What to do in Land of Fire`s capital

Baku, one of the oldest and largest cities of the East due to the size of its population and territory, is located in the south of the Absheron Peninsula, on the shores of Caspian Sea. Preserving its beauty and history, this modern European city will make you enjoy from its sightseeings and gorgeousness. Maiden Tower, Icherisheher, Ateshgah,  Boulevard Seaside, Gobustan, Gala, Shirvanshahs palace complex are the main sightseeings of Baku.

Maiden's Tower

One of the most mysterious and sights of Baku, the Maiden Tower of XII century, is located in the center of Icheri Sheher. The inside of the tower is divided into 8 floors. Each floor was built with stones and covered with a dome-covered ceiling. Based on the structure of the tower, researchers say that it has been built in the ancient times and the remains belong to the Temple of Zoroastrianism, and goddesses of the Mithra and the Anahit. The Maiden Tower, which has been damaged by various battles for centuries, has been gradually restored and served in the city in the middle ages, along with the Icheri Sheher Castle Wall. Changes in the structure of the monument are the proofs. One of the interesting aspects of the Maiden Tower is a water well. With its diameter of 0.7 meters, well is located in the south-east wall of the castle. As a result of the calculations, it was determined that the well had nothing to do with the level of seawater. If we go to the highest point of this building, which is one of the main symbols of Baku, the height of 28 meters, you will be greeted with a beautiful view of Baku. The Maiden Tower has been functioning as a museum since 1964 and was listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000.

Ichari Shahar (Old Town)

The ancient city of Icheri Sheher, dating back to the fifth century is surrounded by walls of the castle on all sides. In the present period, the Icheri Sheher is the only place in the Middle East that preserves the Middle East's architecture. In every stone in the Icheri Sheher you will feel the past,  will hear the spirit of that era and get positive energy. Icheri Sheher is also known as the Gala or simply an ancient city, surrounded by well-preserved fortress walls. More than 1,300 families live here, 4 are world-wide, 28 are of local significance, include a number of historical and architectural monuments, museums, embassies, hotels, commercial facilities, cafes and restaurants. The famous architectural monuments in Icheri Sheher are considered to be the pearls of the Azerbaijani architecture, Maiden Tower and Shirvanshahs Palace complex. These unique buildings and a broad spectrum of tourism potential make it one of the most attractive destinations for Icheri Sheher tourists. In 1977, the Icherisheher Historical-Architectural Reserve was proclaimed. In 2000, along with the Maiden Tower and the Shirvanshahs Palace complex, UNESCO was the first site included in the World Heritage List.

Ateshgah

This temple built in the Surakhani village near the city of Baku in the XVII century by the Zoroastrianist Indian merchants, is also a list of places must be seen. Ateshgah is a fire temple built in the 17th-18th centuries, where the natural gas exits. The first building of the temple dates back to the II-III centuries. This temple, built on the ruins of the ancient fireworks in the 17th-18th centuries, is also on the site of the eternal torch of natural gas, consists of 26 cells and the central highway. In the early Middle Ages, most of the population of Azerbaijan worshiped fire, the Zoroastrian religion. During the Arab expansion which began in the 7th century with the advent of the religion of Islam and during the three hundred years of war, Zoroastrianism disappeared. Zoroastrianists are being pursued, ateshgahs are being destroyed. The Ateshgah was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998. The State Historical-Architectural Reserve has an area of ​​1368 square meters and operates as a museum since 1972. The torch of the first European Games "Baku-2015" was also burnt at Ateshgah Temple.

Heydar Aliyev Center

The center, named after Heydar Aliyev, has become a symbol of contemporary Azerbaijan, modern Baku. The construction of the center was started in 2007. The author is famous architect Zaha Hadid. The building was put into operation on May 10, 2012. The building of the Center embodies the dynamic development of today's Azerbaijan, its commitment from the past to the future. The museum, which is distinguished with its design and the new technologies used in here, is in line with the modern style of the Center. No flat lines have been used in the project of the building of the center. The structure of the building - rising from the ground upward to the sky, and then returning to the ground, is not only the postmodern style of architecture, but also the continuity and infinity. During the construction of the building, a network of iron structures was constructed with a total length of 90 km. The roof cover area of ​​40 000 m² has been used in different sizes and different geometric shapes - 12 027 panels with special shapes such as triangles, rectangles, trapezoids and parallelograms. The main building consists of 3 sections:

1. Heydar Aliyev Museum section

2. Exhibition halls section. This 9-storey building features exhibition halls, administrative offices and cafés.

3. Auditorium section. This 4-storey building features Auditorium, 2 conference halls (multi-purpose hall), meeting and meeting rooms, and Media Center.

Seaside Boulevard

The Seaside National Park, located on the seafront of the Caspian Sea, was established in 1909. It is the second largest park in Europe after the park on the Sena River in Paris, due to its size. Residents and guests can relax on the Seaside Boulevard, reaching 16 km in length, from the "Bulvar Hotel" in Baku White City Boulevard to the area up to the Water Sports Arena at the end of Bayil Boulevard, including the State Flag Square and its surroundings. Walking along the Boulevard, you will get acquainted with the places such as the International Mugam Center, the Carpet Museum, the Puppet Theater, the State Flag Square, the Stone Salname Museum, the Devil Rider, YARAT Contemporary Center of Art. You can also spend your time in Park Boulevard Shopping Center.

Gobustan

Archeological monuments complex is a protected area in Azerbaijan. The reserve is located in the Gobustan settlement of Garadagh district, 56 km from Baku. There is also a museum in here. The monuments of the Mesolithic era, and numerous caves, springs are exhibited in the reserve. There are more than 4-5,000 animals, human pictures, wildlife adventures, hunting and dance scenes which are the creativity of an ancient painting school. Interest in Gobustan has increased year by year. A famous Norwegian traveler, Tur Heyerdahl, a researcher for the rock boat paintings, was highly appreciated by these historic photographers at Gobustan. Gobustan State Historical and Cultural Reserve (Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape) acquired national status in 2006, as part of the 31st Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Kraystchorz, New Zealand on June 23 - July 2, 2007 Included in the World Cultural Heritage List. Numerous animal paintings and footage accented in their walls are marked as "indefinite historical value."

Do not leave Baku without seeing these beautiful places.