Uzbekistan and unesco

UNESCO Sites in Uzbekistan: Historic Center of Bukhara

Bukhara is one of the oldest cities located on the Great Silk Road, which is approximately 2 thousand years old. The layout of the city has not changed much since the Middle Ages - today Bukhara is the most complete example of the medieval city of Central Asia. Bukhara is truly a holy city not only for the Uzbek people but also for the entire Islamic world.

The whole centre of Bukhara is one big historical monument, which is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This is a huge historical and architectural complex consisting of about 150 sights: mosques, madrasas (religious schools), minarets and markets, caravanserais, as well as old one-storey houses made of sun-dried bricks. One of the brightest and unique attractions of this city are the covered street intersections which have become kind of market. The oldest monument in Bukhara is the Ark citadel, the construction of which dates back to the early feudal period of the 5th – 7th centuries. Another precious monument that reached us from the era of Samanids (IX-X centuries), is the mausoleum of Ismail Samani - one of the classic works of Central Asian architecture. High artistic effect of the facades of the mausoleum has been achieved through the use of backed brick and combined masonry technology. All in all, Bukhara is considered the hallmark of Uzbekistan with vibrant streets full of tourists, souvenir shops, cafes and chaykhanas with an Asian flavour.