Hazrat Khizr Mosque

The Hazrat Khizr Mosque sits on a ridge at the edge of the ancient Afrasiyab settlement, marked by its slender, brightly tiled minaret and an open, airy veranda supported by carved wooden pillars. This site is widely considered the oldest in Samarkand, with a history stretching back to the eighth century. After the original mosque was destroyed by the Mongols, the current structure rose in the nineteenth century, funded by a merchant who intended the spot to honor the legendary traveler Khizr.