The Tiflis baths, located in the Abanotubani district, are among the oldest and most picturesque corners of old Tbilisi.
The first structures appeared here as early as the Early Middle Ages.
According to legend, the hot springs were discovered by King Vakhtang Gorgasali (c. 440–502).
While hunting for a pheasant near the springs, he saw the wounded bird drink the water, recover, and fly away.
Vakhtang decided this was a sign from above and ordered a city to be founded at the springs.
The city was named Tbilisi, which in Georgian means “Warm City.”
Archaeological evidence shows that the springs were known in much earlier times as well: near the springs, baths dating to the I-II centuries CE were discovered.
These baths were decorated with mosaics and had an extensive system of ceramic pipes.
The first springs were found in the gorge of the Tsavkisistskali river.
Initially, the baths were simple stone pools.
Most of the buildings that have survived to this day date from the XVII-XIX centuries.
During this period, the quarter was actively rebuilt by Persian and Georgian craftsmen.
The well-known Beboutov, Orbeliani, and Sultan baths, among others, belong to this era.
The baths’ domed roofs, covered with brickwork, became an integral part of the cityscape.
The unique appearance of the Tbilisi baths is closely linked to the nature of the thermal springs—their underground layout helped retain heat and protected the structures from fluctuations in temperature.