Uzbekistan is known less for its scenery than for its awesome architecture and we defy anybody not to be impressed. Tashkent, the capital and gateway to the treasures of Uzbekistan, is a modern city, largely as a result of rebuilding after the tragic earthquake in 1966. The ancient cities of the Silk Road fared better. The blue tiles on the mosques of Samarkand sparkle in the sunlight and the magnificent religious buildings surrounding the Registan Square, reflect the dream of Tamerlane the Great to create a masterpiece.