In the very heart of Taksim Square stands the 12-meter Cumhuriyet Anıtı, better known to tourists as the Republic Monument. It was erected after the end of the Turkish War of Independence based on the design of the Italian architect Pietro Canonica. As is easy to guess, the monument symbolizes the liberating army and, in fact, the establishment of the republic.
The monument is quite original: from a majestic stone arch in an eastern style, bronze figures seem to "fly out" in both directions like arrows. On one side are soldiers, on the other peaceful civilians. Both are led by the father of all Turks, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Besides him, the monument also includes figures of his associates - Mustafa Inonu, who succeeded Ataturk as President of Turkey, and Mustafa Cakmak, Field Marshal of the Turkish Republic.
Interestingly, the sculptural group of the monument also features figures of Soviet military and statesmen - Semyon Aralov and Kliment Voroshilov. Their placement in the composition of the monument became a sign of gratitude to Soviet Russia for its military aid in 1920.
