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Georgian Architecture in general is a fantastic landscape of watchtowers, hand carved balconies, and richly frescoed churches. Combined with a Mediterranean climate and a legendary hospitality, our buildings which seem torn straight from the fairy tales makes Georgia one of the unacknowledged marvels of the world. Indeed it can be regarded as the ultimate expression of our national heritage and our affinity, affection and skill with stone.
An ancient tradition reaching far back into pagan times, it seems to parallel the ancient metal crafts as well. The degree of artistry and creativity in the treasures that are our castles and churches, monuments and halls is deeply compelling and moving, as is the way it has been incorporated into modern buildings as well. From homes with circular floor plans to ancient cupolas to the triple-church basilicas there is a unique style and form here. Moreover the amount of ancient architecture that has survived here, especially in the mountains, is truly breathtaking.
The traditional Georgian house is called a "darbazi," which is a rectangular hall with a hearth in the middle and kind of beehive cupola (wooden beams set in a dodecahedron) over the top of it. Versions of it can be found in Tbilisi, at the famous Kopola hotel and the Darbazi of Porakishivil as well as the ethnographic museum. A supra in such an exotic location is not to be missed.
Tbilisi is well known for its unique cantilevered balconies of intricately carved wood which hang over the second floors of many of its buildings, and often hung over the old city walls as well. Painted in a wild variety of colours, from ochre to cinnamon, azure to white. The prototypical ‘Tbilisi house' is a blend of centuries blend of Georgian traditional with Russian classic.
At one time it was said Tbilisi had a church at the end of every street. Although not quite so today, new churches are still being built, from the giant new Sameba Cathedral, to the hundreds of small chapels dotted around the city. But it is still the old churches like Sioni, Kashveti and Anchiskhati, that steal the show and capture the full feeling of what it's always been like to be Georgian.
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