The new town is what the Soviet rebuilders made of Tashkent after the 1966 earthquake — wide tree-lined boulevards, huge public squares, fountains, and an array of monumental buildings in late-Soviet and Stalinist styles. It runs roughly from Amir Timur Square to Independence Square and on to the river.
Most of Tashkent's museums, the Navoi Opera Theatre, the Hotel Uzbekistan, and the smartest restaurants are in this district. Walk it on foot — distances look intimidating on a map but the parks and shaded sidewalks make it pleasant.