Mansions of oil barons, Icherisheher (Old City), Shirvanshahs’ Palace, Maiden Tower, Ancient caravanserais Multani & Bukhara, Souvenir shops in the Old City,  Philharmonic Park

Our walking excursion will start at “Icherisheher” metro station to guide you down the street and get acquainted with the stories and legends of the historical mansions built by Azerbaijani oil barons in the very beginning of the 20^th  century.

First one on the way is a beautiful City Hall, which is nowadays hosting Baku Mayor’s Office, designed by Polish architect Joseph V. Goslavski in the Baroque style (1900-1904). He had also built the Empress Alexandra Russian Muslim School for Girls (1901), first school for Muslim girls in the Caucasus, sponsored by the Azeri oil baron and philanthropist Zeynalabdin Taghiyev.

You will make a stop at gorgeous Palace of Happiness (Wedding Palace) to listen to the touching story of its owner, oil baron Murtuza Mukhtarov. It was built in Neo-Gothic style by famous architect Joseph Ploshko in 1912.

Same architect had created the next pearl of Baku architecture, Ismailiyya Palace (1908-1913) which was ordered by Musa Naghiyev, yet another oil baron, in commemoration of his deceased son Ismayil. The building currently serves as the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan.

Two steps further you will see magnificent building which attracts everyone`s attention with its blue majolica and the monuments of prominent Azerbaijani writers on the facade, which is the National Museum of Azerbaijan literature named after Nizami Ganjavi.

Next to it is Gosha Gala Gapysy (Paired Fortress Gates), the entrance in the fortress walls, a portal which will take us from the Baku of the beginning of the 21^st century to the Baku of the 12^th century. Icherisheher (Inner City), known as a “Fortress” or “Old City”, is a unique historical and architectural conservation area in the center of Baku. This is one of the most ancient places of the country where archaeological excavations revealed burial vaults of the Bronze Age. Maiden Tower (12th century) and The Palace of Shirvanshahs (13th-16th centuries) are the best known historical monuments located in the Old City. Besides them there are a lot of other unique monuments such as mosques, minarets, the remnants of caravanserais “Multani” and “Bukhara”, ancient baths, etc. Stroll down the paved streets of this ancient city and drop to some of the numerous souvenir shops where you can buy national clothes, kerchiefs, scarves and caps, dishes and handmade carpets.

In the end of our excursion you will have a walk through the Philharmonic Park, formerly known as the Governor´s Garden, that goes up the hill towards the Azerbaijan State Academic Philharmonic Hall (1910-1912) built in Italian Renaissance (exterior) and German Rococo (interior) styles. You can make nice photos next to a French-style Baroque fountain while listening to the classic music.

Professional guide (English, Russian, Arabic)

Tickets to the museums(per person): Maiden Tower- 9$ (optional), Shirvanshahs’ Palace- 9$ (optional)

Any tips at the sites

• Full payment should be done at least 2 days prior excursion date.
• Cancellation more than 2 days before excursion date is free of charge.
• Cancellation less than 2 days before excursion date is subject to 100% charge.

Pick-up time: 10:00

Pick-up / drop-off point: “Icherisheher” metro station

The organizer reserves the right to change the order of the places to visit in case of necessity.