About this experience
The beauty and charm of Old Baku will come to life as you delve into its outlines set against the magnificence and wealth of modern Baku. Exploring the colorful structures and listening to the stories of the Azerbaijani capital, you will travel from a distant past - the times of medieval fortresses, khans, and caravanserais - into the years of the oil boom when Baku acquired a new architectural identity. Our conversation will touch upon ancient civilizations and pivotal events, the role of individuals in the city's life, and of course, the legends interwoven with the national culture.
What to Expect
The Unique Character of Old Baku
We will start the tour from your hotel and head towards the Old City. Surrounded by the authentic beauty of narrow streets and fortress walls, you will ascend to the highest point of the fortress, from where you will survey architectural monuments from the Middle Ages, the oil boom era, the Soviet period, and of course, the 21st century. The city will be laid out before you from the Maiden Tower! You will walk along an ancient street where the movie 'The Diamond Arm' was filmed, and I will show you the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, who made a significant contribution to urban planning. Along the way, you will hear stories about the emergence of Baku, its development, and the vivid events that marked turning points in the city's history.
Conversations about Oil Magnates and a Gondola Ride
The colorful streets of modern Baku will introduce you to the projects of oil magnates that shaped the city's current appearance. I will tell you about a millionaire who built 98 houses in Baku! You will also hear the tragic story of the owners of the Palace of Happiness, built in the name of love. In the shady greenery of the Molokansky Garden, we will talk about the Russian settlers of the 19th century, and in the Governor's Garden, I will show you the spot where the house of the Baku governors once stood. At the end of the walk, you will find yourself right in the heart of our city's pearl necklace - on the boulevard stretching along the Caspian Sea for 16 kilometers. Here, you can take a gondola ride in Baku's own Venice, a beloved spot for locals.
Organizational Details
- Book one of the tours in Baku, and I will gladly gift you a jar of olive jam or Sheki baklava
- Book two tours, and enjoy a guided visit to the Eastern Bazaar with complimentary tea, caviar, pomegranate wine, and sweets
