In many capitals of the world there are places where every tourist simply needs to visit. They perfectly combine the local flavor, you can really meet the echoes of the past and even find amazing, almost rare things. These are small and simply huge open-air museums where you can really buy anything. There are also in the capital of Georgia. In this case, we will talk about the "flea" market on the "Dry Bridge" in Tbilisi.
Brief historical background of the market
This unique market has its own history. It begins at the beginning of 1881. At that time, the legendary "Dry Bridge" was designed and built, on which the market itself subsequently arose.
Initially, the "Dry Bridge" in Tbilisi was conceived as a kind of crossing, helping local residents to move from one bank of the Kura River to the side of Madatovsky Island. By the way, this piece of land once belonged to a princely familyOrbeliani.
Toward 1933, the river flowing at the bottom of the building had to be drained. Instead of a reservoir below, they decided to lay asph alt and make a roadway in order to at least slightly unload the city from vehicles. And after that the building began to be called "Dry". There are many different bridges in the capital, but there is only one "Dry" one.
Who built the Tbilisi bridge?
The design and construction of the "Dry Bridge" in Tbilisi was undertaken by the famous Italian engineer Giovanni Scudieri. Together with Count Mikhail Vorontsov, he took an active part in the construction and controlled the project at all stages of its implementation.
In addition to the bridge, the talented Scudieri owns the construction of a military cathedral on modern Rustaveli Avenue, the Tiflis Opera. However, only the “Dry Bridge” has been perfectly preserved to our time. The rest of the engineer's creations were razed to the ground.
The Emergence of the "People's Market"
The "flea market" on the "Dry Bridge" in Tbilisi appeared in the early 90s. This period coincided with the development of commerce and the establishment of Georgian independence. Those were not easy times. Everyone survived the best they could. Therefore, many locals came here with the most valuable household items and hoped to earn some money for themselves and their families.
However, when hard times have sunk into oblivion, many residents returned to their immediate duties. Others preferred to stay here and develop trade in full, attracting the attention of inquisitive tourists and others.souvenir hunters.
Modern open-air flea market
Today the market on the "Dry Bridge" in Tbilisi is a huge trading platform. Over time, the number of merchants and goods increased significantly. Moreover, there was a place here for both real artisans who create various products with their own hands, and collectors who collect items with Soviet themes.
According to local residents, the contingent among local sellers is very diverse. For example, on the bridge you can see real Georgian artists selling their miraculous creations. By the way, some of them will gladly draw your portrait. They will do it promptly and in their own non-standard manner. Of course, any whim for a separate fee.
There is still room for ordinary people to sell their stuff at the city's popular flea market. "Dry Bridge" in Tbilisi will gladly host traders of handicrafts, dishes and other goods.
Everything is debugged and put on stream
As the locals say, only from afar it seems that the market is chaotic. There is perfect order here. Everything is debugged and put on stream. So, in addition to the masters themselves, artists and other creative personalities, there are ordinary sellers here.
In average markets, they are called "distributors". For those not in the know, they are not the direct manufacturers or owners of the product. They just sell it forit's a certain percentage. It is interesting that many suppliers, for example, of ceramic and clay products, have several such distributors at once. These points are scattered throughout the market, which increases the likelihood and effectiveness of sales.
Going to the "Dry Bridge" in Tbilisi, you can see the incredible scale of the assortment and display of various goods. But do not even think that the merchants carry all their valuables themselves. Of course, there are such craftsmen. But more often than not, salespeople have their own movers. It is they who take out and take out things, sorting each place separately.
No stalls and counters
On the "Dry Bridge" everything is simple. Merchants do not bother too much and lay out their goods right on the ground. Therefore, pyramids and garlands from a wide variety of products appear on paving slabs and even on curbs.
Sometimes a hastily opened veil or blanket serves as a kind of showcase. True, each seller lays out his products at a certain distance from each other. Therefore, tourists, collectors, just onlookers and other people can easily and naturally walk between them. Some enterprising sellers are setting up sales right out of the trunks of their cars.
What to buy in the market?
The Flea Market on the bridge is one of the most famous markets in the city and one of the most popular places for tourists. Because here you can find almost everything your heart desires. The market itself begins long before the entrance to the bridge. It welcomes guests with its windows of small souvenir shops and antique shops.
In the "flea market" itself, you can find a lot of exclusive goods and rare things. Most common here:
- Books in Russian and Georgian (some of them are very old and out of print).
- Items of clay and porcelain utensils.
- Vinyl records.
- Badges, flags, emblems with Soviet symbols.
- Paintings, panels, icons.
- Medals, coins, stamps, postcards.
- National Georgian souvenirs.
- Gramophones, players.
- Camera.
All this and much more is quite possible to buy at the "Dry Bridge" in Tbilisi. Market hours: 9:00 to 17:00. It is open to everyone on weekdays. Entrance is free. However, it is best to visit the market on the weekends. At this time, the “flea market” has more choice, and there are a lot of people here. There are chances of a successful bargain.
How to get to the Dry Bridge in Tbilisi?
You can get to the market from anywhere in the city. For example, it is possible to do this in a regular taxi. To do this, just name the final destination and the network in the car.
The second option is to go to the "flea market" using public transport. If you are traveling from the city center, you should pay attention to buses numbered: 20, 23 and 95. And, finally, the third option is to take the metro to the station called "Ploshad Pobedy". According to locals, the market is only a 10-minute walk from here.
In a word, whichever route you takechosen, you can easily find the legendary bridge.