“El País” Highlights Bukhara and Tashkent as Two Faces of Modern Uzbekistan
The Spanish newspaper El País published an article dedicated to the Uzbek cities of Bukhara and Tashkent.
The article notes that although both cities belong to the same country, Bukhara and Tashkent represent two different worlds in terms of history, architecture, and cultural identity. While one city has preserved the millennia-old heritage of Islamic architecture and the era of the Great Silk Road, the other has developed into a modern metropolis combining Soviet modernism with contemporary urban design.
“El País” describes Bukhara as one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Central Asia. The article emphasizes that the city, with a history spanning more than two thousand years, is renowned for its madrasahs, mosques, domes, and architectural monuments decorated with distinctive blue glazed tiles. Since 1993, Bukhara has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Special attention is given to the Lyabi-Hauz architectural ensemble, as well as the covered bazaars of Toki Sarrafon and Toki Zargaron, the Khoja Kalon Mosque, the Khoja Gaukushan Madrasah, and the Bolo-Hauz Mosque. The Ark Fortress is described as the former political and cultural center of the city. The article also highlights the Samanid Mausoleum, considered one of the oldest examples of dynastic Islamic architecture.
The Spanish publication also underscores the importance of the Poi-Kalon complex, referring to it as the “face of Bukhara.” The city is presented as a center of traditional craftsmanship, including ceramics, weaving, and carpet-making, which continue to be preserved and developed today. It is noted that modern cultural initiatives, such as the Bukhara Biennale, are giving new meaning to the city’s historic environment.
The second part of the article is devoted to Tashkent, which is described as a “unique architectural hybrid” of Soviet modernism and Islamic traditions. The publication emphasizes that the modern appearance of the capital was shaped after the 1966 earthquake, following the city’s large-scale reconstruction.
The article also mentions the Uzbekistan Museum of Applied Arts, located in a former diplomatic mansion and housing more than seven thousand exhibits, as well as the Tashkent Metro, famous for its mosaic interiors, where the Kosmonavtlar station is considered one of the most iconic.
In conclusion, “El País” states that despite their differences, Bukhara and Tashkent together reflect the historical memory and modern development of Uzbekistan, simultaneously representing the country’s past and future.
