Samarkand – Crossroads of Cultures
![Panography in print mode : Registan [ Minaret at Ulughbek Madrasa ]](print/lkiJJfDmUoi6/wht-603-4.jpg "Panography in print mode")
Samarkand – Crossroads of Cultures
Brief description
Source © UNESCO : http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/603
The historic town of Samarkand is a crossroad and melting pot of the world's cultures. Founded in the 7th century B.C. as ancient Afrasiab, Samarkand had its most significant development in the Timurid period from the 14th to the 15th centuries. The major monuments include the Registan Mosque and madrasas, Bibi-Khanum Mosque, the Shakhi-Zinda compound and the Gur-Emir ensemble, as well as Ulugh-Beg's Observatory.