Samarkand

Samarkand is the city that travelers come to Uzbekistan for. It was the center of Timur's empire in the 14th century, and the monuments he built here are still among the most extraordinary architectural achievements anywhere on earth.

Key Sites

• Registan Square — three madrasahs facing each other across a vast tiled courtyard. The single most impressive sight in Uzbekistan.
• Gur-Emir Mausoleum — Timur's tomb, under a fluted turquoise dome
• Shah-i-Zinda — a necropolis of blue-tiled mausoleums on the edge of the old city
• Bibi-Khanym Mosque — once the largest mosque in the Islamic world
• Siab Bazaar — spices, bread, dried fruit, and the everyday life of the city
• Afrosiab Museum — the archaeological site and museum of ancient Samarkand