Bukhara

Bukhara

Bukhara is located in south-central Uzbekistan, about 225 km west of Samarkand. The city lies at the mouth of the Zeravshan River, along the Shakhrud Canal, in the center of the Bukhara oasis. The Historic Centre of Bukhara, which is located on the Silk Road, is over two thousand years old. Designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1993, it still retains much of its former appearance, with mosques, madrasas, flat-roofed sun-dried brick houses and the remains of covered bazaars. It is one of the best examples of well-preserved Islamic cities of 10th-17th century Central Asia, with its urban fabric largely intact. For a long time, Bukhara was an important economic and cultural hub in Central Asia. The ancient Persian city served as one of the main centers of Islamic culture for centuries and became one of the main cultural centers of the Caliphate during the 8th century. With the exception of a few significant remains dating from before the Mongol invasions of Genghis Khan in 1220 and Temur in 1370, the Old Town testifies to the urbanism and architecture of the Sheibani period of Uzbek rule, starting in the early 16th century. The citadel, which was rebuilt in the 16th century, marks the civic center of the town from the earliest times to the present day. The real significance of Bukhara resides not in the buildings themselves, but rather in the overall townscape, which shows a high and consistent level of urban design and architecture that began with the Sheibanid dynasty.