Khiva is the one of the oldest cities in Central Asia, the capital of the powerful Khorezm state in the Middle Ages. According to legend, the founder of the fire worship Zarathustra was born here. Khiva is considered such as one of the most ancient cultural regions of the East. The history of its creation goes back to ancient times and is covered with many legends. According to archaeologists, many unique architectural monuments of great cultural importance have survived to this day in the city. Most of them are concentrated in Ichan-kala - an ancient fortress, the name of which means «Inner Fortress».
