The historic Kalamkarov apartment in Tbilisi

The Sololaki District

In the middle of the 19th century, the center of Tbilisi, the Sololaki district, began to be actively developed with apartment buildings for the wealthy bourgeoisie and aristocracy.

This district differs from others by its special character. Any Tbilisi resident will tell you that it is worth simply walking through the streets of Sololaki to feel the atmosphere of the old city. Interestingly, the district itself is relatively young: even at the beginning of the 19th century, there were practically no residential buildings here.

Even on maps from 1828 and 1831, gardens and vacant plots are still visible on the site of future Sololaki. Major changes began in the late 1830s — the city grew rapidly, the population increased, and a need for new residential development arose.

From the 1840s, residential houses were actively built in Sololaki. It was during this time that Mikhail Vorontsov was appointed viceroy of the Caucasus. Under his leadership, not only Sololaki but also other districts of Tbilisi developed actively.

Our historical apartment of the Kalamkarov family today is located right here, in the Sololaki district.

The Kalamkarov Family

The house was built at the end of the 19th century. The Kalamkarov family lived here — a famous Tbilisi family, among whose representatives was the renowned gynecologist Ivan Kalamkarov. According to one city legend, his patient was the wife of Lavrentiy Beria. They say this is why in Soviet times, when many owners of mansions and apartments had their property confiscated, this house was not touched.

The doctor's descendants still live here — in one of the apartments, they managed to preserve the atmosphere of the past. The interior has practically not changed: frescoes on the walls and ceilings, original carved doors, old window frames, and windowsills have been preserved.

The rooms contain antique furniture with patterned carvings, a unique working fireplace remains, and an ancient chandelier with a lifting mechanism — a so-called "elevator" that allowed it to be lowered to light candles — hangs from the ceiling.

Historical Apartments in Tbilisi

Paintings and old family photographs hang on the walls, reminding us of past generations of owners. Thanks to these details, the apartment looks not like a museum exhibit, but like a living space where every object keeps its own history and memory of the Tbilisi of the past.

A visit to the Kalamkarov apartment is a true journey through time. Here you can feel the atmosphere of the old city and imagine how Tbilisi families lived more than a hundred years ago. You can visit this apartment during our excursion of the historical entrance halls of the Sololaki district.