“The mountains left the sea, quenching their thirst, and lay down on the shore of the city, embracing the bay,” - Muslim Magomayev sang so poetically about his native Baku. The city is indeed located on the coast of the Caspian Sea, in the south of the Absheron Peninsula. Walking around Baku allows you to feel how organically the features of the eastern and western cultures, the distant past and the present, have united in the appearance of the capital of Azerbaijan. All this makes the ancient city very attractive for tourists.
Baku is incredibly rich in historical monuments: even for the most cursory inspection of them, a traveler would need at least three days.
What to see first
- Gala is the name of the Museum of History and Ethnography, located 40 km from the capital. It is located in an open area of more than one hectare. It is as if a medieval city was rebuilt on it: people's dwellings, cattle pens with camels, donkeys and horses in them, workshops of a blacksmith, potter, baker with all the necessary professional attributes. All this helps to imagine very vividly how people lived here several centuries ago. Tourists are allowed here not only to touch all the exhibits with their hands, but also to try their hand at blacksmithing, pottery and other types of craftsmanship.
- Gobustan - a museum of petroglyphs (rock paintings) - is located 60 km from Baku. They were discovered in the 30s of the last century, and in 1966 this territory became a protected area.
- Mount Yanardag, on the slope of which flames constantly burst out of natural holes - this natural gas ignites from contact with oxygen.
Of the architectural masterpieces of Baku that are of interest to tourists, the following can be named:
- Icheri-Sheher is the oldest city quarter, sometimes called a fortress. People have lived here since ancient times - since the Bronze Age.
- Gyz-Galasy (Maiden Tower) is the architectural emblem of the city. According to legend, the daughter of the shah rushed down from its top when her father wanted to marry her.
- The Palace of the Shirvanshahs is a building ensemble of amazing beauty, and today it amazes the imagination of the audience.
Baths of Baku are of particular interest. Baths were very important in the East, not only a single palace, but also not a single significant settlement could do without them.
But in Baku there is also something to do for lovers of modern entertainment, such as walking through the stalls or absorbing gastronomic masterpieces. At their service is Emporium - an exhibition and trade center that unites many shops and cafes under its roof.
In short, there are more than enough interesting places in the capital of Azerbaijan, and guests of Baku will probably not be bored during city tours. The only thing they can regret is that they have to leave so soon.
