Baku - Gheos Worldguide

Baku (Bakı)

Baku is the largest city in the area around the Caucasus Mountains, with around 25% of the total Azerbaijan population living there. The city is well designed and it is located on the 70 km long Apsheron Peninsula on the coast of the Caspian Sea.

Most of the time the weather in the area is very pleasant, but Baku every now and then, is struck by khazri, a gale-force coastal storm. That's how the city got its nickname, the 'City of Winds'.

Azerbaijan's capital is a very old city. The Old Town (or Inner City) of Baku is called Ichari Shahar and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited areas in the Middle East. Burial chambers that have been discovered there date from the Bronze Age.

The Old Town consists of a maze of narrow alleys and it is the most interesting area of Baku to explore. It was designated as a UNESCO world heritage site in 2000. Baku is divided into 60 raions and townships, some of which are located on islands in the Caspian Sea. The industrial settlement of Neft Daşları was built on oil rigs, some 60 km (37 mi) offshore.

Between the 9th and 15th centuries, the shoreline of the Caspian Sea shoreline receded, slowly exposgin a strip of land. This land was subsequently developed and during that time, the walls of the old city, the palace and the Maiden Tower were constructed

Icheri Sheher (Old Town)

The Gosha Gala Gapysy (Paired Fortress Gates) are also known as the Shamakhi Gates and The gates of Shah Abbas. They are one of the entrances to Baku's Old Town. The gates were the only entrance to the Old Town until the 19th century, when parts of the city walls were demolished for better access.
The Qız qalası (Maiden's Tower) is a key-shaped building that provides magnificent views from its top. It was built in the 1100s and the walls are 5 m (15 ft) thick at some places. There is a small museum inside with an exhibition of artefacts that tell the story of Baku's history. The tower is one of Azerbaijan's most distinctive national emblems and it is featured on banknotes and on official government documents. The Maiden's Tower is 29.5 m (97 ft) high.
The 15th-century Şirvanşahlar Sarayı (Palace of the Shirvan Shahs) with its beautiful domes and mosaics, is also located in the Old Town. It was built for the shahs when the capital was moved from Shamakhi to Baku. The palace consists of various buildings that can all be visited.
- To the south of the palace:
- The main building of the palace is known as Divanhane, or divan-khana. This building used to house the law courts.
- The Seyid Yahya Bakuvi's mausoleum, or mausoleum of the dervish.
- The burial-vaults.
- The shah's mosque and its minaret.
- To the east of the palace:
- The remnants of a Turkish Bath House.
- Murad's Gate.
- A reservoir.
The palace was originally surrounded by walls and towers. Old photos show that remnants of these walls were still visible in the 1920s. Sometimes folk-dances are performed in the palace grounds.

Other points of interest

The Axundov adına Azərbaycan Dövlət Akademik Opera və Balet Teatrı (Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater) is housed in a beautiful building that was constructed in 1911. It was formerly known as the Mailov Theater. The theater is located at Nizami küçəsi 95.
The Bakı Şəhər İcra Hakimiyyəti (Executive Power of the Baku City) is informally known as the Mayoralty of Baku or the Baku Soviet (Baksovet). It is housed in a beautifuk Baroquebuilding that was completed in 1904. It is located at Istiglaliyyat Street 4.
Dövlət Bayrağı Meydanı (State Flag Square) features national symbols of Azerbaijan, such as the state coat of arms, the national anthem and a bronze map of the country. Since 2024 the world's largest flag has flown there from a 192-m tall flagpole. The State Flag Museum is also located on the square.
Fəvvarələr Meydanı (Fountains Square) was formerly called Parapet and many locals still refer to it as such. The square was constructed in Soviet times and it features numerous fountains. It is lines with many small shops, boutiques, restaurants and hotels. The square is the location for frequent gatherings and events.
Heydar Aliyev Avenue is lined with modern skyscrapers.
The Heydər Əliyev Mərkəzi (Heydar Aliyev Center) was named after Heydar Aliyev, who was president of Azerbaijan from 1993 to 2003. The building features a distinctive curved architecture. It was completed in 2012.
Dənizkənarı Milli Park (Baku Boulevard), or National Park is a promenade that was constructed in 1909. It runs along Baku's seafront.
The industrial settlement of Neft Daşları is located some 60 km (37 mi) offshore from Baku. I consists of a number of oil platforms and artificial islands that are interconnected with bridges and walkways, some of which have collapsed. The settlement is also known as Oil Rocks and it is home to about 2,000 people.
Villa Petrolea is a historical district located in the Keshla municipality. The district was established by the Petroleum Production Company Nobel Brothers (Branobel) in 1882 to serve as living quarters for the company's workforce. Nowadays, it houses the Museum of the Nobel Brothers, as well as offices.
Şıxov çimərliyi (Shikhov Beach) is a beach resort in Shikhov, southwest of the city center.
Another nice beach is One and Thousand Nights Beach.
There are several large shopping malls in Baku.
Baku features a variety of modern architecture. Distinctive buildings include:
- The Alov qüllələri (Flame Towers) are 3 skyscrapers that symbolize the element of fire. The tasllest of the towers if 182 m (597 ft) high.
- Bakı Ağ Şəhər (Baku White City) is an urban development in the Xətai-Khatai district.
- The Crescent Bay consists of a skyscraper complex on the coast of the Caspian Sea. The complex includes an offshore hotel, office towers, residential towers and a shopping center.

