Samarkand, in the Zarafshan Valley, is one of the oldest extant Oriental cities. Established 25 centuries ago, it is more like an open-air museum, with several dozen world-renowned monuments.
Mr Putin visited the sepulchre of Tamerlane, the observatory of Ulugh Beg, a great mediaeval astronomer, and the architectural complex of Registan, a superb achievement of Oriental architecture, where he signed the visitors’ book.
The President finished his two-hour excursion with a visit to St Alexis’ Cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church.
See also
Visit to Uzbekistan
August 6, 2003