Samarkand: the Registan at First Light

Samarkand sits at 702 meters in the Zeravshan River valley of Uzbekistan, once the heart of Timur's 14th-century empire. The Registan, three grand madrasas surrounding a central plaza, faces east; at sunrise, the first light catches the blue and turquoise tilework of Ulugh Beg Madrasa (1420), Sher-Dor Madrasa (1636), and Tilya-Kori Madrasa (1660) sequentially. The tilework was engineered to maximize reflective colour at different times of day. Shah-i-Zinda, a necropolis avenue of 14th- and 15th-century mausoleums on a narrow lane, catches warm morning light from the east on the glazed faiences. Bibi-Khanym Mosque, built 1399-1404 for Timur, is 175 meters long and faces west, catching full golden afternoon light. At 39.7°N, golden hour lasts about 38 minutes.