Bukhara and Samarkand

Vaults of Merchants at noon in Bukhara
Magoki Attori Mosque in Buchara
detail on Magoki Attori Mosque in Buchara
floral tiles on Mosque in Buchara
wall detail at a Madrassa in Buchara
Buchara - Entrance into a Mosque in Buchara
turchoise entrance at Buchara old town
Mosque Kalon in Buchara with cuppola
wall with blue-turchoise ceramic fence at Buchara
turquoise-blus column at Buchara
cuppola from inside with green window fence in Buchara
Kalon ensemble at Buchara
blue and golden cuppola from inside Buchara
inner court of Mosque Kalon in Buchara
Flight of arches inside the Mosque in Buchara
Close up of the turquoise cuppola of Kalon Mosque in Buchara
blue-green ceramics at the bazar in Buchara
Usbekian woman with golden teeth in Buchara
red carpet Museum of art and design Tashkent
Usbekian girl with Zöpfchen in Buchara
Usbekian girl in turquoise dress in Buchara
red carpet Museum of art and design Tashkent
carved wooden pile at Bolo Hauz Mosque in Buchara
entrance to the Mausoleum of the Somanides in Buchara
Chor Minor Mosque in Buchara
carved wooden pilon at the Bolo Hauz Mosque in Buchara
Mausoleum of the Somanides in Buchara
the Sherdor Medrese in the evening sun on the Registan in Samarkand
two schoolboys and close friends at Samarkand
scissors-grinders under sunshades in Samarkand
turquoise-green majolika at Shohizinda Necropolis in Samarkand
mausoleum at Shohizinda Necropolis in Samarkand
rose-turquoise majolika at Shohizinda Necropolis in Samarkand
turquoise majolika at Shohizinda Necropolis in Samarkand
the necropolis of Shohizinda in Samarkand
twilight at the Registan in Samarkand

Bukhara - Silkroad desert town
The oasis of Bukhara (Uzbekistan) is one of the oldest towns in Middle Asia. Founded during the first century B.C. it used to be the finance and trade center at the cross roads of the Big Silkroad. Bukhara´s old town still impresses by its rather archaic character and its selfconfident atmosphere. 140 architectural monuments - mosques, madrassas and domed bazaars in the colours of the surrounding desert sand - are delight to the eye of the spectator. "Gods Great Joy" Bukhara was also named in ancient times.

Samarkand - turquoise treasure of 1001 Nights
Remembrance of light, colour and beauty. The impressive monuments of over 2700 years old Samarkand are scattered over the area of the old town, the fabulous Registan - a vast square surrounded by tile covered mosques and madrassas decorated with minarets and colourful faience domes - being the center of it. The radiance and the magic of the site can be felt at any time of the day, but especially during twilight when everything gets quiet at the end of the day.

Besides some other splendid buildings,  it is the Necropolis of Shohizinda with its ensemble of mosques and mausoleums which is fascinating the visitor: an explosion  of colours - tuquoise, blue and green as well as hundreds of different patterns and ornaments on mosaics and majolica decorations.