Bibi-Khanym Mosque
Bibi-Khanym area, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Bibi-Khanym’s great entrance and courtyard convey the ambition of Timur’s capital at a scale that photographs struggle to capture. The complex combines monumental forms with detailed tile and marble decoration, making it worth examining both from a distance and close up. Its relationship with the nearby bazaar also helps place the monument within the living city. Let the visit establish its own pace, then continue towards the market for a contrasting experience of contemporary Samarkand.