Tashkentul are o populatie de 2.2 milioane de locuitori. Numele sau vine, dupa unii, din cuvantul turcic “tash“, adica “piatra” si persanul “kent“, adica “oras”. Altii afirma ca etimologia trebuie cautata in cuvantul sogdian “tschatsch”, adica “locul de pe deal”. In vechile surse chineze, este mentionat orasul Shi, in timp ce cele iraniene vorbesc despre Chach. In timpul cuceririi arabe apare numele de Ming Urik, iar in secolele IX-X se foloseste numele de Binket. Numele actual apare mentionat abia la sfarsitul secolului al X-lea.
Unul dintre cele mai mari orase din Asia Centrala, Tashkentul este numit “steaua Orientului” sau “mesagerul pacii”, indicand rolul de lider pe care orasul l-a jucat vreme de peste 20 de secole.
Incepem plimbarea din Piata Amir Timur, dominata de statuia ecvestra a marelui lider militar si om de stat, fondatorul imperiului timurid. Desi a fost un om care a luptat toata viata sa pentru a-si largi teritoriul, Timur (Tamerlan) nu este infatisat cu sabia in mana, ci cu un gest care sugereaza reconcilierea. In Uzbekistan exista 3 statui ale sale: cea de aici, din piata centrala a orasului, una in localitatea sa natala, Shakhrisabs si a treia in Samarkand, capitala imperiului sau. Pe monument sunt scrise cuvintele lui “Forta se afla in dreptate”.
Piata, numita initial Piata Constantin, a fost proiectata de un arhitect al Rusiei imperiale si avea in centrul sau statuia unui general rus. Este cea mai veche piata din oras. Mai tarziu, o serie de alte monumente s-au perindat pe aici: Muncitorii liberi (1917), monumentul inchinat celei de-a 10-a aniversari a Revolutiei din Octombrie (1927), monumentul lui Stalin (1947) si apoi cel al lui Karl Marx (1968). Din 1993, Amir Timur si-a ocupat locul.
Chiar in stanga hotelului, o cladire alb stralucitoare, pe al carei acoperis se afla doua berze (simbolul pacii si fericirii), adaposteste Sediul Congreselor Internationale, construit in 2009. cu ocazia aniversarii a 2200 de ani ai orasului Tashkent.
Sediul Congreselor Internationale
In continuare sa, faimoasele turnuri cu ceas, primul construit in 1947, al doilea construit ca o replica a sa, in 2009. Ceasul constituie trofeu de razboi si a fost adus aici din Konigsberg.
turnul cu ceas, simbol al orasului
Doua cladiri gemene din caramida, cu trei etaje, adaposteau acum o suta de ani liceul de baieti si cel de fete. Din 1918, cladirile au fost ocupate de cea mai veche universitate din Asia Centrala. In prezent, ele adapostesc Institutul Juridic de Stat. Nu departe de ele, o cladire in stil baroc, construita in 1875 pentru Banca de Stat, este si astazi sediu de banca.
fostul liceu
Parcul din centrul pietei mai are cativa platani batrani, restul au fost taiati si s-au plantat copaci tineri. Numeroase straturi de flori si bancile imbie la odihna. De aici se zareste domul cladirii Muzeului Timurizilor. Dar inca nu este timpul sa il vizitam.
Piata a fost conceputa, dupa moda vremii, ca un ring din care pornesc radial 8 strazi largi. O luam si noi pe strada Saeelgoh, numita si “Broadway”, care uneste Piata Amir Timur cu Piata Independentei. O serie de artisti stradali isi expun operele, asteptand cumparatori. Parcuri cu fantani atrag locuitorii orasului in orele de canicula. Aici se gasesc si magazine, cafenele, restaurante si o sala de concert.
“Broadway”
odinioara, chiosc pentru fanfara
Trecem pe langa Galeria de Arta a Uzbekistanului, construita in 2004. Ca si alte cladiri oficiale moderne, si aceasta are elemente din arhitectura traditionala.
Galeria de Arta a Uzbekistanului
Vis-a-vis, o cladire de cu totul alta factura, este ultima vila a Romanovilor. Ea a apartinut Marelui Duce Nikolai Constantinovici Romanov, nepotul tarului Alexandru al II-lea si stranepotul tarului Nikolai I, exilat in Tashkent, unde si-a petrecut intreaga viata. Ocupandu-se de irigatii, ameliorarea terenurilor si comert, ducele a agonisit un capital pe care l-a investit in opere de arta. Colectiile sale au constituit, mai tarziu, bazele Muzeului de Arta al Uzbekistanului. Construit in 1891 de catre arhitectii Heinzelmann si Benoit sub forma unui castel de vanatoare, a devenit Muzeu de Arta dupa moartea ducelui (1918). Apoi, a fost Palat al Pionierilor si Muzeu de antichitati si bijuterii, pentru ca dupa 1990 sa devina sediul Ministerului Afacerilor Externe.
