About this experience
A city tour will allow you to explore both the ancient and modern quarters of the city: you will see monuments from the medieval era, learn about the times of the oil boom when the city's active development began, and also see modern buildings, including the famous Heydar Aliyev Center, recognized as the best architectural structure in the world in 2014. Along the way, I will tell you about national traditions and culture, and near the mosques, we will talk about the religious side of Azerbaijanis' lives.
What to expect
Architecture and Oil Overview
You will get acquainted with the architectural masterpieces of the Old and New City: monuments from the Middle Ages, pre-revolutionary period, and modern times. You will see magnificent buildings erected by ancient Azerbaijani architects, as well as constructions built by Polish, German, and Russian architects during the times of the Tsarist Russia. We will talk separately about Polish architects who played a special role in the urban development of Baku, as well as the contribution of Polish engineers to the development of the oil industry of the Russian Empire and oil extraction from the bottom of the Caspian Sea. During the tour, you will visit the oil-producing areas of Baku and see the world's first oil derrick.
Must-see Places in the City
You will explore the most mysterious and enigmatic monument of Azerbaijan - the Maiden Tower - and learn the legends associated with it. You will see the beautiful Palace of the Shirvanshahs, Heydar Aliyev Center (recognized as the best architectural structure in the world for 2014), Count De Bur Mansion, ancient caravanserais, market square, ruins of St. Bartholomew Chapel, baths, and fortress gates. Near the mosques, we will discuss the activities of religious communities in Azerbaijan and the formation of national communities. Additionally, I will guide you through the cinematic alleys where movies like 'Diamond Arm,' 'Tehran-43,' and 'Amphibian Man' were filmed. You will also admire the magnificent building of the Carpet Museum, where genuine works of art are stored. In 2010, 'Traditional art of Azerbaijani carpet weaving in Azerbaijan' was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. At the end of the tour, you will have the opportunity to visit the Carpet Museum on your own.
