Freedom Square, Tbilisi

The central square of Tbilisi, historically the meeting point of the old town and the newer 19th-century districts, and renamed several times through Georgia's changing regimes. At its heart stands a tall column topped by a gilded statue of Saint George slaying the dragon, unveiled after independence to replace an earlier Soviet monument. The square is ringed by the city hall, banks and hotels, and functions as a hub for buses and pedestrians. It has served as the focal point of major national celebrations and protest movements alike.