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Eternal City Ethnopark in Samarkand: An Open-Air Journey Through Uzbekistan’s Regions

Eternal City Ethnopark is not a museum in the traditional sense, but a living Eastern city where architecture, craftsmanship, and everyday life come together to form a single journey across Uzbekistan.
Courtyard with traditional Middle Eastern architecture, featuring mosaic tilework and a domed structure
Photo: Silk Road Samarkand

The park covers 17 hectares and represents the country’s key historical regions, including Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, the Fergana Valley, and Karakalpakstan.

Each quarter is created based on authentic historical examples. Narrow streets, small squares, and inner courtyards follow the layout of ancient cities. Turquoise domes, mosaic details, arches, and minarets create the feeling of a real city rather than a staged setting.

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One of the most striking features of Eternal City is its artisan workshops. More than 50 spaces are dedicated to traditional crafts, including ceramics and pottery, wood carving, paper making, carpet weaving, and jewellery. Visitors can watch artisans at work and explore modern interpretations of traditional techniques in galleries and art salons.

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During the warmer months, the park fills with movement and sound. Street performances and immersive shows take place throughout the area, while pre-booked workshops are available — from cooking Samarkand plov and making mulberry paper to forging Bukhara knives and shaping ceramics. In the open-air amphitheatre, evening events such as DJ sets, concerts, and cultural programmes are held on a regular basis.

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Eternal City offers a travel experience in which the visitor becomes a participant. Here, culture is not simply observed — it is tasted, heard, and felt, as the traditions of Uzbekistan’s diverse regions come together within a single space.

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