Historical and ethnographic complex «Vechny Gorod»

Concept and authorship

The author and artistic curator of the Eternal City is renowned contemporary Uzbek artist Bobur Ismoilov. The project is conceived as a living Oriental fairy tale at the crossroads of Sogdian, Hellenistic, Parthian and Islamic cultures. The pavilions, portals and squares are not literal copies but are recreated in the spirit of antique engravings, miniatures and descriptions from Timurid-era chronicles.

Architectural quarters and zones

The city is divided into thematic quarters, crossed by a scenic waterway plied by traditional boats:

Samarkand Street: The grand central artery with a triumphal arch, paved with natural stone. Here you will find the National Library, the Puppet Theatre, and pavilions of art costume, gold embroidery and metal chasing.

Bukhara and Khiva Quarters: Cover nearly half of the complex. Lanes with mud-brick facades, carved wooden columns and openwork panjara latticework introduce the art of Bukhara blacksmiths and jewellers, as well as Khorezm and Gijduvan ceramics.

Fergana Street: Showcases the silk-weaving traditions of Margilan (khan-atlas, adras), the secrets of Rishtan turquoise majolica and the production of Samarkand silk paper from mulberry.

Living workshops and interactive experiences

More than 50 workshops are run by hereditary usto (master craftsmen) from all regions of Uzbekistan. Guests can not only buy handmade items but also take part in hands-on masterclasses in pottery, weaving, wood carving and knife forging.

Gastronomy and festive atmosphere

Themed restaurants: The flagship national cuisine restaurant Buyuk Samarkand with 8-metre columns, the Afrosiyob / Siyob restaurant styled after pre-Islamic Sogdia, the panoramic banquet hall Ayvon on the embankment, the plov chaikhana Manzara, tandyrdan somsa bakeries (Olot Somsa) and tasting rooms for Uzbek wines.

Events: Open squares and the amphitheatre regularly host immersive street shows, tightrope walker (dorboz) performances, folklore festivals and open-air concerts.