Vila Romanov
On the Silk Road in Uzbekistan 4. Walking in Tashkent (2)
Tashkent has 2.2 million inhabitants. Its name comes from the Turcik “tash” (stone) and the Persian “kent” (town). Others pretend that the Sogdian word “tschatsch” (place on the hill) is the etymology of the word. Old Chinese sources mentioned the town of Shi, and the Iranian ones, the town of Chach. In the time of Arabs the name Ming Urik appeared, and during the 9th-10th centuries the name Binket was used. The actual name is mentioned starting the end of the 10th century. One of the biggest town in Central Asia, Tashkent is nick named “Star of the Orient” or “The Peace Messenger”.
We started our walk in the Amir Timur Square, dominated by the statue of the big military leader, Timur (Tamerlan). He has only 3 statues in the country: here, in Tashkent, in Shakhrisabs, his birthplace, and in Samarkand, his capital. The square was designed by an architect of the Imperial Russian Court, and it is the oldest in the city. This statue is here starting 1993.
To the left of the hotel, a white modern building is the Hall of the International Congresses (2009). There are two storks on the roof, a beloved symbol here in Uzbekistan, of peace and happiness. The clock tower is a symbol of the city and was built on 1947. The clock is a war trofee, brought here from Konigsberg. Two twin buildings, made of yellow bricks, housed a boy and a girl lyceum, then an university, and now it its the State Juridical Institute. The park in the middle of the square attracts people especially in the evening, when they come to play chess here.
To the left of the hotel, a white modern building is the Hall of the International Congresses (2009). There are two storks on the roof, a beloved symbol here in Uzbekistan, of peace and happiness. The clock tower is a symbol of the city and was built on 1947. The clock is a war trofee, brought here from Konigsberg. Two twin buildings, made of yellow bricks, housed a boy and a girl lyceum, then an university, and now it its the State Juridical Institute. The park in the middle of the square attracts people especially in the evening, when they come to play chess here.
The square is like a ring. Eight large streets originate from here, and Saeelgoh Street is one of them. Because street artists are exposing their work here, waiting for buyers, it is nicknamed “Broadway”. There are also a lot of shops, restaurants, a concert hall. The Art Gallery of Uzbekistan (2004), like other official modern buildings, presents elements of traditional architecture.
Romanov’s Villa (1891) is a completely different building. It was designed by the architects Heinzelmann and Benoit, and it was the property of the Grand Duke Nikolai Romanov (nephew of Alexander II and grandson of Nikolai I), exiled in Tashkent. A great art collector, after his death (1918), his paintings and statues became the basis of an art museum open in the villa. Then, the villa was the site of the Palace of the Pioneers, museum again (antiquities and jewelry), and now it is the site of the Foreign Affairs Ministry. Unfortunately, it can’t be visited inside.
I like the cranes on the building.
Thanks, Randy. I appreciate your presence on my blog.
Foarte interesant serialul acesta. Sunt destul de putini cei care mai merg sa viziteze tarile din fosta URSS. Stiam foarte putin despre ele, mi se pare fascinant 🙂
I have seen a couple of quite exotic benches!
Fostele tari din URSS sunt de fapt natiuni de sine statatoare, cucerite sau anexate, care nu au nimic comun cu Rusia, Apollo. Alta istorie, alte obiceiuri, alta limba. Sunt multe locuri interesante de vazut aici.
There are 3 here actually but I presume you mean the first two, more visible, VP? You may have them. I’ll write you the details.
What many people live there then! But you have a beautiful picture report and made lots of info given. Prachtgie buildings and beautiful paintings. That bell is indeed a beautiful symbol and the two storks on the roof are also very beautiful.
Thank you for your comments, Helma!
I remember having ice cream in that nice cafe…
How nice that you have been there too, Turquoise Diaries! We can compare impressions.
Cel mai mult imi place vila ducelui … iar cerbii auriti imi amintesc de Rodos …
Vila Romanov, ca un mic castel de vanatoare, e mai aproape de stilul nostru european. Da, Dani, cerbii de pe coloanele din Rhodos town mi-au placut si mie:)
This white building (the hall) is really magnificent!
And Tashkent has an interesting history.
I agree, Kumiko, the building you mention is very nice. Thank you for the comment!