Samarkand – the crossroads of cultures

Samarkand – the crossroads of cultures

The cultural heritage of Samarkand is quite large; for many centuries the city was a key center of the Great Silk Road. At the beginning of the 21st century, the city was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List under the name "Samarkand – Crossroads of Cultures". Having visited the city, you will be surprised by the number of historical monuments located here, but we will try to show you the most popular sights that you should definitely see!

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Registan Square

Registan Square is an outstanding example of urban planning art in Central Asia. Its name translates as "sandy area". Why is the square in the center of a fertile oasis so named? There is a version that in the Middle Ages all the central squares in the cities of Maveranakhr were called Registan - these were the administrative, trade and craft centers of the eastern cities.

During the reign of Amir Temur (1370-1405), the Registan became the main trade point. And already under the rule of Tamerlane's grandson Ulugbek, the squares are given a ceremonial and official significance.

Registan consists of three majestic buildings – Ulugbek madrasah, Tillya-Kori and Sher-Dor.

Ulugbek madrasah

In the middle of the 15th century, Tamerlane's grandson Mirzo Ulugbek (1409-1449) came to power, better known to the world as a prominent scientist and astronomer. It was he who began the active construction of educational institutions in Bukhara, Samarkand, Shakhrisabz and Gijduvan. Ulugbek madrasah is a classic example of higher educational institutions of the Muslim East.

The madrasah was built in 1417-1420. In artistic terms, it was not inferior to the buildings of Temur, but significantly surpassed them in strength.

The building had 2 floors, four high domes over the corner auditoriums and four minarets in the corners. A giant portal, which occupies two-thirds of the main facade, faces the square with a huge and deep pointed arch.

Initially, the madrasah consisted of 50 hujras (small room) and more than a hundred students a year studied there. Ulugbek himself taught at the madrasah. The prominent Persian poet Jami also lived and worked here. Among the most famous listeners of Jami at the madrasah were the sheikh of the Naqshbandi tariqa Khoja Akhrar Vali and the great poet Alisher Navoi.

The Ulugbek madrasah was badly damaged during the internecine wars in the 18th century. The outer domes and most of the rooms on the second floor were destroyed. Most of the restoration work was carried out at the beginning of the 20th century by prominent engineers and architects of the time. Over the course of half a century, the courtyard facades were restored, the vault and outer walls of the northern facade were re-laid, the courtyard ayvans were reinforced, and the unique carved majolica in the portal was restored.

Today Ulugbek madrasah is one of the three pearls of the Registan.

Sher-Dor Madrasah

One of the religious buildings of the 17th century, the Sher-Dor madrasah, is part of the Registan architectural ensemble. It was conceived as a symmetrical repetition of Ulugbek's madrasah. However, over time, the area slightly changed the relief, so Sher-Dor is slightly lower than the Ulugbek madrasah.

For several centuries, the madrasah was a famous Muslim educational institution, within the walls of which prominent philosophers and theologians studied.

The madrasah was built by order of the local ruler Yalantgush Bahadur on the site of the dismantled khanaka of Ulugbek. The design is made in the traditional Central Asian style, and the main facade impresses with a grandiose entrance portal topped with a pointed arch. The decor of the building is painted with the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad and fragments from the Holy Quran. Bright mosaic ornaments on glazed bricks have been painstakingly restored by modern restorers.

The madrasah got its modern name due to the image on the arch of the fantastic beast goitered, resembling a tiger, in the center of which is the face of the sun. This mosaic later became the national symbol of Uzbekistan.

Tillya-Kori Madrasah

This madrasah is the final structure of the architectural complex of the Registan Square. It is located in the center of the composition and closes the visual space with its facade.

The construction took about 15 years and was completed by 1660. This building harmoniously balanced the two larger side buildings, creating a unified architectural style.

The name Tilla-Kori in translation means "trimmed with gold". All the facades of the madrasah, richly decorated with outlandish ornamentation with linear patterns, at one time amazed with an abundance of gold.

Ulugbek Observatory

The achievements of the astronomical school of Ulugbek had a huge impact on the development of the exact sciences of the West and East, India and China.

In 1428-1429, near Samarkand, Ulugbek built a significant observatory in the world of the Middle Ages. It is a round three-storey building that resembles a cave in depth, a building with a diameter of 46.4 m and a height of 30 m.The main instrument of the observatory is a marble wall quadrant, the radius of the arc of which is 40.2 m, and the length of the arc is 63 m.

