Writers' House of Georgia – A mysterious palace of art

A mysterious Writers' House of Georgia, located at Machabeli Street in Tbilisi, is a palace of art that* keeps many interesting stories and secrets. **The owner of this house was Davit Sarajishvili, a pioneer in the production of Georgian Cognac.*

In 1903, Davit decided to build a house on the land that was a legacy from his father. He invited a German architect Carl Zaar. In 1905, the completion of the construction and the 25th wedding anniversary of Davit Sarajishvili and Ekaterine Porakishvili were celebrated at the same time. The architect greatly mixed Georgian and European architectural styles. A beautiful terrace of Writers' House was designed with ceramic tiles that were ordered from a very famous Villeroy & Boch company.

Design of the house is unique and we can see such kind of mosaics only in three other places in the whole of Europe. You can see similar mosaics in the Cologne Cathedral in Germany, the Abbey of Einsiedeln in Switzerland and the Big Theatre (Bolshoi Theatre) in Moscow. Another interesting fact is that similar tiles were also used on the Titanic.

A story of the Writer’s House

This house was so unique and beautiful that people called it a palace. It was a favorite place for high-profile guests. Many meetings, exhibitions and concerts were held in this house for the aristocrats and artists. As Davit Sarajishvili did not have inheritors, he left his home to the Tbilisi City Hall. His dream was this place to become a house of art. From 1921, it was a meeting point for the most talented writers and artists, that is why, even today, it is called Writers’ House. In 2017, five residential rooms were open on the third floor of the Writers' House. By this action, this place joined the network of literature residences in the world.

The Writers' House today

Nowadays, writers and translators have a great opportunity to visit Writers' House of Georgia, stay there and create their literary works in this unique atmosphere. The rooms are also available for other guests, as its last floor serves as a hotel.

Tourists can spend unforgettable days in the Writers' House that is located in the heart of the old town. Each room of this residence is named after one of five great foreign writers that are connected with Georgia: Alexander Dumas, Nizami Ganjavi, Boris Pasternak, Oliver Wardrop and John Steinbeck. Each room has a distinctive design from others, and it carries different auras.

These five rooms are exceptional as they represent small museums of the writers, where each detail is important and well thought. In the yard, you will see a lovely garden where** Café Littera is located. Here, one can taste Georgian dishes prepared with a warm heart for the guests of the Writers' House**.

You can enjoy the relaxing environment and be inspired by the beauty of this palace of art. If you visit a mysterious Writers' House, don’t forget to explore its secrets and interesting stories by yourself.