The Bridge of Peace has become a real calling card of modern Tbilisi – a pedestrian bridge made of glass and steel, which connects Rike Park with Irakli II Street. Many tourists come here for beautiful photos. Moreover, it is possible to take good pictures both during the day and at night.
Peace Bridge in Tbilisi – Interesting Facts
The Bridge of Peace is a young and bright structure that stands out from the surrounding landscape. It was built in 2009-2010, and it became the eleventh bridge to span the Kura River.
Even at the construction stage, there were controversies around the bridge: some city residents believed that the appearance of the structure disfigured the ancient city, while others, on the contrary, were happy with the innovations and advocated for keeping up with the times.
Ill-wishers compared its design to the Always sanitary pad, while supporters thought it resembled a bicorne, Napoleon’s famous hat.
However, it was officially opened on May 6, 2010, becoming one of the symbols of the new Tbilisi.
The Bridge of Peace is located between the Baratashvili and Metekhi bridges. Few people know that despite the ultra-modern design of this Tbilisi landmark, it repeats the outlines of the Mukhrani bridge, built more than a hundred years ago. In the middle of the last century, it was dismantled and the current Baratashvili bridge was built in its place.
The design of the structure was created by the Italian architect Michele de Lucchi, who also built the presidential palace in Tbilisi (Georgia). The structure consists of four steel supports and glass, it is 156 meters long and about five meters wide. The pedestrian part of the bridge is quite small – about two meters, but thanks to the additional four descents, passing through the bridge is not difficult and there are almost never crowds of people.
The main feature of the bridge is its illumination at night. The unusual idea of illumination was invented and brought to life by Philippe Martineau, a designer invited from France. The thing is that about 50 thousand light bulbs are built into it, which, blinking, transmit a message encrypted in Morse code. The message encodes all the elements of the periodic table that are present in the human body. Hence the reference to the name of the bridge – despite the appearance and origin of a person, we all consist of the same elements.
However, the illumination can be different. For example, a drawing in the form of the flag of Georgia is very popular.
In July 2023, the bridge was reconstructed. Repair work lasted for two months and now it is ready to receive guests of the capital in its updated form.
Peace Bridge – how to get there
As we mentioned above, the Bridge of Peace connects the old part of the city with the recently laid out Rike Park. For many years, the territory of the current park in the city center was a vacant lot where disreputable individuals would gather. In 2010, almost simultaneously with the construction of the glass miracle, a park was laid out there, decorating the city and attracting many people to this place.
It is very easy to get to the landmark:
By metro: to the Avlabari station. From here, the bridge is no more than a ten-minute walk away.
A leisurely 20-minute walk from the Ploshchad Svobody metro station.
You can also approach from the other side of the bridge by bus, the closest stop will be called the Sioni Temple.
What to see near the Peace Bridge
Since the Bridge of Peace is located in the old part of the city, many other sights of Tbilisi can be seen nearby.
First of all, this is the new Rike Park, which, according to the plan, from a bird’s eye view repeats the outlines of Georgia on the map. Despite the small size of the park, every square meter in it is used wisely.
The park is very well-kept and clean, with many alleys, benches of different shapes, fountains with water. Here you can admire the singing fountains, modern sculptures, they found a place here for the monument to Ronald Reagan and an interesting 9-meter sculpture “Wish Tree”. There are few living trees in the park yet, and in sunny weather it is very difficult to find a place in the shade.
The cultural complex in Rike Park attracts special attention with its unusual design: the so-called “two pipes”. The amazing building was built according to the design of Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas. The shiny and bright structure made of steel and glass resembles a periscope in shape, which looks out over the old city. This project also had many opponents, but the complex fits harmoniously into the park and forms a single ensemble with the Bridge of Peace.
The lower station of the Tbilisi cable car is located in Rike Park. The path is quite short, taking no more than two or three minutes, and leads to the Narikala Fortress and the Mother of Georgia monument. Along the way, the cabins offer panoramic views of old Tbilisi and the narrow streets of the city.
Not far from the Narikala Fortress are the popular sulfur baths of Tbilisi, known since ancient times. Luxurious baths with water from natural springs were once mentioned by Alexander Pushkin. And today the Abanotubani district is a historical place that is very much loved by both guests and residents of the city.
Bridge of Peace in the photo
The unusual design of the bridge and its striking appearance attract the attention of every viewer. The view of the bridge at night is especially captivating.
We invite you to admire the bridge from different angles at different times of the day in our photo gallery.
The Peace Bridge in Georgia is a special and striking structure that not only performs its practical function, connecting the two banks of the river, but also, thanks to its design and unusual appearance, has become an example of modern art in architecture. The youngest bridge in Tbilisi is definitely worth seeing during a walk around the city – light and airy, it will definitely remain in your memory.
More about Tbilisi and Georgia:
Best hotels in the mountains of Georgia
Souvenirs – what to bring from Georgia as a gift
Top 6 Restaurants for the Best Khinkali in Tbilisi
Best Hotels in the Center of Tbilisi
My name is Vitaly Kibitlevsky, I am a tour guide and creator of unique quests in Batumi. If you want to walk around the city with a fascinating storyteller or plunge into an exciting adventure, write to the mail: vitkibit@gmail.com
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