Nona Gaprindashvili Chess Palace

The Nona Gaprindashvili Chess Palace and Alpine Club was opened in 1973 according to a project by architects Vladimir Aleksi-Meskhishvili and Germane Gudushauri. The building is located in Vere Park and is considered one of the finest examples of Georgian modernism. Today it houses the Georgian Chess Federation and the Alpine Club.

The complex appeared during a period when Georgian chess players held leading positions in the world. Its opening was connected with the achievements of Nona Gaprindashvili, the first woman to earn the title of International Grandmaster among men. The architects strived to integrate the building seamlessly into the park terrain. Due to the elevation change, the palace appears two-storied from the park side, while featuring an additional level on the opposite side.

The facades are faced with local Eklar limestone and complemented by expansive windows and open colonnades. A giant chessboard sits before the main entrance, while one facade displays an ornamental sculpture shaped like a chess queen. The centerpiece of the interior is a tournament auditorium seating 520 spectators. Over decades, national championships and international tournaments took place here. Today the complex remains the chief hub of Georgia's chess life.