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    Tourist Attractions in Baku

    The most interesting and beautiful tourist attractions in Baku. Photos and a brief description

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    About Baku

    In the capital of Azerbaijan, the past meets the future face to face. The modern architecture of the city is not inferior in beauty to the historical buildings of the Icheri-Sheher district and has great cultural value. The Flame Towers compete in expressiveness with the ancient Maiden Tower. The magnificent forms of the Shirvanshahs’ palace even lose somewhere in the pomp and luxury of the newly rebuilt Bi bi-Eibat mosque.

    Today, Baku enjoys all the benefits of generous financial flows from oil and gas production, as well as the rich historical heritage that the city inherited from the eventful events of previous centuries. The tourist industry of the city is developing very rapidly, as new cultural objects are constantly being built in Baku and places of interest for the guests of the republic appear.

    Top Tourist Attractions in Baku

    Heydar Aliyev Center

    The cultural center, located on the avenue of the same name, which was built by the Turkish construction holding according to the project of the famous architect Zahi Hahid. The complex is multifunctional, it includes spacious conference halls, a museum, offices and exhibition galleries. The Heydar Aliyev Center was built for the purpose of studying the cultural values, language, history and traditions of the Azerbaijani nation.

    Heydar Aliyev Center
    Old Town of Icheri Sheher

    Old Town of Icheri Sheher

    An old residential quarter surrounded by a powerful fortress wall. Icheri Sheher is a national historical monument of great cultural value. People have lived in this place since the Bronze Age. During the Early Middle Ages, there was already a fairly dense residential development. In the XVII – early XIX century, Icheri Sheher was the capital of the Baku Khanate.

    Baku Primorsky Boulevard

    The boulevard was founded at the beginning of the XX century on the initiative of the city authorities. As part of the work on the arrangement of the future avenue and park, the embankment was ennobled, brothers-in-law were planted and infrastructure elements were built. Twice a significant part of the boulevard was flooded due to the rise of the Caspian Sea level. In the 2000s, a musical fountain, a theater, a cinema were built in the park and the rides were restored. The last reconstruction was carried out in 2015.

    Baku Primorsky Boulevard
    Flame Towers

    Flame Towers

    Three skyscrapers towering in the modern central part of Baku, which are made in the form of flames. The grandiose evening illumination creates the effect of giant torches aimed at the sky. The lighting design of Flame Towers is recognized as the best in the world. The construction of the facilities was completed in 2012. The interior space is occupied by a hotel, residential apartments and commercial premises.

    Maiden Tower

    The exact time of construction of the structure is unknown. It is believed that it could have been built during the reign of the Sassanid dynasty in the III-VII centuries or even earlier. In the XII century, it became part of the defensive system of the Baku fortress. With the original purpose, too, not everything is clear. Perhaps it was a ritual construction of followers of Zoroastrianism. In 2000, the tower was included in the UNESCO list.

    Maiden Tower
    Shirvanshahs ' Palace

    Shirvanshahs ' Palace

    The palace complex of the XIII-XVI centuries, built in the Shirvan-Absheron architectural manner. The residence of the Shirvanshahs was located on the territory of the palace at the time when Baku was the capital of Shirvan. The complex includes a mosque of the XV century, a royal tomb, a Divan khan, a bathhouse and a mausoleum of the medieval scientist and thinker S. Y. Jalaleddin Bakuvi. Despite the fact that the buildings of the ensemble were erected at different times, it looks quite harmonious.

    Bi bi-Eibat Mosque

    The temple was built in 1998-99 on the site of a historic mosque of the XII century, which was blown up as part of the state program to eradicate religion in the 1930s. It is believed that the first building was erected by architect Mahmoud ibn Saad. The new building was built in full accordance with the canons of the Shirvan architectural school. For this purpose, photographs of the beginning of the XX century, old plans and other historical documents were widely used.

    Bi bi-Eibat Mosque
    Tezepir Mosque

    Tezepir Mosque

    The temple of the beginning of the XX century, built according to the project of Z. Akhmedbekov at the expense of a local philanthropist N. Ashurbekova. After 1917, the mosque was closed, and until 1943 the building was used for other purposes. He managed to avoid the sad fate of the Bibi-Eibat Mosque. The inscriptions on the exterior facade of the building are made of gold, valuable mahogany was used to make window openings and doors.

    Juma Mosque

    The mosque is located within the historical quarter of Icheri Sheher. Some researchers believe that in the pre-Islamic era there was a pagan fire sanctuary on the site of the temple. The first building was erected at the beginning of the XIV century. After its destruction in the XVII century, the mosque was rebuilt. The second building lasted until the XX century, then it was destroyed by fire. The construction of the beginning of the XX century has reached us.

    Juma Mosque
    Heydar Mosque

    Heydar Mosque

    A modern temple, built in 2012-14 by the decree of President I. Aliyev. Its opening took place in 2015. The head of Azerbaijan wished the mosque to be named after his father Heydar Aliyev, a charismatic and revered leader who made an invaluable contribution to the development of statehood and national identity. The building is built in the traditional Shirvan-Absheron style.

    Museum of Azerbaijani Carpet

    The museum was founded in 1967. At first, the exposition was located on the territory of the Juma Mosque. In 2014, a new building was built for the extensive collection. The exposition includes about 14 thousand carpets, national clothes, jewelry, embossed tableware and other objects of applied art. The museum plays an important role in the study of the history of the carpet. His team has repeatedly participated in international symposia.

