Registan, Islamic architectural complex in Samarkand, Uzbekistan
The Registan is a rectangle enclosed by three religious schools in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, with facades covered entirely in turquoise and blue tiles. Each building displays a tall entrance arch decorated with geometric patterns, flanked by slender towers and courtyards lined with two-story arcades.
The first school was built in the early 15th century, while the other two were added in the 17th century during Shaybanid rule. After earthquakes and centuries of neglect, restoration work began gradually from the 1920s onward.
The name comes from the Persian word for sandy place, referring to the ground before construction began. Locals gather here after sunset to sit on the wide steps facing the portals, making it a meeting point for evening walks.
A single entrance fee grants access to all three buildings, including their courtyards, cells, and towers open for climbing. Early morning hours offer softer light for photos and far fewer visitors on the square.
The middle school displays two large felines with human faces on their backs above the portal, a rare departure from religious depiction rules. These animals gaze upward toward a rising sun that is also carved into the relief of the facade.
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