Top 10 reasons to visit the pearl of Tbilisi: Chugureti

If you are planning a trip around Georgia or just a weekend trip to Tbilisi, then you should visit a very atmospheric district of the city: Chugureti. Why is Chugureti worth visiting? With this list of the top10 reasons Picnic will help you find answers to this question.

 

1. David Agmashenebeli Avenue

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The major arterial route of Chugureti district is 2 km long Agmashenebeli avenue, which in its southernmost part turns into an amazing pedestrian zone in European style and Georgian flavor. Walking down Agmashenebeli street, you cannot take your eyes off its architectural masterpieces built in different styles: from famous Tbilisian carved balconies to classical and modern.

 

2. Chavchanidze’s house

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One of the most beautiful buildings of Agmashenebeli avenue: “Eagle House” was built by merchant-Erasti Chavchanidze and attracts the attention of passers-by for its unique facade. The hallway of Chavchanidze’s house is particularly interesting for its artistic designs-realistic landscapes, pseudo-classical and rococo style drawings, scenes from the “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin” and oriental motifs, believed to be works by masters from Florence.

3. One Night Palace

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On the small street Kargareteli situated in the vicinity of David Agmashenebeli Avenue stands the “One Night Palace”. It’s impossible to pass by it indifferently. This wonderful building has a very unusual love story behind, which could serve as a plot for making a wonderful film.

4. Fabrika

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If you have a desire to explore Georgian capital city more deeply and truly, then you should definitely visit the creative cluster “Fabrika”. Once a soviet sewing factory has been revived and transformed into a multi-functional urban space bringing together enthusiastic individuals and everyone, who wants to know what the city lives today with and what its future will look like.
Fabrika is a favorite spot among locals and tourists, which unites urban style cafes and bars, artist studios and shops, educational institutions, co-working space, etc.

 5. Dinamo Arena

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Chugureti has something to offer for football fans, too: the home stadium of Dinamo Tbilisi, once one of the most popular and prominent football clubs of the former USSR and by the way, winner of the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1981. Of all the football clubs in the country only Dinamo Kyiv and Dinamo Tbilisi won that trophy. After the refurbishment in 2006 Dinamo Arena became an all-seater stadium with the capacity of nearly 55000.

6. Bassiani

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And after a long, intensive day you can relax dancing in the best club in Tbilisi: Bassiani, located in the building of the city’s largest sports venue, Dinamo Arena. It utilizes a disused swimming pool as the main dance floor. Bassiani is the largest techno club in Georgia and can accommodate around 1,200 people.

 

7. Jansug Kakhidze Garden

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Jansug Kakhidze Garden in Agmashenebeli Avenue in Tbilisi is named after Jansug Kakhidze, the music director of the nearby Georgian State Symphony Orchestra for two decades. At the entrance of the Garden stand statues created by sculptor Zurab Tsereteli dedicated to Iliko Sukhishvili and his wife Nino Ramishvili. Together they founded the Georgian National Ballet and due to their efforts Georgian national dancing and music has become known in many parts of the world.

8. House-museum of Niko Pirosmani

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If you stand facing the station, on your left side you will see Pirosmani street, named after the famous painter, considered to become the prototype of the main character of the well-known song by Alla Pugacheva – “Million of Red Roses”. Pirosmani literally sold all his possessions and filled the whole street near the window of the beautiful French actress Margarita’s house with a sea of flowers. The rest of his life he lived in poverty in the house that stands at current Niko Pirosmani Street # 29 and which later after his death was turned into his house-museum.
The house-museum of Niko Pirosmani, the size of which is only 6 square meters, is the smallest museum in the world!

9. Desertirka or food market of Tbilisi

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One of the most popular spot for shopping in Tbilisi is Deserter Bazaar ( Dezertirka ), which earned its name during wartime: soldiers absconding from the Russo-Georgian War in the 1920s would offload their weapons and gear at the marketplace, earning it the moniker ‘’deserter’’.
Nowadays “Dezertirka” is famous for its low prices and vast range of everything that is possible to buy in Georgia.
Besides staple foods we recommend to buy Sulguni cheese (which is represented here in all types and at a wide range of prices), churchkhela, Georgian ajika and spices.

10. Wine Gallery

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In Chugureti there is an amazing place, where you can buy true Georgian wine not only as a gift for friends but also for an evening wine-drinking in the balcony of your rented Tbilisian apartment by Picnic.
On the first floor of Wine Gallery there is a wine boutique of bottled beverage, and on the ground floor: wine on tap shop with the possibility of tasting.