Nizami Street, Baku

Nizami Street is a major thoroughfare in downtown Baku. The street was first laid out in 1864 to create a route from the foothills to the railway. Today, it is best known to visitors for its pedestrian-only section, which runs from Fountains Square to Rashid Behbudov Street.

Named after the Azerbaijani poet Nizami Ganjavi, the street is considered one of the most expensive in the South Caucasus. It is home to numerous banks and embassies, as well as a wide range of shops, boutiques, cafés, and restaurants.

Many buildings were erected in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, while modern and mid-20th-century structures are also scattered along Nizami Street. The architecture encompasses a variety of styles, including Neo-Renaissance, Neo-Gothic, Neoclassical, Neo-Moorish, and Baroque.

Several historical landmarks can be seen while following Nizami Street westward toward Fountains Square. Along the way, you will first pass the Azerbaijan State Theater of Young Spectators at No. 72. To its left stands the Central Library. Farther ahead, toward the square, look for the former Central Universal Magazine building at No. 30. From there, Fountains Square is about three buildings away.