Samarkand, also Samarqand, is perhaps the most famous city of modern Uzbekistan. The city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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The name Samarkand is derived from Old Persian asmara ("stone, rock" and from Sogdian qand ("fort", "town"). Samarkand literally means "stone fort" or "rock town"). Samarkand had a central position on the Silk Road between China and the West. In the 14th cent. Temur (Tamerlane) made Samarkand the capital of his empire. Samarkand is a must see for all travellers visiting the Central Asia. It was added to UNESCO World Heritage List in 2001 as Samarkand - Crossroad of Cultures.