Tbilisi is the capital of Georgia and the largest city in the country. It is on the banks of the Kurá River and has 1 345 000 inhabitants and an area of 726 km². Founded in the 5th century by Vakhtang Gorgasali, the monarch of the ancient Caucasian region of Iberia, also known as Kartli, Tbilisi has been, with some interruptions, the capital of Georgia. The history of the city can be seen by its architecture: the style of Rustaveli Avenue, designed by Baron Haussmann, and that of the center, are mixed with that of the narrow streets of the medieval district of Narikala. Tbilisi is an important industrial, social and cultural center.
The city is an important transit route for world energy and commerce. Strategically located between Europe and Asia and formerly located on the Silk Road, Tbilisi has often been a key point in the relations of rival empires. The demography of the city is diverse and historically has been home to people of different ethnicities, religion and culture. Recently, Tbilisi has been known for the peaceful Revolution of the Roses, which took place in the Plaza de la Libertad and nearby places. As a result, the then president, Eduard Shevardnadze, was displaced from power. The name is teflisense or teflitano, in accordance with the Latin name of the diocese that existed in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The city has an international airport.
Its main tourist attractions are Sameba Cathedral, Freedom Square, Sioni Cathedral, Metekhi, Narikala, Georgia Parliament, Rustaveli Avenue, Opera and Ballet Theater, Anchiskhati Basilica, Mountain from Mtatsminda and the Kashveti church, near which are the National Museum of Georgia, the Historical Museum and numerous art galleries. The city was immortalized by painters Niko Pirosmani and Gudiashvili Side.