Description of the attraction
Freedom Square is the geographical center of the capital of Georgia - the city of Tbilisi. In the Middle Ages, the area was called Caravanserai or Hotel Square. In 1827, Russian troops under the leadership of General I. Paskevich captured the fortress city of Erevan. Among other awards, General I. Paskevich was awarded the title of Count of Erivansky. As a result of these events, Tbilisi square was named after Paskevich-Erivansky. In the future, the squares were left with a short name - Erivansky Square.
At the beginning of the second half of the nineteenth century. the modern city square began to be actively built up: the ravine was filled up, the place where the lists and the Sunday market took place was leveled, and a plan was also outlined for the construction of future streets. In 1851, the construction of the caravanserai (Hotel Square) of the merchant Tamamshev was completed, which at the same time became a theater. With the appearance of this theater, the city square was renamed Teatralnaya. In 1918 it was given a different name - Freedom Square. However, after the arrival of the Soviet Army, the square was renamed again, but this time in the Zakfederatsia square. The area acquired a much smaller size, since a huge caravanserai was located in its northern part. In 1940, the local authorities decided to demolish the caravanserai, expand the area and make it the central city square. With the annexation of Georgia to the USSR, the square began to bear the name of Beria, and a little later it was named after Lenin.
Despite its small size, the current Freedom Square each time becomes a gathering place for crowded demonstrations and an arena for political battles. Today, in the central square of Tbilisi, there are the Marriott Hotel, local administration bodies and the central branch of the Bank of Georgia. In November 2006, the opening of the Freedom Monument, depicting St. George slaying a dragon, took place on the square. The monument was created by Zurab Tsereteli.
Freedom Square is the perfect place to start a walking tour of the city center.
