Ateshgah (Temple of fire), Yanardag (Burning mountain), Old Town

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!

The museum of azerbaijani literature the name by Nizami Ganjavi (1860 y.)

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 in the Old city

Fortress Walls (Gosha Gala  XII cc.) 

Fortress walls - fortifications and towers environmental mediaeval Old city Baku - Icheri Shekher. Old city, Baku was chosen by the object of Global heritage in 2000 on the part of UNESCO.

Caravansarais (XVII с.)

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.

Ateshgah (Temple Of  Eternal Fire of the XVI-XVII cc.)

Ateshgah  is a temple of fire in Azerbaijan, on the Absheron Peninsula, 30 km from the center of Baku, on the outskirts of the Surakhani village at various times revered by Zoroastrians, Hindus and Sikhs. Originated in the XVII- XVIII centuries in place of the  eternal  inextinguishable fires - burning natural gas outlets, thanks to which the temple bears the name  Ateshgah, which means  House of Fire,  Place of Fire.  The architectural complex is in terms of a hexagon with a jagged exterior wall and an entrance portal, in the center of the courtyard of which rises the quadrangular main temple - the altar, which was a place of pilgrimage for fire worshipers. Above the entrance portal is a traditional Absheron guest room (balakhana). The altar of fire to some extent reflects the ancient tradition of building altars, common in the territory of Azerbaijan in the Median era.  The first buildings of the temple Ateshgah belong to the II and III centuries. At that time, Zoroastrianism spread in Azerbaijan, in connection with which Zoroastrian temples were built in the regions. Temple Ateshgah acted until VII century. However, in the XVI-XVII centuries, he received a second life. At that time, the famous Silk Road passed through Azerbaijan, which attracted flows of people here. The pilgrims who came here from various countries, including from India, worshiped fire here. Pilgrimage Zoroastrians settled in cells of 3-4 peoples. Ateshgah consists of 26 cells and a central altar, which was considered here as the most sacred place. The temple has 20 valuable stone inscriptions located on cells. One of Zoroaster left them. The cells were used as living quarters, chapels, and caravanserais. Over the past year, two new cells have been opened. In these cells are collected some samples of objects belonging to the period before our era. Above the main entrance there is a traditional Absheron guest room.Not far from the temple there is a large burial pit, where earlier the bodies of dead Indians were cremated on sacred fire. Ateshgah temple is included in the original UNESCO World Heritage list.

Yanardag (Burning Mountain)

Yanardag is one of the most amazing natural attractions of the Absheron Peninsula.  It is a flaming mountainside, which cannot be extinguished either by rain or covered with sand, which has been burning for several millennia. 

 Not so long ago Yanardag was given the status of a historical reserve of Azerbaijan, the mountainside is on the protection of the state. Another local attraction is a cave located at the top of the mountain with the ominous name “Wolf Gate”. It is said that a pack of wolves once lived here, others claim that the rock paintings on the walls of the cave are evidence of the presence of primitive people here. 

16:00 End of the Tour