About this experience
During the Soviet era, up to 7 million people visited Georgia's resorts annually. A whole cluster of sanatoriums grew around the radon springs in Tskhaltubo - a small town 10 kilometers from Kutaisi. We will explore abandoned buildings, imagine a perfect day for a Soviet vacationer, and see how the image of paradise on Earth changed from era to era. And we will end the tour with a brief but enjoyable SPA in the working baths.
What to Expect
Stroll in Kutaisi
Our tour will start from the central square of Kutaisi. I will tell you about its ensemble built in the 50s, and we will discuss the building of the Lado Meskhishvili Theater - a magnificent Empire-style structure. We will take a walk in the park and consider the non-trivial urban sculpture of Kutaisi. Trust me, there will be plenty to marvel at. We will see the building of another theater - this time the Opera and Ballet. I will talk about its complex fate and explain why Kutaisi has so many theaters.
Space Parliament Building in Georgia
Next, Tskhaltubo awaits us. But first, we will stop to see the glass futuristic building of the Georgian Parliament designed by the famous Spanish architect Alberto Domingo Cabo. This is not entirely relevant to our excursion theme, but perhaps you won't have another opportunity to see this futuristic structure.
Sanatoriums in Tskhaltubo
The Tskhaltubo sanatoriums can be divided into three groups: Stalinist, Khrushchev, and Brezhnev-era constructions. The architecture, especially the resort one, is based on the idea of an ideal organization of life (a prototype of paradise on Earth), and we will see how it changed from era to era.
Currently, most sanatoriums are in a ruined state, so we have the opportunity to see many architectural details without retouching. We will walk through some of the complexes and imagine what it was like - a day of a Soviet vacationer in Tskhaltubo.
Then, through the city park, we will head to the restored radon baths. And you can end the tour with a visit to one of them.
Organizational Details
One of the sanatoriums is now restored and accommodates guests. If you wish to stay there, I will give you a tour of the park and buildings. This fascinating journey is not so much in space as it is in time.
Additional Expenses
- Cost of one bath visit - from $15 for 20 minutes
- Possible transfer from Batumi - $80 (200 lari)
