Art Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History, Tbilisi

The Art Palace of Georgia – Museum of Cultural History occupies a splendid late 19th-century palace, built in 1882 by German Prince Constantine Oldenburg for his beloved Agrafina Japaridze-reflecting a dramatic love story that echoes within its walls. Designed by architect Paul Stern, the palace is a distinctive blend of Gothic and Islamic architectural styles, featuring steep roofs, ornate cornices, a tower, and decorative merlons that set it apart in the city’s architectural landscape.

In 1927, this ornate residence was repurposed to house Georgia’s Museum of Theatre, Music, Cinema, and Choreography, later renamed and rebranded as the Museum of Cultural History. Today, it's the Caucasus' only museum of its kind, impressively containing well over 300,000 items that chronicle the evolution of Georgian theatrical, musical, cinematic, and folk traditions.

Walking through the Art Palace, visitors encounter a mesmerizing array of exhibits: antique theatrical masks from Vani, rare 17th‑century Persian miniatures, manuscripts of cultural icons, gramophone records, ornate costumes, playbills, and decorative arts that span centuries. Among its intimate offerings, one finds the sketches of stage designs, portraits of prominent theatre figures, scenic decorations, and even personal artifacts that bring Georgia’s performing arts history vividly to life.