Most of this huge instrument is located underground – to a depth of more than 10 meters. The second half of the quadrant rose 28 m above the ground and rested on a rectangular tower, which has not survived to this day.

This quadrant was used to determine the heights of the Sun, Moon and planets above the horizon at the time of their passage through the celestial meridian, as well as to measure the angular distance between luminaries and to observe bright stars. The large size of the scale made it possible to carry out observations with very high accuracy. Brick staircases are built along the marble barriers of the scale, leading to the depths of the hill.

Major astronomers and students of Ulugbek - Ali-Kushchi, Kazi-zade ar-Rumi, worked at the observatory.

Alas. Time is merciless to the unique monument of science. Ulugbek's observatory was gradually destroyed and at the end of the 17th century it was dismantled into bricks. In 1908 and 1914, during excavations in the Samarkand region, the location of the observatory and part of the main instrument were discovered. But these excavations did not give the expected results. The find turned out to be only a remnant of the outer wall of a huge three-story building.

Among the numerous astronomical studies of Ulugbek, the invaluable work "Gurgan Zij" (Catalog of the Starry Sky), consisting of a description of 1018 stars, is of great interest. The length of the sidereal year was determined by Ulugbek at 365 days, 6 hours, 10 minutes, 8 seconds.

Settlement Afrasiab

When entering Samarkand, one cannot fail to notice the ancient settlement of Afrasiab, located in the northern part of the city and which is one of the most important archaeological sites of Central Asia. Walking through these amazing places, you can feel the immersion in the ancient world, touch the objects of history. These ruins date back to the 8th century. BC.

In Afrasiab, palaces decorated with ganch carvings, houses of noble landowners, mosques and madrasahs, baths and water structures, cobbled streets of the Samanid era were found. Initially this place was called "Hisori kukhna" (Ancient Hisar), "Kalai Hisor" (fortress Hisar), then from the 17th century "Afrasiab fortress".

Memorial ensemble Shakhi-Zinda

The emergence of Samarkand goes back about 2.5 thousand years. The large city of Sogd, then Maveraunnahr. the architectural monuments adorning it serve as living evidence of this. The reigning rulers tried to outshine each other with the erected buildings.

Near the northeastern part of modern Samarkand, on the southern outskirts of the Afrasiab settlement, among a huge cemetery, there is one of the best historical and architectural ensembles – a group of mausoleums called "Shakhi-Zinda".

It is an impressive memorial ensemble of Islamic architecture from the 14th-15th centuries. It is a complex of dozens of burials of the most notable representatives of that era. It includes chic art mausoleums, painted mosques and various structures, richly and skillfully decorated by hundreds of craftsmen in the best traditions of the East.

The name of the Shahi-Zinda complex is translated from Persian as "living king" and is associated with the name of the cousin of the Prophet Muhammad, who came to Samarkand in the 7th century together with the Arabs and spread Islam. Numerous legends tell that Kusam-ibn-Abbas suffered for his faith, being attacked while performing namaz. The Kusam-ibn-Abbas mausoleum is part of the complex and is one of the earliest buildings.

Already in those distant times, the tomb of Kusam-ibn-Abbas with the surrounding buildings was considered a shrine. In the 13th century, most of the structures of the Shakhi-Zinda complex were destroyed after the defeat by the Mongols. The revival of the necropolis begins in the 14th century. New mausoleums are being erected here, whose decor and style differs from the decor of the first buildings. The carved irrigated terracotta is replaced by glazed tiles, which have gradually replaced the old type of facing material. Various colors prevail, among which are greenish-blue and blue.

The most intensive construction took place during the reign of Amir Temur. During this period, close relatives (sisters, wives) of Temur, representatives of the military nobility of his army erected their beautiful mausoleums at the grave of Saint Kusam-ibn-Abbas, hoping for his intercession in the other world. Most of the buildings of that time have survived to this day.

During the reign of Ulugbek, large architectural and planning works were carried out. At this time, the lower entrance group was built up. In the west, a two-domed slender mausoleum is being built, which is attributed to the astronomer Kazizada ar-Rumi.

Currently, the Shakhi-Zinda complex consists of 11 mausoleums. Most of them belong to the 14th century. A pilgrimage to these burial places of thousands of believers is like visiting Mecca.

