Nisa

Nisa is one of the first capitals of the Parthian Empire, which ruled from the 3rd century BC to the 3rd century AD and rivalled Rome in the East. Its ruins lie in the foothills of the Kopetdag mountains, near the village of Bagyr, about 18 km west of Ashgabat.

The site has two parts. Old Nisa, once known as Mithradatkert, was the royal residence and ceremonial centre, ringed by powerful walls with more than forty towers. New Nisa was the city where ordinary people lived and traded. Excavations uncovered palaces, temples, wine storehouses and the famous ivory rhytons – carved drinking horns that blend Greek and Eastern art.

In 2007 the Parthian Fortresses of Nisa were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Highlights

• The Round Hall and Square Hall of the royal complex
• Massive mud-brick walls and towers of Old Nisa
• Views over the Kopetdag ridge and the Ashgabat plain
• An easy half-day trip from the capital