Located in the desert of Uzbekistan's Xorazm Region, along the famous Silk Road trade route, the well preserved ancient city of Khiva is commonly considered to be the world's most coherent example of Islamic architecture. At Khiva's historic centre, the fabled inner walled city of Itchan Kala is listed as a UNESCO Heritage Site and is where most of Khiva's special sites, monuments, mosques, madrasahs, mausoleums and minarets can be found. Visitors can look forward to discovering a wide variety of popular tourist attractions including the Tosh-Hovli Palace, featuring an exquisite interior clad with blue ceramic tiles and elaborate carved wooden pillars; the revered Pakhlavan Mahmoud Mausoleum, known for its beautiful emerald dome and courtyard; and the impressive panoramic views afforded by the Kuhna Ark, once the fortress and residence of renowned Khiva rulers.