The key facts

  • The episode's route covers Tashkent and Samarkand: the Center of Islamic Civilization, the metro, the Plov Museum, Registan, Shahi-Zinda, and the Siab market
  • In Samarkand, the host learns about traditional papermaking and learns to bake the national bread
  • The program features Khurshid Narimov from the company Akasha Travel

A route from the Tashkent metro to Registan Square

The international outlet Euronews has released an episode of the travel program Grand Voyager devoted entirely to Uzbekistan. Host Lilly begins her journey in Tashkent with a visit to the Center of Islamic Civilization, where, through architecture and exhibitions, she learns about the country's religious, cultural, and historical heritage and the role Uzbekistan played in the wider Islamic world.

Tashkent: the metro and the Plov Museum

The history of the capital is also shown underground in the program: during a tour of the Tashkent metro, the host explores some of the most beautifully decorated stations, each distinguished by its own design, mosaics, and artistic details. The gastronomic part of the route takes place at the Plov Museum, where the story of one of the country's most famous traditional dishes is told, along with the peculiarities of its preparation and its significance in Uzbek hospitality.

Samarkand: mausoleums, paper, and the bazaar

From Tashkent, the host travels to Samarkand — one of the most important cities of the ancient Silk Road. At Registan Square she is met by Khurshid Narimov from the company Akasha Travel, who shows her the ensemble of madrasahs, known for their intricate tile ornamentation and monumental architecture. The route then continues through Shahi-Zinda — an ensemble of historic mausoleums adorned with examples of Islamic decorative art.

Craft traditions

The final part of the episode is devoted to Samarkand's crafts: the host learns about the ancient art of traditional papermaking, visits the Siab market, where the colors, sounds, and flavors of local life come together, and learns to bake the famous national bread. The episode is presented as an introduction to a culture that, in the program's words, continues to develop today.