Wine bowl and sword
Welcome and defiance.
Mostafameraji — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Mostafameraji — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Mostafameraji — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Mølecule — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Mostafameraji — CC BY-SA 4.0
A huge aluminium statue about twenty metres tall on the crest of Sololaki hill above Tbilisi, raised in 1958 for the city's 1,500th anniversary. It shows a woman in traditional Georgian dress holding a bowl of wine in her left hand to welcome guests and a sword in her right against enemies, a symbol of the Georgian character: generous to friends, fierce to aggressors. It stands on the same ridge as Narikala fortress, and the walkway around it gives wide views over the old town, the sulphur baths, the Bridge of Peace and the Mtkvari river. The statue can be seen from almost anywhere in Tbilisi and is lit at night. The visit is free. The easiest way up is the cable car from Rike Park on the riverbank to Narikala, then a ten-minute walk along the ridge to the statue, or the stairs up from Sololaki. The path is a little rocky, so wear comfortable shoes. The best time is just before sunset, when the city below changes colour, then down to the Abanotubani baths in the evening.
Welcome and defiance.
From Sololaki hill.
From Rike Park.
Sololaki hill, above the old town, Tbilisi
Narikala FortressAn ancient fortress crowning a steep hill above Tbilisi's Old Town and the Mtkva4 minutes walk4.8
National Botanical Garden of GeorgiaA large botanical garden in the Tsavkisis-Tskali gorge on the southern slopes of5 minutes walk4.5
Sioni CathedralThe Cathedral of the Dormition, known as the Tbilisi Sioni, stands on Sioni Stre5 minutes walk4.9
Juma Mosque of TbilisiThe only surviving mosque in Tbilisi's Old Town, on Botanikuri Street at the foo6 minutes walk4.9
Abanotubani Sulphur BathsA historic quarter of Tbilisi's Old Town whose Georgian name means «bath distric6 minutes walk4.4A wine bowl to welcome guests and a sword to face enemies, a symbol of the Georgian character.