Old city in Baku
The Old City of Baku, called Icheri-sheher, is the main historical district of the capital of Azerbaijan, where its main attractions are concentrated. This area is surrounded by a majestic fortress wall, carefully protecting unique architectural monuments, which have long become the most important cultural heritage of the country. The territory of Icheri-Sheher has 221 thousand square meters, where in addition to the tourists strolling along the narrow streets live ordinary families of ordinary locals. Everything here is literally imbued with the spirit of antiquity, and the prevailing atmosphere fully corresponds to the status of this place, like a magnet attracting numerous guests of the Azerbaijani capital.
.In 1977 Icheri-Sheher was declared a historical and architectural reserve, and in 2000 it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Icheri-sheher was the first site from Azerbaijan to be included in the World Heritage List.
Location
Icheri-Sheher Historical and Architectural Reserve is located on the territory of Sabail district of Baku city, on a low hill, near the Caspian Sea. Icheri-Sheher is surrounded by fortress walls, the height of which reaches 8-10 meters, and width – 3.5 meters.
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Icheri-Sheher is located on the southeastern side of Istiglaliyat street and on the northwestern side of “Neftyanikov” Avenue, east of the metro station of the same name. Aziz Aliyev Street adjoins the reserve from the east, and Vahid Park is located in the southwestern part.
.Sights
Among the most famous buildings of the Old City are the architectural complex of the magnificent Shirvanshahs’ Palace, the Maiden Tower wrapped in romantic legends, the grandiose Shemakhi Gate, the baths of Haji Gaib and Agha Mikail, Khan’s caravanserai of XII century, Muhammad Mosque, Bazaar Square, the palace complex of Baku khans, as well as many old residential houses, cozy taverns, where it seems nothing has changed since the Middle Ages and small craft shops. The street where Yuri Nikulin’s hero in the famous Soviet movie “broke” his arm deserves special attention. In general, it is Icheri-Sheher that acts as the main filming ground of the “itinerant” Soviet cinematography. In addition to “The Diamond Hand”, such films as “The Amphibian Man”, “Tehran 43”, “Don’t Be Afraid, I’m With You” were shot here.”
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The Old City is widely known for its museums, including the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography on the Great Fortress Street, the Vagif Mustafazade House-Museum on the street of the same name, the Museum of Miniature Book, and the Kamil Aliyev House-Museum. Local hotels are popular among guests of Baku, although their price category is somewhat higher than in other districts of the capital. The streets of Icheri-sheher are like an endless labyrinth, with numerous alleys, courtyards and dead ends, where it is easy enough to get lost, as Andrey Mironov’s character did in The Diamond Hand. The charm of the Old City is so great that it has repeatedly inspired poets and artists of Azerbaijan to magnificent creations.
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Being the central tourist dominant of Baku, Icheri-sheher attracts the attention of thousands of guests every year, and today it is simply impossible to imagine a visit to the Azerbaijani capital without visiting this amazing place. After all, this is where its history is concentrated, shrouded in mysteries and legends that characterize the image of Icheri-sheher, so similar to the plot of an ancient oriental fairy tale.
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