Melting pot of cultures
Uzbekistan is located in the core of Great Silk Road, at the crossroads of people migration and commercial routes. The amalgamation of original cultures between the settled and nomadic people makes it a cultural potpourri.
The political, business, scientific and cultural centre of Uzbekistan, Tashkent is an ancient city that dates back to more than 2000 years ago. Numerous historical monuments including Kukeldosh and Barak-Khana Madrassas, erected in the 16th century, have been preserved to this day while other iconic constructions like the Amir Temur Monument, Mustaqillik (Independence) Square and The Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre among several others, are visited by tourists from the world over. Tashkent is also home to 20 museums including the Uzbek Museum of Fine Arts, one of the largest in Central Asia.
Samarkand has a 2500 year-old history and its convenient geographical location made this city the important crossroads on the Great Silk Road. The Registan Square, ShakhiZinda Mausoleum, the Gur-Emir Mausoleum, the Juma Mosque etc. are widely-visited places in the citry. The history of Samarkand is also closely connected to famous scien- tists, poets and philosophers. Many tourists also visit Samarkand to pay homage to the relics and sacred places of the Islamic world. One can visit the grave of Saint Kusam ibn-Abbas, a place that was regarded equal to a Hajj to Mecca during the middle ages.
Bukhara is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a museum-city: more than 140 architectural monuments of world significance constructed in different centuries have been preserved in Bukhara up to date. Several former madrassas are located in central Bukhara including Madrassa Chor-Minor and citadel Ark, Madrassa Ulugbek and Kukeldash. Other places of interest include Ark Citadel, Varakhsha Palace, Ismail Samani Mausoleum to name a few.