Explore with us the magnificent architectural treasures of Samarkand.

The name Samarkand conjures up images of the ancient Silk Road, blue domes, brightly colored tile work and the cosmopolitan charm of deep Central Asia.

A wonderfully romantic area that has preserved a number of beautiful monuments, which can still be experienced and visited today.

These architectural gems of this city have stood the test of time, surviving many wars and the aftermath of repeated revolutions, enchanting modern-day visitors as much as they did centuries ago.

Each has a special place in the hearts of locals, with one local guide saying: “[These buildings] are part of our national identity and help show the role we played in Central Asian culture.”

Another says:

“It is a reminder of who our ancestors were, who we are and what we want to be.”

To understand the historical significance of Samarkand, you need to know its most famous historical ruler, the famous military leader Emir Tamerlane.

Timur, immortalized in the West as Tamerlane, chose the city as the capital of his empire in the 14th century, bestowing upon it a wealth of attention and treasures.

While his legacy in many countries is one of war, brutality and conquest,

However, in Samarkand he is also remembered as the man credited with bringing the country to its greatest period of prosperity.

So it is fitting then that Timur's tomb, one of the major historical sites on the road into the city from the train station, is where he is buried alongside many of his sons and grandsons.

The tomb's bright blue exterior domes appear almost surreal with their dazzling colours.

Inside, there are tombs, huge windows, and many wonderful inscriptions written in exquisite and dazzling calligraphy.

Through his many conquests, Timur brought wealth and books to the city.

“Samarkand was a real capital, and [Timur] ruled a huge empire that included many countries,” says one tourism expert.

Tomb of Prince Tamerlane

Tomb of Prince Tamerlane from the inside

Registan Square Schools

Successive rulers continued to beautify this city.

In Registan Square there are three huge religious schools, which are distinguished by their magnificent architecture.

The amazing variety of blue tiles, which characterise the entire city, dazzles the eye.

Each has windows decorated in turquoise and green colours, and magnificent domes and minarets.

These schools (Tiliya Kori, Sher Dor, and Ulugh Beg) were the universities of that city in that era, places of learning that attracted students and thinkers from all over the world.

The Ulugh Beg Madrasah is considered the oldest madrasah in the square, built in the 15th century by Mirza Ulugh Beg, the grandson of Prince Timur.

Massive minarets rise from these ornate buildings. An impressive iwan stands in the courtyard of the Shir-Dor Madrasa (vaulted hall), decorated with a picture of two lions hunting gazelles with the sun shining behind their backs.

One interpretation of this symbol relates to students, to inspire them to seek more knowledge.

Registan Square Schools

Registan Square Schools from inside

Mosques and cemeteries

The Shah-i Zindah cemetery, a series of grand, lavish tombs, combines a blend of spirituality and a luxurious aesthetic that makes it unique architecturally.

This massive site, filled with rows of historic shrines, is filled with the colours and geometric patterns of Central Asian art that will undoubtedly stick in the memory of any visitor.

Shah-i-Zinda Tomb

Shah-i Zindah Tomb

Another picture of Shah-i Zindah Tombs