In April 2025, we spent a few days in Tbilisi, staying in a house with an Italian-style courtyard. Our home was on the upper floor of one of those old buildings connected by wooden balconies.

Our neighbor was an elderly Georgian woman. Although we didn’t speak the same language, she would send us off every morning with a gentle smile and a wave.

Every street we walked down seemed to open into yet another courtyard. It felt as if the city kept guiding us into the heart of these intertwined lives.

When you walk through the streets of Tbilisi, it’s not uncommon to catch a glimpse of life inside old buildings. Through an open door, you might spot a shared courtyard: colorful laundry fluttering on clotheslines, tomato plants in pots, and neighbors chatting by the stairway.

These spaces are more than just backyards—they are living communities. The buildings that frame them are known as Italian courtyard houses.

“Italian”—But Uniquely Georgian

The name Italian courtyard house might suggest a direct connection to Italy, but that’s not quite accurate. The term came into use because the layout of these homes resembles the courtyard-centered design of Italian city houses. In reality, these buildings are a local adaptation that also reflect Ottoman and Persian architectural influences.

Key Architectural Features

Central courtyard: All units face a shared open space.
Wooden balconies: These wrap around the courtyard and serve as communal walkways.
External staircases: Stairways lead from the courtyard to upper floors.
Multifamily housing: Several families often share the same structure.

These houses became popular in Tbilisi in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, during the Tsarist era. The city, under Russian Empire control since 1801, was rapidly urbanizing. With people from different ethnic and religious backgrounds living together, these buildings became a physical symbol of Tbilisi’s multiculturalism.

Soviet-Era Transformations

After Georgia was taken over by the Soviet Union in 1921, life in these houses changed:

Many homes were nationalized, with multiple families assigned to a single dwelling.
The courtyard became an essential communal space.
While few new structures were built, existing buildings were adapted to fit the new social order.

During this time, painting house exteriors in vibrant colors or decorating them individually was prohibited. The goal was architectural uniformity. Today, the colorful facades seen across Tbilisi often reflect a quiet rebellion against that past.

Everyday Life and Local Legends

One charming detail about these houses is the grapevines that still grow in many courtyards. Some have been there for generations, climbing stairways or forming shady canopies. Locals still make homemade wine from the grapes—fitting, in a country where winemaking has an 8,000-year-old history.

Multilingual Lives Under One Roof

Georgians, Armenians, Azerbaijanis, Jews, and Russians once lived side by side in these homes. They shared kitchens, courtyards, stories, and songs. This unique blend of languages and traditions is part of what gives these houses their lasting charm.

A Tradition That Still Breathes

Today, many of these buildings are overshadowed by modern apartment complexes and trendy cafes, but they are far from forgotten. Despite signs of wear, many are still lived in—and they continue to echo with the spirit of old Tbilisi.

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