Ateshgah Zoroastrian Temple

Ateshgah was built some time between the 5th-7th centuries when there was a heavy Persian influence in the city. Having survived the 1795 invasion that destroyed most of Tbilisi, it is one of the oldest – if not the oldest – structures in the city. The temple, a humble brick structure with a plastic roof, is no longer active. In fact it’s located inside a private residence: If you want to go inside, you’ll need to knock on the door and see if anyone’s home to let you through. The area around the temple is a beautiful maze of steep streets and wooden balconies.