The capital of Azerbaijan in the twentieth century was compared with Paris, today this magnificent city is more reminiscent of Dubai - becoming more and more luxurious, and both cities are helped by oil. Although, having asked himself the question of what to visit in Baku, first of all, a tourist will have to choose between modern skyscrapers that amaze the imagination, and old streets, an oriental bazaar and ancient temples.
Districts of Baku
Baku once appeared as a small settlement on the Great Silk Road, and now it has already celebrated its millennium. Merchants and traders stopped here to take a break before continuing on their way to distant lands. Today Baku is the largest and most beautiful city in Azerbaijan.
But tourists are primarily attracted by its historical sights and cultural monuments, which can be seen in each of the city's districts. The largest part is concentrated in the Sabail district of Baku, it is here that you can get acquainted with the ancient oriental architecture of the city of Icheri Sheher, see religious buildings, such as the Juma mosque or the Haji Gaib baths. In addition to the old bath complexes, in this area you can become a visitor to a modern water park, in the list of its services there is an ordinary and a Turkish bath, and even a hammam.
What to visit in Baku for lovers of sea bathing and sun procedures on their own? Of course, the Khazar or Karadag regions, where the best beaches of the Azerbaijani capital are located. Gobustan, one of the most famous reserves in the country, is located in the Karadag region. It became famous for its ancient rock paintings, which are still in the center of tourists' attention today.
A visit to the Khazar region is mandatory with children, since its main natural attraction is the Absheron National Park. The park staff are engaged in creating favorable conditions for the survival of gazelles and Caspian seals. And here you can see hundreds of species of waterfowl, many of which are also on the verge of extinction.
Old Baku
Depending on their own interests and plans, the tourist builds a travel route around the city. Most of the guests still choose old Baku, where Icheri Sheher is located. Quite often in tourist brochures it is compared to the famous Acropolis. It is the “Baku Acropolis” that is considered the heart of the city, the place where the first inhabitants appeared.
The main attraction of the Old Town is the Maiden's Tower. Despite such a tender name, at the first stages of its existence, it served as the main citadel of the fortress. Today, the majestic view of the tower attracts thousands of visitors, and local old-timers and guides are ready to tell more than a dozen legends associated with this unique structure.
The next important stop on the route through the Old City is the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, which is called the pearl of the architecture of ancient Azerbaijan. Not only the residence of the rulers of Shirvan has survived, but also many outbuildings, for example, baths. There are on the territory of the complex and its own religious buildings and tombs. Many of the buildings of Icheri-Shekher are classified as masterpieces of oriental architecture.
Baku modern
This part of city life can be just as interesting as ancient palaces, oriental markets and narrow streets. The authorities support young architects and designers, thanks to which amazing structures appear in Baku, which immediately add to the list of cultural attractions of the capital.
One of them is the Cultural Center named after Heydar Aliyev. The author of the project was Zaha Hadid, the only woman architect in the world who received the Grand Prix of the International Design of the Year Award (2014). The Cultural Center built according to her project today houses offices and galleries, exhibition halls, cafes and restaurants, there are several platforms for negotiations, meetings, forums.
For tourists, first of all, exhibitions are interesting. One of them, "Masterpieces of Azerbaijan", is located on the first floor. It provides an opportunity to get acquainted with the main historical artifacts of the country, the expositions showcase ancient coins, fragments of rock art of Gobustan, ancient cult books, of course, oriental carpets with their amazing patterns and colors.
One floor above there is another exhibition hall, where the main architectural, religious and cultural monuments of Azerbaijan, or rather, their miniature copies, are displayed. The same Maiden Tower, the building of the Baku railway station (built in Soviet times), the Green Theater are presented.
