Monument to Ilia Chavchavadze and Akaki Tsereteli

The Monument to Ilia Chavchavadze and Akaki Tsereteli is installed in front of the First Classical Gymnasium, one of the oldest educational institutions in Tbilisi. The sculptural composition is dedicated to two prominent 19th-century Georgian writers, poets, and public figures who are regarded as symbols of Georgia's national revival. It was largely thanks to their efforts that the Georgian language, literature, and culture received a new developmental impetus during the Russian Empire era.

Ilia Chavchavadze was a writer, publicist, publisher, and public figure. He founded the newspaper "Iveria", participated in the creation of the Society for the Spreading of Literacy among Georgians, and supported the opening of schools and libraries throughout the country. Akaki Tsereteli gained fame as a poet, writer, and enlightener, traveled extensively throughout Georgia, collected folklore, and popularized Georgian culture. His poems were set to music for the famous song "Suliko", which became one of the most well-known Georgian melodies.

The authors of the monument are sculptors Valentin Topuridze and Shota Mikatadze. They depicted Chavchavadze and Tsereteli not as official statesmen, but as close friends and like-minded companions. Thanks to this, the composition looks lively and natural: it seems as though two people paused mid-conversation. The monument is situated next to the gymnasium not by chance: education, enlightenment, and the development of national culture were the main ideals to which both dedicated their lives.