Madrasa of 'Abd al-'Aziz Khan

Built in 1652 under the Janid ruler Abd al-Aziz Khan, this madrasa stands directly opposite Bukhara's 15th-century Ulugh Beg Madrasa, forming one of Central Asia's most striking pairs of Islamic seminaries. The interior is celebrated for its exceptionally ornate decoration: the entrance portal's ceiling is encrusted with muqarnas stalactites and intricate floral mosaics, executed by craftsmen reportedly recruited from across the khanate — making it a late high point of Bukharan architectural patronage. Now part of Bukhara's UNESCO-listed historic core and open as a museum, the building rewards close inspection of its tilework and calligraphic panels; the central courtyard offers a quiet retreat from the surrounding old-town lanes.