Envisioned as the grand centrepiece of modern Velenje, Tito Square was officially opened on 30 September 1959. Its historical importance is not derived solely from its name or the fact that it boasts the world's largest Tito statue, but it was also the site of several key meetings during the socialist era, counting Soviet leaders Nikita Khrushchev and Leonid Brezhnev among its many visitors, as well as the infamous Nicolae Ceaușescu and other top-ranking figures from the Soviet Bloc. Today the square is still the geographic and cultural heart of the city, and the host of numerous open-air events.