Bukhara

Nicknamed 'Noble Bukhara' and 'Dome of Islam,' this 2,500-year-old city was a major center of Islamic scholarship with over 140 historical monuments. The walkable old town features the Poi-Kalon complex with the 1127 Kalon Minaret (46 meters), the 5th-century Ark Fortress, the 10th-century Samanid Mausoleum, and the charming Lyabi-Hauz ensemble. UNESCO since 1993.