Georgia Capital

The capital city of Georgia is Tbilisi and is located in the eastern part of the country near the Tbilisi National Park and the region of Rustavi. Tbilisi has been the capital city of Georgia since 1122 when the King of Georgia at the time (David the Builder) conquered the city and moved his headquarters to the region. According to archaeological evidence, the area has been inhabited by humans since the 4th millennium B.C. The city has always been an important and established trade route between east-west global powers.

The population of Tbilisi is 1.1 million (2014 National Census) and more than 100 ethnic groups reside in the area. The overwhelming majority, 89%, consists of ethnic Georgians but there are significant numbers of Armenian, Azerbaijanis, and Russians living in Tbilisi. It has been estimated that 95% of the city practices some form of Christianity but the city has been historically known for religious tolerance of Islam and Judaism whose followers also exist in smaller numbers throughout the city.

The Old Town of Tbilisi showcases the religious tolerance in the city and Orthodox churches, a mosque, and a synagogue can within a 500 metre (1,600 foot) area. The Jvari clifftop Orthodox monastery dates back to the sixth century and is a must-see when visiting the city. The Georgian National Museum, Art Museum of Georgia, and the Open Air Museum of Ethnography are also excellent sites to visit. The Tbilisi National Park and Botanical Gardens provide a great outdoor setting for hiking and other activities.

The climate of Tbilisi is a humid subtropical environment with warm summers and moderate-to-cold winters. The average high during the hottest month of July reaches 31.2 degrees Celsius (88.2 degrees Fahrenheit) and the average low in August is 24.9 degrees Celsius (76.8 degrees Fahrenheit). During the coldest month of January, the average low is -0.8 degrees Celsius (30.6 degrees Fahrenheit) and the average high is 6.6 degrees Celsius (43.9 degrees Fahrenheit). The coldest temperature ever recorded in Tbilisi is -24.4 degrees Celsius ( -11.9 degrees Fahrenheit) which was recorded in January 1883.