Samarkand is one of the most ancient cities of the world with a 2750-year history, and is of the same age as Rome, Athens and Babylon. From times immerial, this city attracted the attention of statesmen, merchants and travellers. Its most prosperous time was under the rule of the Great Temur. Born in Shahrisabz, the Sahebkiran made Samarkand the capital of his great empire. Samarkand`s geographical location was very convenient - at crossroads on the Great Silk Road.

Examples of grandiose middle-aged architecture have been well preserved up to date. The ensemble of mausoleums, known as Shahi-Zinda located near the settlement of Afrosiab, is a fine example of Central Asian architecture. Its construction began in the 12th century, and was completed in 14-15th centuries under the rule of Temur. The burial vaults for the women of Amir Temur's family are the main buildings of the ensemble. All the buildings are beautifully decorated with mosaic, terracotta and majolica.

The basement and a part of the astronomic instrument are the only remainders of the observatory. Under the auspice of UNESCO the 1225th anniversary of the outstanding scientist and theologists of the Orient Imam-Al-Bukhari was widely celebrated in 1997. The memorial complex in Khortang near Samarkand, where the great scientist was buried, has been reconstructed for his jubilee. Samarkand opens its heart to the guests with its unique historical and architectural monuments, incomparable samples of handicrafts, customs and holidays as well as the secrets of Eastern cuisine.

Wonderful architectural Samarkand monuments strike not only by city-building ideas of architects, richness of architectural-decorative arts, ceramics masters works of high quality but also the beauty and harmony of architectural forms and proportions, smooth contours of lancet arches and spherical cupolas. Only 2 monuments are known in the world architecture in whose decoration relief ornaments of papier-mâché were used. And they are both in Samarkand. They are mosque Bibi-Khanum and the Temurid tomb – Gur-Emir. Astonishing monuments of architecture: Shakhi-Zinda group, Ulugbek and Tilla-Kari Medreses on Registan square (it means sand place) are the centers of ancient Samarkand. The ruins of Ulugbek observatory found in the beginning of XX c. are in Samarkand suburb. You can see the remained part of gigantic sextant. The city is famous for its architectural monuments of antiquity all over the world.