Gur-Emir mausoleum

Erected on the initiative and at the expense of Temur in 1404, the masterpiece of Persian architecture occupies an important place in the history of world Islamic architecture. The emir's tomb, built in the form of a majestic palace, became the prototype of the Indian Taj Mahal.

In 1403, after a military campaign against the Ottoman Empire, Temur's heir to the throne, Muhammad Sultan, died. Returning to Samarkand in the fall of 1404, Temur ordered the construction of the Gur-Emir mausoleum for his grandson. During the reign of Ulugbek, the mausoleum became the family crypt of the Timurids. This architectural ensemble contains the graves of Temur himself, his sons, grandchildren, and Timur's teacher and mentor Mir Said Barak.

In Gur-Emir, only the main building of the mausoleum belongs to the Timur time. It is a one-dome building with a crypt (dome diameter 15 m, height 12.5 m). It stands out for its simplicity of construction and the solemn monumentality of architecture.

The structure is overwhelming with its size and decoration. At the base of the walls, marble panels are installed, above there is an ornamental decoration of terracotta bricks with tiles of blue and white colors. The inner vault and drum are decorated in a dazzling combination of blue and gold. On a powerful drum there is a huge corrugated dome of an onion with 64 faces, according to the number of earthly years of the Prophet Muhammad.

Bibi-Khanym Mosque

In the center of the historic city, there is a grandiose architectural monument – the Bibi-Khanym cathedral mosque (senior princess). This magnificent complex was built by order of Tamerlane in honor of his beloved wife, better known as Saray Mulk Khanum.

Its construction was laid down after Tamerlane's conquest in India, but the commander soon began a campaign against the Ottoman Empire, so he did not watch the construction process for a long time. In 1404, returning after the campaign, Tamerlane was angry that the entrance portal was not as majestic as intended, so he ordered it to be destroyed and rebuilt.

The grandiose complex consisted of an entrance portal, a main mosque and two small ones. On four sides, the courtyard was surrounded by majestic minarets. The building was richly decorated with murals, carved marble and tiles. Craftsmen from different countries of the world took part in its construction. Unfortunately, not all buildings of the complex have survived to this day, but restoration and restoration work continues.

In the courtyard of the building with an area of 5 thousand sq.m. up to 10 thousand people can pray at the same time.

Mausoleum of Imam al-Bukhari

One of the outstanding hadith scholars of the Muslim world, Imam al-Bukhari, the author of the second most important book after the Koran, was born in Bukhara on July 21, 810, died in the village of Khartang (present-day Chelak district of Samarkand region), where in 870 he was buried. However, over the centuries it turned out to be abandoned.

It was decided to restore the complex by the 1225th anniversary of the birth of Imam al-Bukhari. In this regard, a memorial complex was built at the tomb of Imam al-Bukhari on a dedicated area of 10 na, made in the traditions of ancient architecture of Central Asia. Folk masters and craftsmen of Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Tashkent, Andijan, Kokand and Shakhrisabz participated in the construction of the complex. ... The mausoleum complex includes a mosque, a training center, a museum, a library with handwritten books of Islam, souvenir shops, shops with religious literature, hotels for pilgrims and tourists.

The mausoleum of Imam al-Bukhari is located on the central axis of the complex. This cube-shaped structure is crowned with a 17-meter dome. The walls are decorated with light green, blue, white glazed tiles, marble, onyx and granite. On the right, under the tombstone (sagana) of the upper floor, trimmed with light blue onyx, there is al-Bukhari's tomb covered with marble. 1,500 worshipers can pray in the mosque at the same time.

The Imam al-Bukhari complex is one of the largest and most unique structures of this type created in our country over the past centuries.

Rukhabad mausoleum

The oldest building of the old city without glaze and decoration, austere and ascetic, keeps the remains of the revered Muslim saint Burhaneddin Sagardzhi. The mausoleum was built by the order of the great ruler Temur at the end of the 14th century.

The building has a cube shape and several entrances and exits from different parts of the world. It is crowned with a dome, in which, according to legend, the hair of the beard of the Prophet Muhammad is walled up.

Soon after the construction, the mausoleum becomes the most revered shrine of Samarkand. Even Timur himself, passing by the mausoleum, always dismounted from his horse. Later, a spiritual center was built to the south of Rukhabad, which included a madrasah and a Sufi khanaka, which would be connected with the burial vault of Burkhaneddin Sagardzhi. In addition to Sagardzhi, his wife, sons and relatives were later buried in this mausoleum.

