Fresh colours illuminate Tbilisi’s historical areas

Bright lights in hues of red, green and blue are shining vibrantly on some of Tbilisi’s most popular tourist spots to highlight the architectural and natural beauty of Georgia’s capital city.

This week Tbilservice Group announced it had installed special energy saving lights at four popular tourist spots in Tbilisi.

Tbilservice said the LED (light-emitting diode) lamps would showcase each area’s historical importance and present them in a new, creative way.

One of the locations Tbilservice focused was Leghvtakhevi ravine in Tbilisi’s historical Abanotubani bath district, where LED lights replaced ordinary street lighting to illuminate the rock formations of the historic Old Town area in a vibrant, colourful way.

New coloured lights illuminate the Leghvtakhevi ravine rock formations. Photo from Tbilservice Group.

Tbilservice said 28 LED lamps had been installed in the ravine to offer a fresh view to tourists walking the paths and narrow bridges crossing the Tsavkisistskali River in the enclosed area.

The existence of Leghvtakhevi ravine was first noted in historical sources dating back to 1429, and the ravine later became part of Tbilisi's Botanical Garden in the 19th Century.

After decades of neglect, a reconstruction of the area was launched in 2012 to restore the space and fully utilise its tourist potential. Earlier this summer visitors to the spot could see footage of the city's history projected against rock formations rising to the sides of the popular walking spot.

Meanwhile LED lights were also installed at Freedom Square and along the streets leading out from the city centre.

The new lamps were also installed on Pushkin St, leading down from Freedom Square to Mtkvari River. Photo from Tbilservice Group.

Baratashvili and Pushkin streets – the latter reopened recently after a new flyover was completed – were also now lit up with new bright lights. 

Another area where new lights were fitted was the Rike Park area on the opposite side of the Mtkvari River.

Tbilservice said 283 LED lamps now provided the lighting for houses and parks in these areas.

The agency said it expected the new lighting systems to reduce energy consumption by 60-70 percent. LED systems are known for low energy demands compared to common fluorescent lamps of comparable light output.

An old house on Pushkin St lit up by the new LED lights. Photo from Tbilservice Group.

The central Tbilisi streets surrounding the Freedom Square and the Leghvtakhevi ravine are all prominent tourist destinations for people visiting Georgia's capital.

Baratashvili and Pushkin streets are also widely; the streets direct vehicle and pedestrian traffic from the central square to Old Town streets on both banks of Mtkvari River.