Rustavi, Industrial metropolis in Kvemo Kartli, Georgia.
Rustavi sits on both sides of the Mtkvari River, featuring residential neighborhoods built during the Soviet period mixed with newer commercial buildings. The city spreads along the river, blending these different urban elements into a single landscape.
The settlement began as a Bronze Age community and became the location of the Caucasus's first steel plant when Soviet authorities built it in 1948. This industrial development shaped everything that followed in the city.
The local history museum displays objects from different periods and offers insight into the city's past through its collections. The drama theatre here hosts regular performances, allowing visitors to experience contemporary Georgian theatre.
You can reach the city from Tbilisi by van in about 50 minutes, with frequent departures throughout the day. It helps to plan your visit outside the hottest summer months, when the weather is more comfortable.
The city is home to the largest used car market in the Caucasus, where vehicles from different countries change hands daily. It also preserves the final race track built during the Soviet era, still used for events today.
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