Why Tbilisi?

Legend says a king’s falcon fell into a hot spring here, and the capital followed. The domed sulphur baths still steam in Abanotubani.

Orthodox, Armenian and Catholic churches, synagogues and a mosque share the old town within a few minutes’ walk.

The Jumah Mosque below the fortress is one of the few in the world where Sunni and Shia pray side by side.

Carved wooden balconies, painted stairwells and leaning houses make the old districts an architect’s sketchbook.

October turns the hills of Mtatsminda and the trees along the river yellow and red, under mostly clear skies.

Rtveli, the grape harvest, fills the countryside with picking, feasts and churchkhela hung to dry.

The Caucasus is about three hours away; ancient Mtskheta is twenty minutes.

Meals, taxis and museum tickets cost far less than in most European capitals.