Shah-i-Zinda

Among the many historical sites in the “Blue City” of Samarkand, the Shah-i-Zinda Mausoleum Complex is especially renowned for its breathtaking shades of blue. Located on the ancient Afrasiyab hill, a settlement that flourished since antiquity, the complex is a collection of mausoleums built between the 11th and 19th centuries. The mausoleums from the 14th and 15th centuries, during the reign of the Timurid dynasty, are particularly remarkable—adorned with intricate tiles in various hues of blue, they offer a vivid glimpse into the splendor of that era.

Samarkand

Samarkand developed as an oasis city from B.C. onward, and its prosperity as a Silk Road transit city can still be seen today. It is called the "Blue City" because of the vivid contrast between the blue tiles of Islamic architecture built between the late 14th and 15th centuries, when it was the capital of the Timurid dynasty, and the clear, blue sky. It is a regular part of the trip to visit the mausoleums and mosques, which are decorated with intricate patterns, and take the time to appreciate their stunning beauty.