The River Mtkvari is Georgia’s main river. It starts in Turkey, passes through Georgia, and ends up in Azerbaijan where it flows into the Caspian Sea. There are 12 bridges in Tbilisi that cross over the river connecting Tbilisi’s left and right embankments.
The oldest still-standing bridge on the river is Mikheil’s Bridge, named after the Russian Viceroy Mikheil Vorontsov. The newest one is the Peace (Glass) Bridge that connects Rike and Kala and is Tbilisi’s top highlight. Both bridges were constructed by Italian architects, though in different periods.
There were once several small islands on the river, among which the largest one was Madatov’s Island. None of them have been preserved, succumbing to urban developments during the 1930s. One of the bridges was even transformed into a viaduct after the flowing river below was dried up, allowing for the construction of the highway underneath it. At present this location is called the Dry Bridge, where locals come, sell their belongings, and make a little cash.
Boating on the River Mtkvari is a recent undertaking launched after 2015. The riverbed does not allow long distance navigation and boats usually limit themselves to trips of less than a few hundred meters. The short trips of up to one hour can cost as little as 5 EUR and embarkment is possible next to Metekhi Bridge. For those interested in watching the passing boats, Vakhushti Bridge – now Baratashvili Bridge – constructed in the 20th century, merits attention. By sitting at a new café, Bar of Love, on the lower level of the bridge, which is only open in the summer, it’s possible to enjoy some quite spectacular views of the city.