    Museum of Azerbaijani Carpet
    Museum of Azerbaijani Literature

    Museum of Azerbaijani Literature

    The museum is an important cultural center of Azerbaijan. It contains the world's largest collection of Azerbaijani literature and conducts serious scientific activities. It was founded in 1939, but the first visitors were able to get here only in May 1945, immediately after the end of the Great Patriotic War. The museum is located in a 19th-century mansion, which underwent major restoration in the 1960s.

    National Museum of Arts of Azerbaijan

    The gallery exhibits an extensive collection of works by Azerbaijani, Russian and European artists, housed in separate thematic halls. The total number of exhibits is more than 17 thousand. In addition to paintings, the funds contain jewelry, textiles, tableware, carpets, sculptures and other artifacts. The museum was founded in 1936 on the territory of a picturesque mansion of the XIX century.

    National Museum of Arts of Azerbaijan
    National Museum of the History of Azerbaijan

    National Museum of the History of Azerbaijan

    The collection is located on an area of about 2 thousand m2 and has about 120 thousand items, of which 20 thousand are constantly exhibited. The rest of the exhibits are kept in museum collections. The collection covers a wide period of the history of the eastern part of the Caucasus, including the rise and decline of kingdoms, the arrival of various religions, the origins of traditions and other informative sections. The museum was opened in 1920.

    Museum of Modern Art

    The gallery contains works by masters who worked in the XX-XXI centuries. About 800 canvases are exhibited here, as well as many photographs, sculptures and various installations. The museum provides an excellent opportunity to get acquainted with the works of modern Azerbaijani artists – E. Shakhtakhtinskaya, O. Eldarov, S. Bahlulzade, T. Salakhov and many others. There is also a department with works by Western European masters.

    Museum of Modern Art
    Baku Museum of Miniature Books

    Baku Museum of Miniature Books

    The collection is located on the territory of the Icheri Sheher quarter. The museum has been in existence since 2002. His collection consists of exhibits from a private collection of books owned by Z. Salakhova, the sister of the contemporary artist T. Salakhov. For 30 years, she has collected more than 6.5 thousand books from 64 countries of the world. The museum collections contain quite rare editions of famous classics, released in a limited edition.

    Russian Drama Theater named after Samed Vurgun

    The State Theater of Azebrajjan, founded in 1920. Over the past time, the scene has changed several names, until it received a name in honor of the national poet S. Vurgun. The repertoire of the theater has always been composed of the best works of Russian and foreign classics, as well as works by Azerbaijani authors. In 2006-2008, the general reconstruction of the building was carried out. Every year the repertoire is updated, 6-8 new performances are included in the playbill.

    Russian Drama Theater named after Samed Vurgun
    Opera and Ballet Theater named after M. F. Akhundov

    Opera and Ballet Theater named after M. F. Akhundov

    The scene has existed since the beginning of the XX century. Residents of the city call the theater "Baku Opera". Here at one time F. performed . Chaliapin, M. Plisetskaya, E. Obraztsova, M. Caballe, V. Gordeev and other stars of the ballet and opera scene. The theater building was built at the expense of the Mailov brothers. Mussorgsky's opera Boris Godunov was chosen as the premiere production. The modern repertoire consists of immortal classical works.

    Mukhtarov Palace

    An architectural monument of the beginning of the XX century, built at the expense of industrialist M. Mukhtarov according to the project of I. Ploshko. The tycoon decided to build the palace after traveling through Europe with his wife Lisa, who was impressed by the magnificent Venetian palazzi. The architecture of the building is a mixture of elegant French Gothic and luxurious Italian Baroque.

    Mukhtarov Palace
    National Flag Square

    National Flag Square

    The square decorated the capital of Azerbaijan in 2010. It was laid down by the decree of President I. Aliyev. The project was developed by an American architectural company in collaboration with an Azerbaijani firm. The area covers an area of 60 hectares. In the middle there is a 162-meter spire crowned with a giant national flag (length – 70 meters, width – 35 meters, weight – about 350 kg).

    Baku Olympic Stadium

    The stadium opened in 2015. According to the UEFA classification, it belongs to the 4th category. The opening/closing ceremonies of the I European Games, as well as some athletics competitions were held on its territory. It is also planned to host matches of the 2020 European Football Championship here. The arena is multi-sport, that is, adapted for various types of competitions. It is designed for 69,870 spectators.

    Baku Olympic Stadium
    Nagorny Park

    Nagorny Park

    A city park built in the 1930s. Throughout the entire Soviet period in the history of Azerbaijan, he enjoyed great popularity among the residents of the capital. In the 1990s, burials of people who died during the events of Black January were carried out on the territory of the park. It has since been declared a memorial. There is an observation deck in the park, which can be reached by the city funicular.

    Alley of the Shahids

    The alley is located on the territory of the Highland Park. It is a mass grave where the victims of the events of January 1990 are buried, as well as people who died during the beginning of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Previously, a Muslim cemetery was located here. During the funeral, the gravestone of the "Shahida 1918" was discovered. The bodies found in the old graves were reburied in a mass grave.

    Alley of the Shahids
    Hagani Garden

    Hagani Garden

    One of the oldest parks in Baku, which was laid out in the second half of the XIX century. Since then, it has been reconstructed more than once and changed its name. The square is named after the poet Hagani. The garden is located on a small area of 0.8 hectares. In its central part there is a swimming pool and a sculpture "Three Graces". Park alleys are designed in such a way that they lead to a central sculptural composition.

    Fountain Square

    One of the first squares in Baku, the architectural appearance of which took shape by the middle of the XIX century. The place is surrounded by green alleys and city monuments of the XIX-XX centuries: the Grand Hotel, the old cinema, museums and the Armenian temple. In the center there is a fountain with an original sculptural group. In 2010, the reconstruction of the square was carried out, as a result of which the area acquired a more modern appearance.

    Fountain Square