The Old City (Icheri Sheher) Walking Group Tour

The Old City (Icheri Sheher) Walking Group Tour

Old City or Inner City (Azerbaijani: İçərişəhər)[2] is the historical core of Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. The Old City is the most ancient part of Baku,[3] which is surrounded by walls which were easily defended. In 2007, the Old City had a population of about 3000 people.[4] In December 2000, the Old City of Baku, including the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and Maiden Tower, became the first location in Azerbaijan to be classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Pass By: Baku Old City, Neftchilar Ave, Baku 1000 Azerbaijan

Icherisheher says about the skill of skilled architects and craftsmen, leading us back in the old days. Looking through the narrow, crooked streets and grounds of this ancient town, which has survived to our days, we see how much the urban life that dominated in past centuries has changed. Between the walls of Icherisheher, we seem to be returning to antiquity, we hear voices of those times. Observing the traditions of urban planning on ‘cultural layers’, we feel the heartbeat of people living and creating in the name of art. It was here that episodes of such famous Soviet films as The Diamond Arm, Amphibian Man, Aibolit-66, Teheran 43 were filmed.

Stop At: Maiden Tower, Downtown Baku Old City, Baku Azerbaijan

The Maiden Tower (Azerbaijani: Qız qalası) is a 12th-century monument in the Old City, Baku, Azerbaijan. Along with the Shirvanshahs' Palace, dated to the 15th century, it forms a group of historic monuments listed in 2001 under the UNESCO World Heritage List of Historical Monuments as cultural property, Category III. It is one of Azerbaijan's most distinctive national emblems, and is thus featured on Azeri currency notes and official letterheads.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Multani Caravansarai, Qalla Street Old City, Baku Azerbaijan

Multani caravanserai was created in the XIV century . It is located opposite the Bukhara Caravanserai .
Multani Caravanserai was built for Indian merchants - fire worshipers who came from the city of Multan in India (modern territory of Pakistan ). It is assumed that these people built a temple of fire-worshipers " Ateshgah "

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Bukhara Caravanserai, Qalla Street Old City, Baku Azerbaijan

The Bukhara Caravanserai was built at the end of the 15th century on a trade route passing through the Shemakha gate. It is located near the Maiden Tower.
The shape of the caravanserai building is square and surrounded by balconies and cells, and the portal is convex. It has an octagonal courtyard. The main part of the architectural composition of the caravanserai is formed by many arches located around the courtyard.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Juma Mosque, M1 Sabayil, Baku Azerbaijan

Juma Mosque (Azerbaijani: Cümə məscidi), or Friday Mosque, is a mosque in Baku, Azerbaijan.[1] The Cathedral Mosque was built in the 12th century on the site of a temple of fire-worshipers.

There is an inscription on the mosque emphasize that “Amir Sharaf al-Din Mahmud ordered to restore this mosque in the month of Rajab 709 A.H. (1309)”. On the northern wall of the mosque a minaret was erected which had been surrounded by stalactites in the year of 1437.

Located in the historic Icheri Sheher, the mosque has been rebuilt several times. The present Friday Mosque was built in 1899 under the financing of Baku philanthropist merchant Haji Shikhlali Dadashov. There are traces of a Zoroastrian temple at the site.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Muhammad Mosque, 28 Kichik Qala, Baku, Azerbaijan

Referring to an epigraphic inscription (Arabian Cufic writing) on the entrance door, the mosque was built in 471 Anno Hegira (1078-79 AD) by master rais Muhammmad Abubekir oglu. A small vestibule adjoins on the north of the one-room praying hall embellished with rich decorative elements. Along the centre line of the fortress wall is a pair of windows covered with tracery. The hall covered with a pointed ceiling on the eastern and western parts was embellished with the windows with crumbling ornament. It is interesting that a band-shape ornament along the frame of the arcade was built with burnt brick which is alien to the Baku-Absheron architecture.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Workshop Ali Shamsi, Boyuk Qala 84, Baku 1000 Azerbaijan

Ali Shamsi is a magnetic and enjoyable artist, philosopher, traveler and an owner of this gallery-atelier in the Old City of Baku. This is not only a place for the art lovers - actually, everyone who stops by somehow enjoys the colorful and creative atmosphere, full of small and not so small paintings, installations and different forms of beauty.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Palace of the Shirvanshahs, Zamkovskaya Side-street, 76, Baku Azerbaijan

While looking for information about Baku sightseeing, one of the first attractions that will draw your attention will surely be Shirvanshahs’ Palace. Important piece of Azerbaijani history – Shirvanhahs’ Palace was built in 15th century by Shirvanshah kingdom who ruled mostly in the current territory of Azerbaijan in 861 — 1538. Shirvanshahs literally means “the kings of Shirvan”. Shirvan was the main territory and the first capital’s name of the kingdom. After frequent earthquakes happening in Shamakha – second capital – the capital was moved to Baku.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Vahid Monument, Old Town, Baku Azerbaijan

Statue of Aliagha Vahid Vahid, successor of Fizuli’s traditions, is the outstanding representative of gazal genre in Azerbaijani literature. Simplicity of poetic language of gazals is characterized with its national roots and harmony and occupies an important place in the repertoire of singers. The gazals of Nizami, Fuzuli, Navoi, and others have been converted into Azerbaijani. Aliagha Vahid’s statue is aesthetically the most beautiful monument in Baku.

Duration: 5 minutes