Old Town, Gobustan

Description

Duration: 7-8 hours

10:00 Meeting with guide, walking tour around the Heart of Baku- Old City

Baku - one of the most beautiful cities in the world - is located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. The cultural, industrial, political capital of Azerbaijan is located on the western coast of the Caspian Sea, on the shores of the eponymous bay in the southern part of the Absheron peninsula. The city name is interpreted as a "wind blow", "city of winds" or "hill", "city on a hill". To its antiquity, size of the territory and population this city is one of ancient and largest cities of the East. Baku represents both industrial, and a scientific and cultural centre of the country. Exactly here raised curtain national first theatre in Moslem East and sounded the first opera, opened the first university, the first Azeri newspaper started to publish and was open the first Azeri library-reading room.

Modern capital city, surprises and delights “Eastern Paris” of Azerbaijan, and to remain dissatisfied after visiting of this city, next to impossible!

Museum of Azerbaijani Literature named after Nizami Ganjavi (1860)

The building of the museum of Azeri literature name by Gyandzhevi's Bottoms - was constructed in 1860s as two-storeyed caravan-shed. To date this museum is one of the largest and richest treasuries of Azeri intellectual of culture.

 

The beginning of the walking tour of the Old Town

Fortress Walls (Gosha Gala - XII century)

The fortress walls are walls and towers surrounding the medieval Old Town of Baku - Icheri Sheher. The Old City of Baku was chosen as a World Heritage Site in 2000 by UNESCO.

 

Caravansarais (XVII century)

Multani (XV с.)- title takes place from in India, from where merchants Bukhara arrived (XIV с.)- in which merchants from Central Asia, The small and Big caravans-sheds stayed. 

 

Gadzhi Gaib's bathhouse (XV с.)

Gadzhi Gaib's bathhouse is located in Baku quarter Icheri Shekher, opposite of Maiden Tower. The bath is constructed at the end of XV century, the Bath was build by request of Gadzhi Gaib. The bath was located on the trade way. The bath long time remained under Earth and was revealed as a result of archeological excavations of 1964.

Maiden Tower (XII c.)

The most majestic and most mysterious monument of Baku is Qiz Qalasi - Maiden Tower eminent in south-east part of Icheri Shekher's fortress. In 1964 Maiden tower became museum, and from 2000 is included to the list of UNESCO monuments.

 

Monument of Ali Agha Vahid (poet) (1990)

Ali Agha Vahid - Azerbaijani poet, Honored Artist of the Azerbaijan USSR (1943). One of the most interesting monuments of the Icheri Shchyakhar complex (1990)

 

 

Shirvanshakhs Palace (XIII-XVI cc.)

The Shirvanshah Palace is the former residence of the Shirvanshahs (rulers of Shirvan), located in the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku. The construction of the palace was associated with the transfer of the capital of the state of the Shirvanshahs from Shemakha to Baku. The palace complex was built in the period from the XIII to the XVI century.

Museum of Miniature Books (2002) 

The Baku Museum of Miniature Books - Zarifa Salakhova, the founder of the unique Museum of miniature books, began to collect a collection of micro-books in the Soviet era. The first collection acquired by her was the collection of Krylov's fables. She was able to enlist the support of the government, so on April 23, 2002, by decree of the President of Azerbaijan, the museum was opened in one of the buildings in the Old City next to the Maiden's Tower.

 

Garden of  Ali Agha Vahid (Governor Garden- 1830)

The Ali Agha Vahid Garden, formerly known as the Mikhailovsky or Governor’s Garden, is one of the oldest parks in the capital of Azerbaijan, in the city of Baku. The governor’s Sadik, also known as Mikhailovsky, also known as the Garden of the Revolution, is in fact the oldest garden in the city and for a very long time remained the only garden in Baku. One of the oldest and busiest gardens in the city is Mikhailovsky, or, as residents often called him, the Governor’s (4.6 hectares), went through a long stage of formation, until the final planning structure was formed, which successfully fit into the relief.

13:00- 14:00 Lunch at the restaurant (master class on request)
“Nush Olsun!” - “Bon appetit!”, They will tell you in every corner of Azerbaijan, cordially inviting you to an abundant feast. The most sophisticated gourmets who come to the republic will like the refinement and delicate aroma of Azerbaijani dishes. The history of the art of culinary recipes in Azerbaijan goes back centuries and is based on the vast experience of hereditary chefs that is preserved today. In terms of the composition and multiplicity of dishes, Azerbaijani cuisine is among the extremely diverse and healthy and is distinguished by an abundance of all sorts of meat, fish and vegetable delicacies, complemented by tender greens and savory spices. The dishes in tandoor are widely spread in the Azerbaijani cuisine. Trere are a large assortment of various sweets and drinks. Exclusive Azerbaijani dishes - dolma, bozbash, bozartma, chyhyrtma, khashil, kebab, piti, pilaf, govurma - are included in the national menu of many peoples of the Caucasus.

State Flag Square (on the way)

One of the highest flags in the world flutters on the State Flag Square in Baku. The area covers an area of ​​60 hectares and its upper part is 31 thousand square meters.

“Crystal Hall”

In 2012, the sports hall  Crystal Hall  was built on the seaside boulevard, where international cultural events were held including the famous Eurovision Song Contest (2012).

 Baku Seaside Boulevard (1909) (by pass)

 Baku Seaside Boulevard (1909)  is one of the attractions of Baku, a favorite resting place of Baku residents and city guests. In 2009 it celebrated its 100th anniversary. The length of the park before the reconstruction was 16 kilometers and after the general reconstruction is 25 km.

 

Gobustan (Petroglyphs Museum)

The museum of petroglyphs - called Gobustan - is a mountain town in the south-east of the Greater Caucasus Mountains, located 65 km from Baku. It was here that the ancient sites of primitive people were found, who left behind a lot of rock paintings - petroglyphs. These primitive monuments of art reflect the culture, economy, worldview, customs and traditions of ancient people. Long  time ago the sea was splashing right at the foot of these mountains but then it retreated, leaving characteristic relief marks on the polished boiling rocks. After accidentally, in the 30s of the 20th century, unusual patterns were found on the rocks, their “openly” already more than 6 thousand (on 1000 rocks). Also found ancient primitive dwellings - caves and parking, more than 100 thousand items of material culture. Gobustan petroglyphs belong to different epochs. They were made in the period from X - XVIII thousand BC until the middle ages of our epoch.

Mud Volcanoes (on request )

Gobustan is also known for its mud volcanoes which can be counted in the hundreds. By the number of mud volcanoes Azerbaijan ranks first in the world. There are 350 of them (about 800 in the world). Most volcanoes are low mud geysers including those below adult height. Mud volcanoes are active all year round. They themselves are associated with oil and gas fields, so their soil is saturated with oil. With minor or even large eruptions, dirt, like lava, begins to flow freely from the crater  and then dries on the walls outside. And the largest mud volcano in Gobustan reserve is Kianizadag.

Bibi-Heybat Mosque (on the way)

This mosque is located on the shore of the Baku Bay, in the village of Shikhovo in Azerbaijan. The existing building was erected in 1998–1999 on the site of a mosque of the same name, built in the second half of the 13th century by Shirvanshah Abdul-Fath-Farrukhzad, subsequently repeatedly completed (last time in 1911).

17:00 End of the tour

Group tours schedule