Museums

The Arxeologiya və Antropologiya Muzeyi (Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology) (Azerbaijani: ) is part of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS). It is located in Icheri Sheher (Old Town). The museum functioned in the 1980s and 1990s, after which it closed. It reopened in 2015. The museum building dates from the early 20th century and the exhibits contain Azerbaijan artefacts from prehistoric times up to the Middle Ages.
The Azərbaycan Geologiya Muzeyi (Azerbaijan Museum of Geology) has exhibitions of rocks, minerals and ore samples, which display Azerbaijan's mineral and raw material base. It was founded in 1982.
The Azərbaycan Milli İncəsənət Muzeyi (Azerbaijan National Museum of Art) was established in 1936. In 1943, it was named after Rustam Mustafayev, who was a prominent designer and artist. The museum is housed in 2 adjacent 19th-century buildings and its collection includes more than 15,000 works of art. The museum is located at Niyazi Street 9/11.
If you are interested in handcrafts, you should visit the Azərbaycan Milli Xalça Muzeyi (Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum), which is situated in the Juma Mosque. Woven and knotted Azerbaijani carpets, jewellery, metalwork and carved wooden items are all on display. The museum was founded in 1967 and it was located inside the Juma Mosque until 2014, when it was moved into a new building at its current seafront location at Mikayil Huseynov Street 28. The museum was formerly known as the Museum of Carpets & Applied Art
Just outside the Old Town you will find the Azerbaijani History Museum which has an exhibition of archeological artefacts and Stone Age relics.
The Bakı müasir incəsənət muzeyi (Baku Museum of Modern Art) was established in 2009. It is located at Yusif Safarov Street 5.
The Milli Azərbaycan Tarixi Muzeyi (National Museum of History of Azerbaijan) opened in 1921. It is located in the former home of Azerbaijani oil magnate and philanthropist Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev on H.Z. Taghiyev Street 4. It is the largest museum in Azerbaijan.
The Museum of the Nobel Brothers is housed in Villa Petrolea. The compound was built in 1882 to house workers of the Petroleum Production Company Nobel Brothers (Branobel). It is located in the Keshla municipality.
The Nizami Gəncəvi adına Milli Azərbaycan ədəbiyyatı muzeyi (Nizami Museum of Azerbaijani Literature) was founded in 1939. It is located near the entrance of Icheri Sheher (Old Town), not far from the Fountains Square.
The 'Tullantıdan sənətə' muzeyi (From Waste to Art Museum) promotes the creative reuse of waste materials. It was established in 2015 and it is located at Sulh Street.
The YARAT Müasir İncəsənət Məkanı (YARAT Contemporary Art Space) is usually referred to as simply YARAT. It was founded in 2011 and its name means 'create'. YARAT is dedicated to contemporary art. It is located near National Flag Square.

Mosques

The Bibiheybət məscidi (Bibi-Heybat Mosque), or the Mosque of Fatima, was built in the 1990s, as a replica of the original mosque that had been built there in the 13th century. The Bolsheviks destroyed the original building in 1936.
The Cümə məscidi (Juma Mosque) is also called the Friday Mosque. It is a Shia Islam mosque, but it is not known when the original mosque was built. According to an inscription on the mosque, it was restored in 1309-1310. The minaret was added in 1437. The mosque was later rebuilt several times and the current version dates from 1899. It housed the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum until 2014.
The Muhammad Mosque, or Siniggala Mosque, is a former mosque in Baku's Old City of Baku.
The Təzəpir Məscidi (Taza Pir Mosque) is a Shia Islam mosque. Construction of the mosque took place between 1905 and 1914.

Hamams

The Agha Mikayil Hamam dates from the 18th century and it still operates. It is located at Kichik Gala Street in Icheri Sheher (Old Town). The Hamam is open to women on Mondays and Fridays and to men the rest of the week.
The Bairamali Hamam used to be called Bey Hamam. It was originally built somewhere between the 12th and 14th centuries, but the current building dates from 1881.
The Gum Hamam dates from the same period. The remains were discovered during archaeological excavations in the sandy ground and thus it got its name, which means 'sand bath'.
The Teze Bey Hamam is the most popular hamam in Baku. It was originally built in 1886 and overhauled in 2003. The hamam features modern amenities and a swimming pool.

Around Baku

There are numerous smaller towns on the Apsheron Peninsula around Baku that offer exciting attractions. One of the most amazing things to go and see is the Atashgah Temple (Fire Temple) in Surakhany, about 25 km east of Baku.
There are some medieval castles on the peninsula of which the ones at Ramana, Nardaran and Mardakyany are the best. They were probably built around the 14th century by the Shirvan shahs to defend the area. In Ramana, apart from the castle there is a site where the remains of old oil fields can be seen; in Nardara you can visit a carpet factory and in Mardakyany, where 2 castles can be visited, there is also a 15th century mosque and a botanic garden. An exhibit on the castles is on display inside the mosque.
The town of Qobustan is an open-air museum where ancient rock paintings can be seen.
Yanar Dağ is a perpetually burning natural gas fire on a hillside, not far from Baku. Yanar Dağ means 'burning mountain'.

Baku has a good and cheap subway system, but during rush hours it's best to avoid it. If you decide to get around by taxi, be sure there is a taximeter in it, otherwise you'll most likely get ripped off.

There are numerous green spaces and parks in Baku. The city boasts numerous hotels, restaurants and nightclubs. Baku is in the east of Azerbaijan. It is about 28 m (92 ft) below sea-level, making it thelowest-lying large city in the world, as well as the lowest-lying capital of any nation.