A beautiful entrance hall in central Tbilisi

Tbilisi Entrance Halls

The late 19th and early 20th centuries were a sort of golden era for entrance halls in the history of Tbilisi. It was during this period that many wealthy residents of the Georgian capital began building magnificent houses and commissioning master artists for interior murals. At that time, this craft was practiced by Russians, Italians, Germans, Azerbaijanis, Assyrians, and others (there were entire groups of architects and artists).

In many Tbilisi houses of that time, you can also find the word "Salve" at the entrance, which in Italian means "welcome" (or "hello"). Such greeting inscriptions are particularly common in the Sololaki and Chugureti districts.

The History of the David Kvirkelia House

Today i will talk about one beautiful entrance hall in the center of Tbilisi. It is located in the house of David Kvirkelia — a respected lawyer at the district court during the pre-revolutionary period. The architecture of the entrance hall is designed in the eclectic style, popular in Tbilisi at the end of the 19th century. Similar entrances were built for members of the intelligentsia and wealthy citizens.

The details attract the most attention in this hallway. For example, an antique lamp, fragments of stained glass, the staircase, railings, a tenant plaque, and, of course, a peerless masterpiece by artists — original murals on the walls and ceiling.

How to Enter the Entrance Hall

Stepping into an entrance hall is like using a time machine that gives you the opportunity to dive into the atmosphere of an era that is gradually evaporating.

📍 Address: Tamar Abakelia Street, 5 in the Mtatsminda district.

100 years ago, this street was called Malaya Sudebnaya (Little Court Street), and a sign has even been preserved. You can visit here on your own or with us as part of a tour of Tbilisi entrance halls.