Tblisi is the capital of Georgia. It sits astride the Mtkvari river (yes, that is 4 unfriendly consonants in a row) and is surrounded on three side by mountains. There is evidence of habitation here since 3000 BC, although the city has been sacked many times by Byzantines, Romans, Persians, Mongols, Turks and Russians. In 1795 the city was completely destroyed by the Persians so almost everything has been rebuilt since then. Under Soviet reign a lot of very ugly architecture was created and many of the huge concrete slab apartment blocks still remain. But there are also a lot of really elegant buildings from the pre-soviet era, as well as more modern architecture, and of course a million churches. Although most Georgians belong to the Georgian Orthodox Church, Tblisi is known for its religious tolerance. This is particularly evident in the "old town" where mosques, synagogues and churches stand in close proximity. Discounting the tourists, Tbilisi is home to Armenian, Azeri, Greek, German, Russian, Ukrainian and various other populations. You can sit at a corner café and hear a dozen languages passing by.
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