Downtown Tbilisi’s historical Pushkin Square goes under renovation

New green spaces, pedestrian paths, outdoor lighting will be arranged and upgraded as part of the effort expected to be completed in October. An artist impression. Photo: bm.ge

Agenda.ge, 28 Jun 2022 - 17:41, Tbilisi,Georgia

A total of ₾800,000 (about $272,108/€258,370) will be spent on renovating the Pushkin Square, one of the central and oldest public spaces in Georgia’s capital city of Tbilisi, Tbilisi City Hall announced on Tuesday.

Works for renovating the square, located adjacent to the Freedom Square - in a space rich with museums and designated to be turned into a “museum island” arrangement drawing inspiration from European cities’ practices with the concept - launched today.

Photo: Tbilisi City Hall

New green spaces, pedestrian paths, outdoor lighting will be arranged and upgraded as part of the effort expected to be completed in October.

Mayor Kakha Kaladze said the square had been in "a very bad condition" and noted the works would “completely renovate” the location before the adjacent Rustaveli Avenue, one of several major avenues of the city, would be “fully rehabilitated” next year.

Photo: Tbilisi City Hall

Pushkin Square was first opened during the Tsarist Russian rule of Georgia in 1885, under the name New Square. It was renamed after the Russian poet Alexander Pushkin to mark the 50th anniversary of his death.

A bronze bust of Pushkin, made in Petersburg, was unveiled in the square several years later.