Tbilisi is delighted to welcome the 25th IUSTI Europe Conference on September 23-25, 2010.

Tbilisi is the capital and largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mtkvari River. Tbilisi is sometimes called Tiflis, which is its Medieval non-native name.

Made the capital of the country in the 4th century Tbilisi is a significant industrial, social, and cultural center in the Caucasus. The city is also emerging as an important transit route for global energy and trade projects. Located strategically at the crossroads between Europe and Asia and lying along the historic Silk Road routes, Tbilisi has often been the point of contention between various rivaling powers and empires. The history of the city shows through its architecture, where the modern Rustaveli avenue and downtown are blended with narrower streets of the Medieval Narikala district.

Demographic picture of the city is diverse. Historically it has been home to peoples from different cultures, religions and ethnicities. Being overwhelmingly Orthodox Christian, Tbilisi is one of the only places in the world, where a synagogue and a mosque are located next to each other in the ancient Bath district several hundred meters from the Metehi Church (an Orthodox Christian church).

There is abundance of architectural sights (starting from those dating back to the 4th century BC up to modern times); museums; concert halls; cafes and restaurants; eastern markets; parks and fountains; and sports buildings and structures. The climate in Tbilisi is mild (average temperature in September – 20-22 ºC / 68 – 71.6 ºF); food and drinks are exceptionally good; and people are friendly and cordial.