Independence Square, Tashkent

The main ceremonial square of Uzbekistan, laid out in central Tashkent as the setting for state celebrations and national holidays. It is entered through an ornate arch topped by storks and centred on the Independence Monument, a globe marking the country's sovereignty, together with a mother-and-child sculpture. Nearby stands a memorial with an eternal flame and long walls inscribed with names of those lost in war. Fountains, gardens and broad walkways make the square a focal point of the modern capital.