Anyone for a bath in Tbilisi?
Abanotubani, an ancient and historic part of Tbilisi, is known for its sulphuric baths. It is also the place where, according to legend, the King of Iberia’s (Vakhtang Gorgasali) falcon fell to earth, leading to the discovery of the hot springs and subsequent founding of a new capital.
We visited the baths as part of a walking tour of Tbilisi. They cover a large area, and include quite a few different baths. A particularly stylish one (don’t know it’s name) has a tiled exterior and is a lovely example of Islamic architecture. It’s located right at the foot of the Narikala Fortress.
The baths are open to the public, but I’m not keen on the smell of sulphur, so gave that opportunity a miss. I’ve read that you can soak in communal baths or hire a private room. Scrub downs are said to be pretty invigorating and oh-so reasonably priced.
Don’t forget to pick a number before 29 February 2012.
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