In subsequent years, the territory around the mausoleum was repeatedly built up. In the middle of the 19th century, a one-story madrasah and a minaret were built on the site of dilapidated buildings. The mosque and minaret have survived to this day. A portal entrance with a pointed arch, turrets and gate structures has been preserved from the madrasah. In 1880-1882. next to the mausoleum, a Chinese-style quarter mosque appeared.

Khazret-Khyzr Mosque

This is a religious building of Muslim culture of the early 19th century. The name is associated with the name of the prophet Khyzr – the patron saint of travelers, the legendary owner of "living water".

The first mention refers to the period of the Arab conquest of Sogd at the beginning of the 8th century. According to legend, after the capture of Samarkand in 712, the Arabs tried to flood the city fortress, blocking the Dzhui-Arzis canal with a dam. However, a huge white bird descended from the sky and destroyed the dam. To commemorate this event, the Khazret-Khyzra mosque was built on the site of the Zoroastrian temple revered by the Sogdians. This mosque was completely destroyed in 1220 during the Mongol conquest.

The current mosque was built on an ancient foundation in 1854 and is a prominent representative of the folk architecture of the Samarkand school.

Outwardly, the mosque differs from all structures of the earlier period. It is asymmetrical and is a rectangular structure measuring 30x16 meters. A real decoration is the magnificent portal and gate, decorated with delicate skillful carvings. The dome of the mosque is painted. Its main elements are a winter khanaka, covered with a dome, and a column aivan. A beautiful panorama of the old city and Registan square opens from the observation deck.

In 2018, the mausoleum of the first President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov was opened on the territory of the mosque.

Mausoleum of Islam Karimov

On September 3, 2016, the first president of Uzbekistan, Islam Abduganievich Karimov, was buried on the territory of the Khazret-Khyzr mosque. Soon after the funeral, the design of the mausoleum over his grave began. The difficulty was that the Khazret-Khyzr mosque is under the patronage of UNESCO and it was important to link the buildings of different times with a single architectural style, as well as to preserve the historical appearance of the mosque.

The tomb of the first president of Uzbekistan consists of a traditional aivan and a mausoleum. This is a one-dome building with a centric composition, 7.55 meters high. The basement of the mausoleum is made of dark green marble, and the main part of white marble is decorated with multi-colored relief majolica. There is an entrance in the southeastern niche, the rest of the niches are covered with carved marble lattices. The tomb itself is made of white marble inlaid with colored semi-precious stones and gold leaf.

A marble slab is installed at the entrance, on which is engraved in Uzbek and English: "This sacred place is the eternal home of the First President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, a great statesman and political figure, dear and beloved son of the Uzbek people, Islam Abduganievich Karimov."

Ensemble Khoja-Akhrar

The head of the Maverannahr Sufi order of Sheikh Nasir ad-din Ubaydallah ibn Mahmud Shashi (better known as Khoja Arhar Wali) was a very influential person and spiritual mentor of the rulers. He lived 86 years and died in 1490. A white stone slab with many epitaphs was installed on his grave. Later, a mosque and a madrasah were built on the site of the holy pilgrimage.

In the 15th-20th centuries, a complex of structures for memorial, cult and spiritual and educational purposes was formed. The construction of religious buildings was initiated by Khoja Akhrar himself. In the second half of the 15th century, he built a khanaka (Sufi monastery) here. This building has not survived to this day. In the first half of the 17th century, the ensemble was completely rebuilt, which completely changed its original appearance. Changes in the formation of the ensemble were made by the dignitary Nadir Mirzai Tagay, an influential dignitary at the court of the Bukhara khan, divan-begi. He began the construction of a large madrasah and a summer mosque, using elements of khanaka for this. It took 5 years to build them. In the 19th and 20th centuries, additions were made. A winter mosque and a second summer aivan were added to it, which now form the central part of a group of religious buildings stretched out in one row. Subsequently, the work in the complex was of a restorative nature. In the process of modern reconstruction, a minaret and a column iwan were added to the architectural ensemble.

The Khoja-Akhrar ensemble is a model for solving the problem of uniting buildings with multidirectional axes into a single architectural complex. The Khoja-Akhrar Mosque is a complex of alternating open ayvans and closed premises for various purposes, drawn into one line from south to north. Madrasah of Nadir divan-begi has a layout of a four-aivan courtyard, traditional for a similar building. But at the same time it has one unique difference. There are no corner lecture halls in the madrasah. Instead, the corners are shaped like pentahedral niches that have doorways.

