Republic Square ( tr, Samsun Cumhuriyet Square) is a large public square located in Ilkadim district of

Samsun Samsun, historically known as Sampsounta ( gr, Σαμψούντα) and Amisos (Ancient Greek: Αμισός), is a List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, city on the north coast of Turkey and is a major Black Sea port. In 2021, Samsun reco ...

Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...

. It is one of the two largest and busiest public squares in the center of Samsun including Samsun Saathane Square. The square was established in 1931 and has subsequently been renovated and expanded several times. The square sits atop a large municipal parking garage.

History

Republic Square plays an important role in the history of

and

as it is said to be where the first steps of the

Turkish War of Independence The Turkish War of Independence "War of Liberation", also known figuratively as ''İstiklâl Harbi'' "Independence War" or ''Millî Mücadele'' "National Struggle" (19 May 1919 – 24 July 1923) was a series of military campaigns waged by th ...

were taken by Ataturk. The first formal iteration of the square was established in 1931 with a major renovation and the addition of a municipal parking garage. The center of Samsun fell into a state of disrepair in the 1990s with suburbanization entailing many middle class residents moving out of the city center. The square however was revitalized with the opening of the Bulvar AVM in July 2012 which took the place of the abandoned though historic Samsun Tobacco Factory. The square was declared as an urban transformation and development area on April 21, 2021. Plans call for a large historical restoration project and the connection of Republic Square to neighboring Anit Park. As part of the restoration project, the municipal parking garage and neighboring Site Mosque will be demolished.

Location

The square is located in one of the busiest parts of the Ilkadim district, which is considered to be the center of Samsun. The Samsun Metropolitan Municipality Council, office buildings, a banks and the Bulvar AVM are located around it. The square is served by the Cumhuriyet Square stop of the

Samsun Tram The Samsun Light Rail Transit System (Samsun Tramway) is a light rail transit system located in Samsun and Atakum, Turkey. The 36.5 km Samsun Tramway connects Ondokuz Mayıs University to Samsun Stadium. The system was constructed in three ...

. The Samsun Gazi Museum is also located on the southern edge of the square. Among many other daily activities,

Blood donation A blood donation occurs when a person voluntarily has blood drawn and used for blood transfusion, transfusions and/or made into biopharmaceutical medications by a process called Blood fractionation, fractionation (separation of whole blood com ...

can be done on the Kızılay bus, which is located permanently in the square. As a result of its central location, the square hosts events held on national and religious holidays.

Gallery

File:Samsun Cumhuriyet Meydanı, 1931.jpg, Rubpublic Square, 1931 File:Samsun Cumhuriyet Meydanı'nında bir at arabası.jpg, A horse carriage around Republic Square, c. 1968–1969. File:Samsun Cumhuriyet Meydanı, 1973.jpg, Republic Square photograph, 1973 File:Samsun Cumhuriyet Meydanı, 1973 (2).jpg, Republic Square, 1973

Bibliography

References

{{Samsun Cumhuriyet Square