Ismail Samaniy mausoleum (IX-X centuries)— the oldest, best preserved and most breathtakingly original building in Bukhara.

The mausoleum of Chashmai Ayub (“Prophet Job”)— according to the legends the prophet Job came to the Zerafshan Valley and witnessed a great and terrible drought. As people perished of thirst around him, Job struck the dusty earth with his staff and a cool source of sweet spring water brought liquid salvation. The Chashmai Ayub (“the Spring of Job” in Uzbek) commemorates this site.

Abu Abdullah Mohammed ibn Ismail Imam Al Bukhari— after the Koran, the book most revered by Muslims is the collection of Hadith (sayings of the Prophet Mohammed) selected by, amongs others, Abu Abdullah Mohammed ibn Ismail Imam Al Bukhari. At the age of 16 he made pilgrimage to Mecca and then Al Bukhari was set on his chosen task of roaming the Islamic world in search of Hadith. His book “Al Jomiy Al Saheeh (Secure book)” took 16 years to compile from over 600,000 traditions, gathered from over 1000 sheikhs.

Bolo Hauz mosque (XVIII century)— it is a functioning Friday mosque from XVIII century and consists of reservoir, mosque and minaret (Note: this mosque you can visit from outside, since it is functioning Friday mosque).

The Citadel Ark (I-XX centuries)— the construction of the citadel is dated to beginning of the 1st millennium BC. During the history the fortress has been destroyed several times but has been restored again. All buildings of the citadel have been reconstructed mainly during the XVIII-XX centuries.

Poi Kalon complex (“The foot of tall” in Uzbek) from XII-XVI centuries. Consisting of mosque, madrassah and minaret, one of the great centre of trade and scholarship along the Silk Road. The beauty of the minaret amazed Genghis Khan (Temuchin or Temujin).

Magoki-Attari Mosque— Central Asia’s oldest surviving mosque. Prior to the Arab invasion there was a Buddhist monastery and then a Zoroastrian temple on the site. It now houses the dull Museum of the History of Carpet Weaving.

Labi Hauz Complex (“The edge of the pond” from Persian) constructed by Nadir Divan Begi, The Grand Vizier of Bukhara, around 1620.

XVI century Synagogue— to the south of Labi Hauz Square spreads the Jewish Quarter of the old town. Jews have been an important minority in Bukhara since their forced migration from Merv and Shiraz in the 14th century (the majority having emigrated to Israel and the US since 1970s). (Note: most of the time it is closed if it is open travelers can visit inside and see old Torah)

Statue of Hodja Nasruddin— the homespun philosopher and humorist on his donkey. Elsewhere in the world he is generally accepted as Turkish, but Uzbeks claim he was born in Bukhara and is one of their own.