Usually, a discovery of Samarkand starts from its most famous and beautiful spot, Registan Square. It is a huge monument of medieval architecture that delights one at first sight. Looking at these tall buildings and fine, jewelry-like decoration, it isn’t easy to imagine that all this was done many centuries ago without modern technology.

On three sides, the square is surrounded by magnificent madrasahs, each seeming to tinge the others, enhancing each other’s beauty. The portals of all buildings face the center of the square, which makes the layout of this architectural trio the most harmonious and refined.

If we translate the name of the square «Registan» into English, it will mean «a sandy place». And it is not surprising because, in ancient times, all this area was covered with sand. During that time, people gathered here to listen to new decrees, celebrate holidays, and conduct public executions. Then a row of shopping stalls appeared there. And in the Middle Ages, when Samarkand became one of Asia’s most educated capitals, three excellent madrasah schools were built here.

The first madrasah was founded in 1420 by Ulugh Beg, an educated ruler. The building turned out to be palatial: rich decorations, large student rooms for a hundred or more people, spacious lecture halls. If you look closely, you can see that the Ulugh Beg Madrasah portal is decorated with ten-pointed stars. And that isn’t by chance: Ulugh Beg, who was fond of sciences, was particularly interested in astronomy. Immediately after the opening, this educational institution became the largest and most significant in the country. Here they taught not only theology but also astronomy, mathematics, philosophy.

Then, in 1636, next to the already famous school of Ulugh Beg, the Sher-Dor Madrasah appeared. The ruler of that time, wishing to glorify himself, decided to build an edifice that would completely copy the Ulugh Beg Madrasah. But for various reasons, he did not succeed. Insufficient money and incorrect schemes influenced the final result, but, all the same, the new madrasah successfully complemented the area.

And finally, in 1646, the construction of the Tilya-Kori Madrasah began. It is not that the city needed so many educational institutions. But the shopping arcade, which was located between two magnificent buildings on Registan Square, somehow didn’t fit into the new architectural ensemble.

When the madrasah was finished, the Registan began to look like a beautiful unified complex.