Historical and ethnographic complex «Vechny Gorod»

About

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 ancient engravings, miniatures, and descriptions from Timurid-era chronicles.

Architectural quarters and zones

The city is divided into thematic quarters, crossed by a picturesque waterway along which traditional boats glide:

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

Bukhara and Khiva Quarters: Covering nearly half of the complex's area, these lanes with mud-brick facades, carved wooden columns, and intricate panjara latticework introduce the art of Bukhara's blacksmiths and jewelers, as well as Khorezm and Gijduvan ceramics.

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

Living workshops and interactive experiences

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

Gastronomy and festive atmosphere

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

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