Azerbaijan's Unique Attractions: A Comprehensive Guide

Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a transcontinental country in Eastern Europe and West Asia. Baku, its capital and largest city, is known for its modern architectural landmarks such as the Heydar Aliyev Centre, and its medieval walled city, the Baku Old City. Azerbaijan is also home to the Gobustan Rock Art, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The country is rich in natural resources, particularly oil and natural gas, which make up two-thirds of its GDP. Azerbaijan's history dates back to the late Stone Age, and it was once ruled by Caucasian Albania and various Persian empires. Today, it is a semi-presidential republic with a diverse culture influenced by its historical and geographical context.

Baku's Old City

The Old City is widely accepted to date back to at least the 12th century, with some researchers arguing that construction dates as far back as the 7th century. During this medieval period, monuments such as the Synyg Gala Minaret, the fortress walls and towers, the Maiden Tower, the Multani Caravanserai and Hajji Gayyib bathhouse, the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, the Bukhara Caravanserai and Gasimbey bathhouse were built.

The Old City was the only neighbourhood of Baku until 1806, when the city started to extend beyond the city walls and new neighbourhoods emerged. The Old City is divided into several quarters, which also served as social divisions, sometimes named after their mosque.

The Maiden Tower is one of the Old City's most famous sites. It is shrouded in mystery and legend—its date of construction and original purpose are not entirely known, though there are many theories. The Shirvanshahs' Palace is another must-see site. This stunning architectural complex was the former residence of the Shirvanshah dynasty, who ruled during the medieval period.

There are also plenty of hidden gems to discover, from the Museum of Miniature Books, which includes the world's smallest book, to the Marionette Theatre, which stages performances of two Uzeyir Hajibeyli masterpieces. Baku's Old City also boasts a wealth of historic mosques, caravanserais, and hamams, which sit alongside small, independent art galleries, restaurants, rooftop bars, and cafes.

The Flame Towers

The construction of the towers began in 2007 and was completed in 2012, at an estimated cost of US$350 million. The tallest tower stands at 182 metres (597 feet) and comprises 39 storeys. The trio includes 130 luxury residential apartments, a Fairmont hotel with 250 rooms and 61 serviced apartments, and an office block providing 33,114 square metres of office space. The buildings are covered with LED screens that display the movement of fire, visible from far away, with a light show that transitions from giant flames to the colours of the Azerbaijani flag. The Flame Towers were designed by HOK, with DIA Holdings as the design-build contractor and Hill International providing project management.

The Maiden Tower

The tower is steeped in mystery and legend, with up to 20 legends associated with it. Many of these are rooted in Azerbaijan's Zoroastrian or pre-Islamic history, religion, and culture. The most famous legend is that of a fiery-haired virgin girl who saved Baku's people from slavery.

The tower is believed to have been built on a large rock sloping towards the sea. It has a cylindrical structure, rising to a height of 29.5 metres, with a base diameter of 16.5 metres. The tower's internal space can accommodate up to 200 people. The thickness of the walls varies from 5 metres at the base to 3.2–4.2 metres at the top floors. All floors are connected by a staircase, and each floor has a shallow vaulted roof with a central opening. The tower's cylindrical shape and thick base walls are thought to have provided a solid foundation, allowing it to survive over the centuries.

The tower houses a museum that showcases the historical evolution of Baku. It also offers panoramic views of the city, including the Baku Boulevard, the house of Isa bek Hajinski, and the Baku Bay. Visitors can climb the tower's eight stories to enjoy the view and learn about Baku's history. However, the climb involves winding and precarious steps, and the downward and upward traffic shares the same stairway.

The Palace of the Shirvanshahs

The palace complex includes the main palace building, Divanhane, burial vaults, a mosque with a minaret, Seyid Yahya Bakuvi's mausoleum, a portal in the east, Murad's gate, a reservoir, and remnants of a bathhouse. The palace was once surrounded by a wall with towers, serving as the inner stronghold of the Baku fortress. The main buildings of the ensemble were constructed at different times but exhibit unity in their architectural styles and forms. The builders drew on the traditions of the Shirvan-Absheron architectural school.

The palace is believed to be a memorial complex built around a sacred place of worship and the tomb of Seyyid Yaxya Bakuvi, a Helwati Sufi saint. The Shirvanshahs were patrons of the Helwati Sufiye order, and Shirvanshah Khalilullah I was buried with his family in the palace grounds. However, there is also a theory that the building served as the ruler's palace.

The palace has undergone various renovations and restorations over the centuries. In the 19th century, the Russian military department made partial renovations and adaptations to use the palace as a warehouse for military equipment. In the 20th century, the palace became a museum and underwent extensive repair and restoration work. The palace, along with the fortified walls of the historic part of Baku and the Maiden Tower, was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000.

The palace complex consists of 52 rooms, with 27 on the first floor and 16 on the second floor. The second floor originally had 25 rooms. The palace features a magnificent minaret and domes, with the minaret standing at a height of 16 meters. The palace mosque has three gates and separate prayer halls for men and women, with a mihrab indicating the direction of Mecca. The palace bathhouse, located underground, was discovered during excavations in 1936 and is typical of Eastern countries, with a focus on regulating heat in winter and coolness in summer.

The Gobustan Rock Art

The rock art is found on three rocky highlands: Boyukdash, Kichikdash, and Jingirdag mountains, and Yazili hill. Most of the carvings are found on the upper surfaces of Boyukdash and Kicikdash mountains. The paintings on the rock walls, dating back 3,000-4,000 years, primarily depict hunting scenes. Human and animal paintings are found on the more sheltered sides of the rocks, with human figures shown as dancers, hunters, and men wearing tropical helmets, while animal figures include deer and goats.

The images of animals in the Gobustan Rock Art vary depending on the hunting targets of the time, which changed due to the shift in climate at the beginning of the Holocene period. During the Pleistocene period, the images show larger animals like aurochs and wild horses, while the Holocene period features smaller animals such as deer, wild boar, and birds.

The site was first discovered by a local miner in 1939-1940 and was declared a National Reserve in 2007. The Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape offers a unique glimpse into the history of humanity, spanning from the Upper Paleolithic era to the Middle Ages in Eurasia.

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