Rustaveli Avenue ( ka, რუსთაველის გამზირი, ''Rust'avelis Gamziri''), formerly known as ''Golovin Street'', is the central avenue in
Tbilisi
Tbilisi ( ; ka, თბილისი ), in some languages still known by its pre-1936 name Tiflis ( ), is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Kura River with a population of approximately 1.5 million pe ...
named after the
medieval
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire a ...
Georgian poet
A poet is a person who studies and creates poetry. Poets may describe themselves as such or be described as such by others. A poet may simply be the creator ( thinker, songwriter, writer, or author) who creates (composes) poems (oral or w ...
,
Shota Rustaveli
Shota Rustaveli ( ka, შოთა რუსთაველი, c. 1160 – after c. 1220), mononymously known simply as Rustaveli, was a medieval Georgian poet. He is considered to be the pre-eminent poet of the Georgian Golden Age and one of ...
.
The avenue starts at
Freedom Square and extends for about 1.5 km in length, before it turns into an extension of Kostava Street. Rustaveli is often considered the main thoroughfare of Tbilisi due to the numerous governmental, public, cultural, and business buildings that are located along or near the avenue. The
Parliament of Georgia
The Parliament of Georgia ( ka, საქართველოს პარლამენტი, tr) is the supreme national legislature of Georgia. It is a unicameral parliament, currently consisting of 150 members; of these, 120 are proporti ...
building, the
Georgian National Opera Theater
The Georgian National Opera and Ballet Theater of Tbilisi ( ka, თბილისის ოპერისა და ბალეტის სახელმწიფო აკადემიური თეატრი), formerly known as the ...
, the
Rustaveli State Academic Theater, the
Georgian Academy of Sciences,
Kashveti Church
{{commonscat, Kashueti Church
The Kashveti Church of St. George ( ka, ქაშვეთის წმინდა გიორგის სახელობის ტაძარი) is a Georgian Orthodox Church in central Tbilisi, located acr ...
, the
Georgian Museum of Fine Arts,
Simon Janashia Museum of Georgia (part of the
Georgian National Museum
The Georgian National Museum ( ka, საქართველოს ეროვნული მუზეუმი, tr) unifies several leading museums in Georgia.
The museum was established within the framework of structural, institutional, and ...
), and
Biltmore Hotel Tbilisi among others, are all located on Rustaveli.
In 1989, tens of thousands of
Georgians
The Georgians, or Kartvelians (; ka, ქართველები, tr, ), are a nation and indigenous Caucasian ethnic group native to Georgia and the South Caucasus. Georgian diaspora communities are also present throughout Russia, Turkey, ...
gathered before the House of Government on Rustaveli Avenue. An attack by the Soviet
Spetsnaz
Spetsnaz are special forces in numerous post-Soviet states. (The term is borrowed from rus, спецназ, p=spʲɪtsˈnas; abbreviation for or 'Special Purpose Military Units'; or .)
Historically, the term ''spetsnaz'' referred to the ...
forces killed many protesters in the
April 9 tragedy.
Accessibility
The thoroughfare is served by the
Tbilisi Metro and buses.
''Georgia: The Bradt Travel Guide'', Tim Burford, p.113ff.
/ref> It is one metro stop away from another historical artery of Tbilisi, Agmashenebeli Avenue
Life on Rustaveli Avenue
Rustaveli Avenue starts at Freedom Square. The first building on Rustaveli Avenue is Rustaveli Cinema, the biggest cinema in Georgia. Opposite the cinema are the Youth Palace and former Parliament Building of Georgia. Kashveti Church is located between the Art House of Tbilisi and the Art Museum. There are many beautiful buildings on Rustaveli Avenue; among them are the Tbilisi Opera House and the Rustaveli Theatre. The avenue is full of various cafes, shops, restaurants and other entertainment places. Rustaveli Avenue is a mix of modern and 20th-century architecture. Rustaveli Avenue is a place of many public protests, but it's also the place of many outdoor exhibitions, performances, etc. The avenue is one of the best architectural and tourist centers of Tbilisi.
Gallery
Golovinsky Prospekt, Tiflis (NatGeo 36, 1920).JPG
Rustaveli Avenue, Tbilisi (B).jpg
Tbilisi-Rustaveli-08-Rustaveli-Theater-2019-gje.jpg
Tbilisi-Rustaveli-04-2019-gje.jpg
Tbilisi, Tbilisi Parliament Building, Georgia.jpg
Tbilisi-Rustaveli-10-Opernhaus-2019-gje.jpg
Tbilisi Marriott.JPG
Rustaveli Avenue P1000187.jpg
See also
* David Agmashenebeli Avenue
References
Streets in Tbilisi
Tourist attractions in Tbilisi
{{Georgia-transport-stub