MARCH IN THE WORLD: BAKU, AZERBAIJANLittle known to tourists, Azerbaijan boasts an exceptional landscape and, above all, cultural heritage. Starting with an outstanding musical tradition that has become part of the lifestyle of this people. It is the Mugham, a musical genre recognised as an Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.A former Soviet republic, Azerbaijan lies between Asia and Europe, is washed by the Caspian Sea, bordered by the Caucasus and is easily accessible from Italy, even by direct flights.
Its capital, Baku, which means ‘city where the wind blows’, has its heart in the ‘Icheri Sheher’, the old part (a World Heritage Site in 2000) dominated by the medieval fortification surrounded by high walls inside which is the Palace of the Shirvanshah. The complex includes many buildings such as the Divanhane, the vaulted tomb, the mosque with minaret, the mausoleum of Seyid Yahya Bakuvi, the Murad Gate, a cistern and the remains of the baths. The Tower of the Virgin dominates the city skyline. Was this construction shrouded in mystery used as a watchtower to spot invaders? Was it an astronomical observatory? Or perhaps an ancient temple? It is not known, but in any case it is extraordinarily beautiful at 29 metres high.
In the city, the harmonious combination of ancient and modern stands out: walls dating back to the 12th century and modern buildings such as the Flame Towers or the Heydar Aliyev. An extraordinary combination of Gothic, Baroque, Classical and Rococo.The Flame Towers are three tall towers soaring into the sky and are especially beautiful at sunset when they are lit up by 10,000 LEDs creating a play of light and colour.Museum lovers will not be disappointed. There are several in the city. Starting with the interesting Carpet Museum. It is worth a visit just for the shape of the building that houses it, in the shape of a carpet. Here you can trace the history and art of weaving. Inside you can admire more than 1,000 specimens, each one more beautiful than the last. For shopping, the destination is the central Nizami Street.
Little Venice, next to the Carpet Museum, is also worth a visit. It is a city within a city, built in 1960 and expanded in 2012 with over 10,000 m² of islands, bridges, restaurants, boats, canals and the inevitable gondolas.Your evenings are spent in Fountains Square, also called Parapet. It is a tree-lined square with numerous fountains at its centre and is located right in the heart of Baku’s city centre. The square is always teeming with young people and tourists because it is full of shops, restaurants and cafes. If, on the other hand, you want a quieter, more chic evening, we recommend going to the Hilton on Azdlig Av. 1 and having a drink on the 25th floor in the roof bar, which rotates 360 degrees and allows you to have Baku at your feet.
All that remains is to learn more about the folkloric aspect of the place. As the title suggests, Azerbaijan is the cradle of the mugham, a music performed with three instruments (kamancha, tar and gaval). The one who sings is the one in charge of the gaval. The mugham is an art form that combines classical poetry with musical improvisation.Musical events of great interest are organised in the country at almost all times of the year, such as the Baku Jazz Festival or the Gabala Festival with classical music, or the Jara Festival devoted to pop music. One of the famous venues for hosting and organising mugham evenings is the International Mugham Center in the centre of Baku. This venue is quintessentially the centre of Azerbaijani music that aims to publicise but above all safeguard this traditional musical genre. Look at the shape of the building: it depicts a tar, which is the typical instrument used to play the mugham.
This is what the capital has to offer but there are other places of great interest near Baku. Such as the Qobustan State Reserve, 60 km southwest of Baku, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007, rich in archaeological finds. The reserve was established in 1966 in order to preserve what it contained: ancient sculptures, mud volcanoes and other natural riches.East of Baku, on the outskirts, there is a small town, Suraxani, which is home to the Ateshgah, which can be translated as ‘temple of fire’. Yanar Daĝ, about 25 km northeast of Baku, the ‘burning mountain’, is also interesting. Here, fire burns incessantly along the mountainside.If we had to sum up Azerbaijan, we could call it: a beautiful and unexpected place. All that remains is to discover it.HOW TO GET THEREFrom Milan to Baku (about 5 hours) there are direct flights with Azerbaijan Airlines or you can fly with other airlines with a stopover in Istanbul.WHERE TO SLEEPThere is a good choice of hotels, but hostels and small pensions are scarce. An excellent 5-star hotel is Boutique – address – 19 Aziz Aliyev street 19, Sabayil , conveniently located near the most important monuments. It is only 200 metres from the Tower of the Virgin.WHAT AND WHERE TO EATNote the cuisine, which is varied with classic Middle Eastern flavours. Lots of meat and lots of vegetables. The traditional dish is plov. The ingredients are rice, strictly lamb meat, spices, vegetables and dried fruit. A rich dish that in the past was served at weddings or funerals as the main course. The recommended restaurant is Sumakh restaurant, Baku Address: 20|22 Xocali prospekti – Tel. +994 12 480 21 12
