The Registan is three monumental madrasahs built around a shared square between the 15th and 17th centuries: the Ulugh Beg Madrasah, built by Timur's astronomer grandson; the Sher-Dor Madrasah, famous for a tiger-and-lion mosaic that breaks with Islamic tradition against figurative art; and the gold-leafed interior of the Tilya-Kori Madrasah. UNESCO listed the ensemble as a World Heritage Site in 2001.
Paid entry gets you into all three courtyards, and evening sound-and-light shows are a separate, additional draw many visitors add on.
Local tip: Go early morning or close to closing to avoid both the heat and the largest tour groups.
Good to know
- Where: Registan Square, Samarkand
- City: Samarkand
- Website: official site
Plan your visit to Samarkand