Avlabari Square and Armenian Heritage Quarter

Why is it significant?

Step into the bustling pedestrian expanse of Avlabari Square, the historical center of the left-bank Avlabari quarter.

Key Facts

Open the walk

Step into the bustling pedestrian expanse of Avlabari Square, the historical center of the left-bank Avlabari quarter. Historically settled by Armenian merchants, artisans, and tradespeople beginning in the early medieval era, Avlabari developed its own distinctive urban culture characterized by close-knit neighborhood courtyards, bustling craft guilds, and rich theatrical humor. At the square's center stands the delightful bronze monument to the characters of the classic comic play Khanuma, sculpted in 2011 by master artist Zurab Tsereteli.

Examine the expressive bronze figures of the matchmaker Khanuma, the impoverished Prince Vano Pantiasvili, and their colorful entourage, celebrating the famous comedy written in 1882 by Avksenti Tsagareli. The play immortalized the hilarious romantic rivalries, matchmaking intrigues, and vibrant daily life of nineteenth-century Avlabari. Look around the square to see the entrance of the Avlabari Metro Station, framed by traditional bakery stalls selling hot puri bread fresh from clay tone ovens and street vendors offering seasonal fruits.

In the nineteenth century, Avlabari was the intellectual and artistic cradle of the Transcaucasian Armenian renaissance. Pioneering Armenian writers Raffi, Hovhannes Tumanyan, and Gabriel Sundukyan walked these very streets, founding literary societies, printing presses, and schools that educated thousands of children. The residents of Avlabari were celebrated for their sharp wit, warm hospitality, and legendary ability to resolve neighborhood disputes over glasses of homemade mulberry vodka.

The lively energy of Avlabari Square pulses with authentic neighborhood life that has remained vibrant across changing eras. The delicious aroma of baking shoti bread and grilled shashlik fills the air, mingling with the cheerful chatter of shoppers and commuters. This iconic plaza warmly reflects the multicultural soul that has enriched Tbilisi for well over a millennium.

Walk southeast along Kaspi Street to discover the legendary Underground Printing House of 1903.