The Shia Mosque, Tbilisi, Mosque in Old Tbilisi, Georgia
The Shia Mosque is a brick building in Old Tbilisi decorated with arched windows and mosaic work, positioned below Narikala Fortress at the end of Botanical Street. The structure features a distinctive octagonal minaret at its entrance that can be viewed from multiple angles throughout the surrounding area.
The original structure was built between 1723 and 1735 by Ottoman forces, then destroyed by Persian armies in the 1740s during regional conflicts. It was reconstructed between 1846 and 1851 and has functioned as a prayer space ever since.
The mosque serves Sunni and Shia Muslim communities who share the same prayer space without any physical barriers since 1996. This shared arrangement reflects how different groups have learned to worship together in the heart of the old city.
Wear respectful clothing when visiting and be aware of prayer times, as the building remains an active place of worship. Arriving early in the morning or late afternoon tends to be quieter for exploring the interior.
The octagonal minaret creates different visual impressions depending on where you stand, producing optical effects that are rare in the old city surroundings. This architectural detail becomes a visual reference point when walking through the neighborhood from various angles.
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