Rich in active gases or metals — a strong mineral character.
Buoyancy
Standard buoyancy
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Soft water — natural, classic buoyancy.
SoufreSulfuresSulfates
The Narikala Sulfur Baths in Tbilisi's historic Abanotubani district sit at the very origin of the Georgian capital — legend holds that King Vakhtang Gorgasali founded the city in the 5th century after discovering these hot springs, and the name Tbilisi itself means 'warm place' in old Georgian. The domed bathhouses, some centuries old, channel naturally hot sulphurous water at around 37°C directly from the volcanic bedrock beneath the old town. Bathing in these atmospheric vaulted chambers is an intensely local experience, celebrated by writers from Alexandre Dumas to Alexander Pushkin who visited and left glowing accounts. A visit to the Narikala baths remains one of the most authentic thermal experiences in the Caucasus.
Insider tip — The Abanotubani sulfur bath district in old Tbilisi gave the city its name — 'Tbili' meaning warm in Georgian — as hot sulfurous water has bubbled up through the tuff bedrock here for at least 1 500 years. The distinctive domed rooftops of the bathhouses line the Mtkvari riverbank beneath the Narikala fortress, creating one of the most photographed urban thermal districts in the world. Private rooms with marble basins are the traditional format, with a kisi (exfoliation) scrub performed by an attendant. Come on a weekday morning to experience the baths as working-class Tbilisi uses them, not as a tourist attraction.
