Baku » ERA-TOUR - travel agency in Azerbaijan

Baku — is the capital of the Republic of Azerbaijan; it is situated on Absheron peninsula, on the western shore of the Caspian Sea. Its area is 2140 km²; according to other official sources as of 2023, unofficial population of the city is about 5 million people. Baku is one of the most attractive and cosmopolitan cities in the world, located at the intersection of Europe and Asia.

The part of Baku near the sea shore is about 28 m below the ocean level. Oil, gas, building materials are extracted in Baku. Average temperature is 3–4 °C in January and 38–42 °C in July. Annual precipitation is 210 mm. Strong north wind (Khazri) and south wind (gilavar) are characteristic for Baku.

The people settled in Baku and Absheron peninsula since ancient times and created the settlements here. The reason is physical and geographical conditions of Baku city, its location at the centre of the intersection of migration and trade routes from the north to the south, from the west to the east, climatic conditions and “Nafta” – the source of fuel and energy that has reached the surface of the Earth since ancient times. Archaeological materials found on the territory of Absheron prove that Baku was ancient settlement. Archaeological materials dating back to III-I millennia were discovered in Pirallahi, the vicinity of Zigh lake, Shuvalan, Mardakan, Amirjan, etc.

Sights of Baku:

Icherisheher (Old city), Maiden Tower, Palace of the Shirvanshahs, Ateshgah, Baku Boulevard, National Flag Square, Gobustan National Park, Flame Towers, Nizami Street, Heydar Aliyev Cultural centre, Yanar Dagh, Azerbaijan Carpet Museum, Azerbaijan National History Museum.

Heydar Aliyev centre – research and international dialogue centre built on Heydar Aliyev avenue in Baku - the capital of Azerbaijan. The centre consists in large complex and includes large Congress Hall, Heydar Aliyev Museum, exhibition halls, administrative offices. The centre is named after the third president of Azerbaijan - Heydar Aliyev. The project of the centre was developed by famous architect Zaha Hadid in 2007. The director of Heydar Aliyev centre is Anar Alakbarov. The centre is considered to be one of the symbols of modern Baku.

The logo of the centre symbolizes the views of Azerbaijan from the past to the future, progress in Azerbaijan, as well the future of the country. The colour of the logo of the centre (silvery colour) involves overcoming all the obstacles, driving towards the goal. Silver is a symbol of leadership, struggle, dynamism, wisdom, transparency, development and innovation.

The lines of the logo form the harmony with the essence of Heydar Aliyev centre building and personify dynamic development of Azerbaijan, its goals for primacy in international arena, driving towards the future with such the values as maintaining adherence to the Motherland and people.

Along with symbolic description of the duties of the structure, the logo of Heydar Aliyev centre glorifies the motto of transmitting national and human values and traditions of statehood to the future generations.

The motto of the centre (“Towards the future with the values”) comes from this idea. It is also known as the “Signature Palace” among the people.

"Icherisheher", also known among the people as "Gala" or simply "Old city", the oldest part of Baku is also historical and architectural reserve. Icherishere, the oldest part of Baku, is surrounded by well-defended fortress walls. More than 1300 families live on the territory of the reserve with the area of 221,000 m².

The territory of the Reserve has been inhabited since the Bronze Age. As a result of archaeological research, it was established that already during the VIII–IX centuries the territory of Icherisheher was densely populated, crafts and trade developed here. After Shirvanshahs moved their residence from Shamakhi to Baku in XV century, a period of “crystallization” of Icherisheher started. Baku and its centre Icherisheher were the capital of Baku khanate in 1748-1806. After the occupation of Baku by the Russians in 1806 and the oil boom (late XIX century - early XX century), the process of development and expansion of the city started, and the people started to intensively settle also outside the walls of Icherisheher.

Famous architectural monuments located in Icherisheher (Maiden Tower and the Palace of Shirvanshahs) are considered to be the pearls of Azerbaijani architecture. Besides, dozens of historical and architectural monuments (mosques, caravanserais, bath houses, residential houses) are located on the territory of the reserve; there are several museums, embassies, hotels, shopping facilities, cafes and restaurants functioning.

Icherisheher was declared historical and architectural reserve in 1977 and was the first object (together with Maiden Tower and "Palace of Shirvanshahs" complex) included in the World Heritage list in 2000.

Icherisheher historical and architectural reserve is located in Sabail district (Baku city), on small hill on the shore of the Caspian Sea. The reserve is surrounded by the fortress walls 8–10 meters high and 3.5 meters wide. There are Istiglaliyyat street in the south-east of Icherisheher, Neftchilar avenue - in the north-west; and the subway station of the same name is located in the east. There is Aziz Aliyev street in the east of Icherisheher; and Vahid park is located in the south-west of Icherisheher.