A local family visits the site of Merv’s first fortress, walking along its ancient walls. The ancient city of Merv dates back to the 3rd millennium BC. This oasis on the Silk Road is considered one of the 16 perfect lands created by Ahura Mazda in Zoroastrian tradition. In the 12th and 13th century, Merv became the world’s largest city with a population of up to 500,000 people. Today, its ruins still stand as echoes of a grand past. (Merv, Turkmenistan)

Credits: Tommaso Aguzzi (Italy, @tomaguzzi)

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