Azadi Square

Azadi Square
Freedom Square
Native name	Meydāne Āzādi Error {{native name checker}}: parameter value is malformed (help)
Former name(s)	Shahyad Square
Area	6.8 ha (17 acres)
Location	Tehran, Iran
Coordinates	35°41′59″N 51°20′14″E / 35.69972°N 51.33722°E
North	Mohammad Ali Jenah Expressway
East	Azadi Street
South	Saidi Expressway
West	Karaj Makhsus (Special) Road
Other
Designer	Hossein Amanat

Azadi Square (Template:Lang-fa Meydāne Āzādi), formerly known as Shahyad Square (Persian: میدان شهیاد Meydāne Ŝahyād), is a mainly green city square in Tehran, Iran. It hosts as its centerpiece the Azadi Tower. The tower and square were commissioned by Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran, to mark the 2,500th year of the foundation of the Imperial State of Iran.

Design and Architecture

It has an area of about 50,000 m², plus adjacent areas and has a very large roundabout within its main confines. It is the largest square in Tehran and the second largest in Iran, being smaller than Azerbaijan Square in Tabriz.^{[citation needed]}

The 50 m tower is in the center of the square. The design of the tower and the surrounding area is an archetype of Iranian-Islamic architecture and aesthetic geometry. The fountain is inspired by Iranian gardens, and the slope of the square was carefully and purposefully designed, assisting with efficient irrigation. This status is reflected in the green and bold choice of name, meydāne as in Turkish being loosely cognate with medina, in some Arabic senses meaning garden square, otherwise secluded quarter.

Before the Iranian Revolution in 1979, it was called the Shahyad Square (میدان شهیاد Meydāne Ŝahyād), meaning "Shah's Memorial Square", and was the site of many of the Revolution's demonstrations leading up to 12 December 1979. Annually many Iranians celebrate the revolution in Azadi Square. One of the famous concert halls of the capital is at the tower.