The grave of Khoja Akhrar is one of the most revered shrines of Islam in Central Asia. And today this blessed place attracts many believers and pilgrims to worship and find peace of mind.

Tomb of Khoja Daniyar

According to legend, the remains of the Old Testament biblical prophet Daniyar (Daniel) are buried in the mausoleum, whose remains were brought to Samarkand by the commander Amir Timur and buried at the place where the horse stopped transporting the remains of the prophet. Also, according to legend, from the blow of the horse's hoof, a spring was clogged, which became healing.

The current building of the mausoleum and the complex were built at the beginning of the 20th century, in the following years the building of the mausoleum and the complex were reconstructed several times. After the construction of the mausoleum, according to legend, the grave began to grow, reaching a length of about 18 meters. Therefore, the mausoleum was periodically completed and lengthened. Above the grave of the prophet, a rectangular long building of the mausoleum was erected with a chain of five low domes. Inside the building of the mausoleum there is a long dakhma, in which the prophet is buried.

Near the crypt stood a dried pistachio tree, which in 1996 the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II decided to consecrate during his visit. And after a while the tree came to life again.

It is a place of simultaneous worship of Christians, Muslims and Jews. Many legends and secrets surround this place and the remains themselves. And the size of the grave is periodically increasing.

1,303 steps to the cave of Hazrat Daoud

40 kilometers from Samarkand there is a shrine, an amazing archaeological monument, a miracle of nature – the Hazrat Daoud (or St. David) cave. This saint is venerated in three world religions at once. Muslims call him Hazrat Daud, and Orthodox Christians and Jews – David.

The history of his life is shrouded in secrets and legends. Saint David at the age of 33 became the ruler of the united kingdom of Israel and Judah and reigned for forty years. Possessed the gift of prophecy and healing.

According to the Muslim version, Daud (David) was sent by God to the lands of Asia to preach. Here he caused anger and persecution from the Zoroastrians (fire worshipers). He was pursued until he disappeared into the mountains. Escaping, he raised his hands to heaven and turned with a prayer to the Almighty. Having received remarkable strength and the ability to melt iron with his hands, he pushed the stones of the cave and took refuge inside. So, Daud became the patron saint of all blacksmiths. The ruler of Samarkand learned about his abilities. He captured the missionary and Saint Daoud worked for the governor for a long time.

There is another legend about this cave. Once King David decided to fight a huge warrior – Goliath. The genies magically carried the king to the cave so that he could gather strength before the battle. But the supernatural beings of the efreet found out where Daud was, and brought Goliath on their backs. Saint Daud was not ready for battle and was forced to flee, but Goliath overtook him. And then the saint turned to God for protection. The Lord threw stones and huge boulders on the way. Daud threw stones with his hands, clearing his way, not immediately noticing that the stones in his hands were literally melting. Running to the cave, Daoud melted the entrance and took refuge inside, leaving an enraged Goliath behind him.

Hazrat Daud's cave turned into a shrine. Thousands of pilgrims visit it every year. It is believed that requests to the Almighty inside the cave will be heard faster.

The cave looks like a long tunnel, at the end of which the prints of the hands and feet of Hazrat Daud are preserved. If you touch them, then even the most incredible desire will certainly come true.

To get to the cave, one has to climb 1,303 degrees. At the very peak of the mountain there is an ancient mosque, if you go down 200 steps, you can get into the very cave of the saint. Not everyone can overcome more than 1,500 steps. Therefore, there are always people with camels and horses near the shrine, and along the way there are trade shops with water, food and much more.

Church of St. George the Victorious

The ancient Orthodox church, built in 1868, changed its location three times in its history.

Initially it belonged to the military department of the Russian garrison.Later it became a parish church next to the Orthodox cemetery.In 1927, permission was obtained to build a summer meetinghouse at the chapel.In 1937, a house was bought on the site near the temple.

Now the Temple is located in a residential building.Built of bricks in the shape of the letter "Г".

It is the first and most visited functioning church in Samarkand.

Church of St. John the Baptist

The only Catholic church appeared at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1915, prisoners of war from Europe began to stay in Samarkand: Poles, Austrians and Hungarians. At their request, permission was obtained for the construction of a Catholic church and a land plot was allocated. The church was built in 1916. During the Soviet era, the temple was closed and it housed a sports hall.

