Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 1
By Elmira Tariverdiyeva - Trend:
Azerbaijan is a country at a crossroads between Western Asia and Eastern Europe. It is a place of stunning beauty, history and culture, allvoices.com website reported.
Azerbaijan is in fact the first Muslim-majority country to offer to the public modern universities, theaters and operas, the article says.
Evidence that human settlement here went right back to the Stone Age is available in the many ancient carvings and structures from the distant past. Worth visiting are the fascinating caves of Damcılı, Tağılar, Zar, Yataq-yeri and the rock carvings seen widely in the Gobustan National Park. The park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the article says.
Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan is a fascinating mix of ancient and modern, well worth a visit.
One of the older areas, Icheri Sheher, an inner city district, offers winding and fascinating alleyways, which follow through the medieval walled city, proudly displaying the mosques, the Maiden's Tower, dating back to the 12th century as well as the historic palace, the article says.
The new part of Baku is also worth visiting, with its striking mansions, built to house the oil barons.
"The ultra-modern Flame Towers in the city of Baku, taller than all other buildings in the city," the article says. "These fascinating buildings represent both the riches of the city and also serve as a reminder of where that wealth came from, as they are illuminated at night by 10,000 LED lights resembling burning gas flames."
The city is considered to be the cultural, industrial and scientific center of Azerbaijan.
The cuisine of Azerbaijan consists of a mix of tasty seasonal vegetables and greens grown in the country as well as herbs such as mint, cilantro, basil, tarragon, parsley and dill, among others. Dishes are based on freshly caught fish from the Caspian Sea as well as locally produced mutton and beef, the article says.
Despite its vast history, Baku keeps up with international norms in recent years, hosting several international events, including the 57th Eurovision Song Contest back in 2012. The city is set to host the 2015 European games, as well as the 2016 European Grand Prix and the Euro 2020.
Anyone attending those events should tag on a few more days to explore the fascinations of Baku and the surrounding areas.