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Samarkand
One of the oldest cities of Uzbekistan and in the world is Samarkand, established during the middle of the first century BC under the name Marakanda and later known as Afrosiab. It was the capital of the powerful state Sogd, the center of Emir Timur''s great empire. The numerous monuments of Samarkand and its suburbs impress tourist with their beauty and splendor. The refined architectural shapes, intricate ornamentation, mosaics, blue-tile domes and facades are interesting for all who visit theses beautiful buildings. The majestic Registan square consists of three Madrassahs namely the Ulugbek, Sher-Dor and Tilla-Kari Madrassahs. Other places of interest are the Shahi-Zinda necropolis - the most remarkable monument in Samarkand and the Guri-Emir mausoleum - the grave of Timur, his sons and grandsons. The history of the city is connected with the names of outstanding writers, scientists and artists from the East. |
