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Merv is an ancient, historic Islamic city on the Silk Road and is one of the finest examples of early Islamic culture. 

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Today, the city lies in ruins but , at least according to legend, Merv was the largest city in the world in the twelfth century, when it was an opulent oasis on the Silk Road. Historically, it played a role in the development of the Islamic world as important as that of Cairo or Baghdad. Nonetheless, I unfortunately have to admit that my visit left me a bit disappointed. That's because it was such a leap of imagination to envisage the splendor of the city as it must have been in the past. Very little of the Merv of antiquity remains, except for a few fortified walls, the citadel and a mausoleum. It is a fabulous experience to find historic remains so deep in the arid desert landscape, which makes the visit particularly compelling for during a <a href="/turkmenistan/">visit to Turkmenistan</a>.

Merv is an ancient, historic Islamic city on the Silk Road and is one of the finest examples of early Islamic culture.

Merv Vacations

Visit Merv

Merv: How to get there?

Merv: When to go?

Merv: For how long?

Merv: What to see in the surroundings?