EVERYTHING WHAT YOU NEEDTO DREAM...
Baku
KNOWLEDGE OF Baku
Baku's name is thought to orginate from one of two Persian phrases: Bagh-Kuh ("Mount of God") and bad kube ("city of winds").
The history of Baku dates back to 1st millennium BCE, with the earliest written evidence from 6th century CE, however. The city was the location of an important fire temple of the Persian religion of Zoroastrianism, which was prevalent before the Islamic conquest of Iran.
The first written reference to Baku dates from 885, although archaeologists have found remains of a settlement predating by several centuries the birth of Jesus. The city became important after an earthquake destroyed Shemakha and in the 12th century, leading Shirvanshah Ahistan I to made Baku the new capital. In 1813, Russia signed the Treaty of Gulistan with Persia, which provided for the cession of Baku and most of the Caucasus from Iran and their annexation by Russia.
The center of Baku is the old town, which is also a fortress. The walled city of Baku (called the "inner town") became in December 2000 the first location in Azerbaijan classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Most of the walls and towers, strengthened after the Russian conquest in 1806, survive. This section is picturesque, with its maze of narrow alleys and ancient buildings. Wander the cobbled streets past the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, two caravansaraies (ancient inns), the 11th century Maiden Tower (nice view of the harbor), the baths and the Djuma Mosque (it used to house the Carpet and Applied Arts Museum, but now is a mosque again; the carpets got moved to the former Lenin museum). The old town also has dozens of small mosques, often without any particular sign to distinguish them from the next building.
During World War II ten defense zones were built around the city to prevent possible German invasion.
The Martyrs' Cemetery, formerly the Kirov park, is dedicated to the memory of those who lost their lives during the war with Armenia and also to the 137 people who were killed on January 19 and 20, 1990 when Soviet tanks and troops took to the streets of Baku. Photographs of victims featured on each tombstone are sobering and poignant. Now 20 January has become a national holiday of deep emotional meaning.
The history of Baku dates back to 1st millennium BCE, with the earliest written evidence from 6th century CE, however. The city was the location of an important fire temple of the Persian religion of Zoroastrianism, which was prevalent before the Islamic conquest of Iran.
The first written reference to Baku dates from 885, although archaeologists have found remains of a settlement predating by several centuries the birth of Jesus. The city became important after an earthquake destroyed Shemakha and in the 12th century, leading Shirvanshah Ahistan I to made Baku the new capital. In 1813, Russia signed the Treaty of Gulistan with Persia, which provided for the cession of Baku and most of the Caucasus from Iran and their annexation by Russia.
The center of Baku is the old town, which is also a fortress. The walled city of Baku (called the "inner town") became in December 2000 the first location in Azerbaijan classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Most of the walls and towers, strengthened after the Russian conquest in 1806, survive. This section is picturesque, with its maze of narrow alleys and ancient buildings. Wander the cobbled streets past the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, two caravansaraies (ancient inns), the 11th century Maiden Tower (nice view of the harbor), the baths and the Djuma Mosque (it used to house the Carpet and Applied Arts Museum, but now is a mosque again; the carpets got moved to the former Lenin museum). The old town also has dozens of small mosques, often without any particular sign to distinguish them from the next building.
During World War II ten defense zones were built around the city to prevent possible German invasion.
The Martyrs' Cemetery, formerly the Kirov park, is dedicated to the memory of those who lost their lives during the war with Armenia and also to the 137 people who were killed on January 19 and 20, 1990 when Soviet tanks and troops took to the streets of Baku. Photographs of victims featured on each tombstone are sobering and poignant. Now 20 January has become a national holiday of deep emotional meaning.
Chapi