Samarkand, A Spectacular Stop On The Silk Road
Samarkand, in Uzbekistan, was one of the most important points on the Silk Road, which connected Asia with Europe for centuries. Being a crossroads, those who visited it described it as an exceptional city, with its mosques and madrassas, mausoleums, colorful doors and domes. Today it is considered a tourist jewel of the country and we go to it to discover it. Can you come with us?
Samarkand , history of an exceptional city
Samarkand is the second largest city in Uzbekistan. It is about 2700 years old, and was declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2001, being named Crossroads of Cultures.
Being one of the icons of the Silk Road, great characters in history passed through it. It is named by Marco Polo in his adventure book, where he refers to it as “great and famous city”. Alexander the Great, for his part, mentioned that she was more beautiful than he could imagine.
It was conquered by the Arabs from whom they inherited Islam ; by the Persian Samanids, who left their cultural heritage; by the Seljuk Turks, who gave it great splendor; by the Mongols, who destroyed it, and by Tamerlane and his descendants, who made it the flourishing capital of their empire.
The opening of new maritime routes and the decline of the Silk Road in the 16th century, made Samarkand fall into oblivion. In addition, it was the epicenter of some earthquakes in the eighteenth century, so it was practically uninhabited.
Although the emir who reigned Bukhara tried to repopulate it, it was the Russians who gave it life with the construction of the Trans-Caspian railway that united it with the Russian Empire. Samarkand became part of the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic and fell within this region when Stalin divided it into the Tajik SSR, separating it from its Persian origins.
What not to get lost in Samarkand
1. The Registan
It is located in the heart of the city, an impressive esplanade flanked by three madrassas considered architectural wonders: the Ulugbek Madrasa, to the left of the square and the oldest; in the center is the Tilla-Kari Madrasa and to the right, the Sher Dor Madrasa. All are in traditional Uzbek style, with turquoise domes and white, blue, green and gold mosaics.
Although a “madrasah” is traditionally a place of learning, in the case of the Registan it was also the commercial center of the city. Today, you can still see small rooms inside the madrassas where they sell handicrafts, souvenirs and souvenirs.
2. Bibi Khanym Mosque
This impressive temple was built by the wife of the Tamerlan and is another of the wonders of Samarkand. It is located on the main avenue of the city and has impressive architecture. Its gleaming walls, its beautiful dome and the arch of the portal decorated in marble are spectacular.
3. Siyob Market
The Siyob market or bazaar is another important place in Samarkand. It has dozens of food and craft stalls, where you can enjoy the traditions of the country and contact with the friendly locals.
4. The necropolis of Shazi Zinda
It is an impressive complex that was built around the tomb of Qusam ibn Abbas, a cousin of Muhammad who brought Islam to Uzbekistan. It has extraordinary mausoleums decorated with green ceramics, definitely one of the most impressive monuments in the city.
5. Gur-e Amir Mausoleum
It is the place where the tomb of the Tamerlane, an important Uzbek leader, is located. It is one of the most spectacular mausoleums in the world, with a large dome and sumptuous mosaics on its walls. This building is one of the most outstanding examples of Islamic architecture, which has even tried to be replicated by other mausoleums around the world.
6. Hazrat-Hizr Mosque
This beautiful wooden mosque is located next to the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis and dates back to the 19th century. Although the original mosque was built in the 8th century, it was destroyed by Genghis Khan. The beautiful details on the ceilings and the magnificent views that are observed from the hill of the Bibi-Khanym mosque and its mausoleum stand out.
