Sulfur baths of Abanotubani are located at the foot of the hill where the Narikala Fortress stands. In this area, in ancient times, sources of medicinal sulfur water were discovered, which were marked even on maps of the Ancient Rome era. For several centuries, balneary complexes have been built on sulfur springs, which have become one of the main attractions of Tbilisi.
In the 4th century, the capital of Georgia was the city of Mtskheta, where Tsar Mirian III was baptized and proclaimed Christianity the state religion. His heir Tsar Vakhtang I Gorgasal decided to move the capital to Tbilisi. An important factor for making this decision was the presence of the impregnable fortress of Narikala on a high hill, on the banks of the Kura River. It allowed to control an important route of the Silk Road in Transcaucasia.
However, an equally important factor in this decision was the presence of sulfur springs in this place, which had a therapeutic effect on people with their regular visits. Legends related to the falconry of King Vakhtang I Gorgasal have been preserved, and there sulfur springs are even called the main reason for the decision to move the capital.
The famous Russian poet Alexander Pushkin visited the sulfur baths in the Abanotubani area and after that wrote: "I have never met anything more luxurious in Russia or Turkey than the Tiflis baths." Until now, these words are a good advertisement for a luxurious balneological complex in the center of old Tbilisi, in the Abanotubani district.
The name of the capital of Georgia Tbilisi (formerly Tiflis) comes from the word Tbili (tfili), which means "warm". This is due to the warm sulfur springs. The city does not have the wide fame of a balneological resort, but if you come here, then you should definitely plan a visit to the Sulfur Balneary in the Abanotubani area. These baths were built from the 17th to the 20th century. Most of the sulfur baths are built in the Persian architectural style with stone domes over the pools.
There are public baths here, but it is better to book separate rooms and necessarily with swimming pools. Sulfur water is supplied to these pools directly from underground sources. In summer, the water temperature can be very high, more than 40 degrees. It is almost impossible to stay in this water for a long time, but it is important not only to sit in the water, but also to breathe sulfur vapors. According to local people, it helps with many diseases.