The Cathedral of John the Baptist was built of light stone in a mixed style of classicism with elements of baroque and gothic. The one-storey church with its high bell tower with towers and a gabled roof rises above the residential buildings.

In 1995, on the initiative of Priest John Roloff, a Catholic parish was registered, to which the Church of St. John the Baptist was transferred in 1997. On March 27, 1999, the consecration of the church took place.

Chor-Chinor Garden

In the ancient village of Urgut, 50 km from Samarkand, amazing trees grow over a thousand years old. This is one of the most mysterious and unusual places. The oldest plane trees, some of which are 600 years old, and the oldest over 1,000 years old, continue to grow. Among them, a tree with a 16-meter trunk girth stands out especially. Inside this plane tree there is a huge hollow and a functioning museum is located in it. Once upon a time, the hollow of this plane tree served as a refuge for members of the Sufi school. Old photographs indicate that 40 students could have gathered here at the same time. This is a real room with the necessary furniture.

A small stream flows through the garden, gushing from the stone. According to legend, when the first trees were planted, a spring with clean and cool water came out here. The spring is considered a holy spring, and the water in it is curative. A small picturesque pond has formed around the spring.

In the garden there is a small mosque with a blue dome, built at the beginning of the 20th century. There is a memorial pavilion nearby. Here, regardless of your religion. thousands of pilgrims from all over the country come to pray.

This place is more than a garden – it is a place to calm the soul, relax, fulfill desires and relieve mental pain.

House-Museum of Sadriddin Aini

The house-museum is dedicated to the life and work of the great founder of Uzbek literature, the famous Tajik and Uzbek writer, translator and literary critic Sadriddin Aini. He lived in this house with his family for 35 years. Here he wrote his famous works. Inside the courtyard of the house, there is a bust of Sadriddin Aini.

The house contains his works, his original manuscripts, newspapers and magazines from that period. Its exposition includes 8 volumes of books in Uzbek, 15 volumes in Tajik, 6 volumes in Russian, as well as several volumes in Persian and other languages.

The house also carefully collected items of pre-revolutionary everyday life and traditional culture of that time. The museum is open from 9:00 to 20:00 every day.

Wine tour

A wonderful addition to the excursion around this ancient city will be the wine tasting of one of the oldest wineries in the whole of Central Asia – the winery named after M.A. Khovrenko.

A small distillery was opened in 1868 by Russian businessman Dmitry Filatov, who came specially to establish the production of wine from local grape varieties. Four years later, Filatov's Samarkand grape wine was awarded gold and silver medals at world wine competitions in Paris and Antwerp. And soon these wines began to be supplied to the Imperial Court of the Russian Empire.

After the October Revolution, the plant was nationalized, and Filatov was forced to leave Samarkand. Before leaving, he hid his collection of vintage wines, walled up in a cache in one of the factory's cellars. This cache was discovered 50 years later during the reconstruction of the plant. Half a century later, these wines have not lost their gustatory qualities, but have become even more matured and acquired a rich tart taste. Now the collection of Filatov's wines is kept in the Museum of Winemaking of the plant.

In 1927 the famous scientist, winemaker and chemist Mikhail Aleksandrovich Khovrenko became the head of the winery. This was the second birth of the Samarkand plant. To this day, most of the wines produced in Uzbekistan are made from grape varieties bred by Filatov and Khovrenko.

The winemaking museum and tasting room are located in a historic building of the late 19th century, in the house of the Russian merchant Filatov.

After the tour, museum visitors are offered to taste 10 of the best sorts of drinks produced at the plant. For an additional fee, you can taste the collection wines of the last century, which are stored in the deep cellars of the factory.

Siab bazaar

It is best to immerse yourself and feel the atmosphere of the East at the main city bazaar, which amazes tourists with its colorful sellers, bright colors and noisy bargaining, which is considered the traditional rule of courtesy of oriental bazaars.

An unforgettable impression is left by mountains of dried fruits and aromatic spices, traditional Uzbek flatbreads and oriental sweets.

Tashkent – monuments of our time
Tashkent – museums and theaters
Tashkent – historical monuments
Tashkent – mosques, churches
Tashkent – parks, squares, gardens
Bukhara – ancient and eternal
Khiva – a time portal to the past
Khorezm – country of a thousand fortresses