish when the bell rings, and Atlas Obscura included it in 2019 among the world's best-known architectural clock monuments. Watching the tower and the show from the street is free, while puppet performances inside the theatre need separate tickets, often booked ahead. Arrive a few minutes early to find a spot, as the narrow street fills up at showtime.
Gabriadze's fantasy.
A wordless puppet show.
Every hour.
Shavteli Street in the Old Town near Anchiskhati Church, Tbilisi
Anchiskhati BasilicaTbilisi's oldest surviving church, a small stone basilica in the heart of the ol1 minute walk
Bridge of Peace and Rike ParkA bow-shaped pedestrian bridge of steel and glass spanning 150 metres across the4 minutes walk4.8
Sioni CathedralThe Cathedral of the Dormition, known as the Tbilisi Sioni, stands on Sioni Stre6 minutes walk4.9
Georgian National Museum (Simon Janashia Museum)Georgia's leading museum of history and archaeology, officially the Simon Janash7 minutes walk4.3
Tbilisi History Museum (Karvasla)The Tbilisi History Museum, named after the poet Ioseb Grishashvili and run by t7 minutes walkThe angel rings the bell every hour, and «The Circle of Life» plays twice a day, at noon and 7 pm.