Samarkand’s Silk Road legacy: From ancient murals to the revival of silk paper

Samarkand’s Silk Road past is woven into its present. At Registan Square, once a bustling marketplace, researcher Armida Nazaryan explains its role as a trade hub between East and West.

Nearby, at Afrasiab, restorer Marina Reutova unveils ancient Sogdian murals, offering a rare glimpse into 7th-century life.

In Konigil, craftsman Zarif Mukhtarov revives the lost art of Samarkand Silk Paper, prized for its durability. Finally, in a local bakery, Gulchehra Nurriddinova shares the tradition of Samarkand’s iconic flatbreads, baked in a scorching tandyr oven—an enduring symbol of Silk Road hospitality.