Freedom Square ( cargo. თავისუფლების მოედანი ) is located in the central part of Tbilisi , the capital of Georgia .
| Freedom Square | |
|---|---|
| cargo. თავისუფლების მოედანი | |
| Tbilisi | |
 | |
| general information | |
| A country |
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| area | District Vera |
| Former names | Erivansky Square, Lenin Square |
| Named after | and |
| On the cards | |
Rustaveli Avenue , Pushkin , G. Leonidze , G. Tabidze , Kote Abkhazi , Shalva Dadiani streets lead to the square. On the square are the city administration bodies of Tbilisi, as well as the central branch of the Bank of Georgia and the Marriott Hotel. In the future, the administrative building of the local government of Old Tbilisi will also be located on the square, the construction of which has already begun.
Content
History
During the existence of the city fortress (Kala), it represented the square in front of the entrance to the city through the Kodjor Gate.
It was called Caravanserai (Hotel Square).
After Georgia’s annexation to Russia, urban development was carried out according to the approved plans. The northwestern regions of Tbilisi were less dangerous during enemy invasions, and there were tendencies in the development of the city in this direction. By 1824, the headquarters building of the Caucasian Corps was erected on the square, the construction of the Zubalashvili Hotel was underway. In the 1830s, the building of the police department was built on the square, later this building was rebuilt more than once.
The square was named in honor of the victories of Paskevich-Erivansky, from 1827 until the revolution, it bore this name ( General Paskevich , Count of Erivansky or simply - Erivansky Square).
In 1847-1851, a theater and a Tamamshev caravanserai were erected in the center of the square, designed by architect J. Skudieri. Theater in 1859 was visited by A. Dumas, the father traveling around the Caucasus, who left rave reviews. October 11, 1874 the theater burned down and was no longer restored.
In 1848, the remains of the fortress wall were dismantled. The building of the Tiflis Passage (architect A. Shimkevich) was erected on the liberated territory in 1901-1902.
In the 1880s, the area was paved with cobblestones, the Sololaksky (Avanaanthevi) ravine located here was filled up, and water drainage was arranged. In 1884, the bazaar located on the square was transferred to Vereisky Descent (now - Mikhail Javakhishvili Street ).
In Soviet times, the square was first called Beria Square, then - Lenin Square. In 1934, the caravanserai in the square was demolished, in its place built stands of guests of honor, planned as a pedestal for the monument to V.I. Lenin (the project was not implemented). In 1938, the stands were moved to the north side, and in the 1950s they were completely demolished. Tram tracks were removed from the square. Due to the territory of the square, Pushkin Square adjoining the square was somewhat expanded.
The square has repeatedly become the venue for mass protests, in particular during the Rose Revolution , and also in Soviet times - for the independence of Georgia from the USSR . In 2005, the square was the venue for the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II , in connection with which about 100,000 people gathered there, addressed by US President George W. Bush and Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili .
In 1956, a monument to Lenin was erected on the square (sculptor V. Topuridze , architects S. Kavlashvili , G. Melkadze, G. Khechumov, K. Chkheidze) [1] . The total height of the monument was 18.5 m, the height of the figure was 7.5 m. On August 28, 1990, the monument was dismantled.
On November 23, 2006, the Monument of Liberty created by Zurab Tsereteli was unveiled - a monument depicting St. George killing a dragon.
Notes
- ↑ Dzhanberidze N. Sh., Kintsurashvili S. Architecture of Soviet Georgia: [Album]. - M .: Gosstroyizdat, 1958. - S. 14. - 243 p.
Literature
- ენციკლოპედია "თბილისი". 2002