Baku Old City Walking Tour (Self Guided), Baku

Baku's "Ichari Shahar" [pronounced ee-char-EE sha-HAR], which literally means Inner City, is also often referred to by foreigners as the Old City. This unique architectural preserve differs considerably from other ancient places in Azerbaijan and is replete with fascinating architectural monuments. The most prominent of them are the 12th-century, 97-foot Maiden Tower (the most distinctive symbol of the country, featured on national emblems and currency) and the Shirvanshah Palace, a 15th-century marvel described by UNESCO as "one of the pearls of Azerbaijan's architecture".

It is undoubtedly for this reason that in 2000 the Old City of Baku became the first location in Azerbaijan to be classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The historical core of the capital is also its most ancient. Throughout centuries, it has developed its own distinct culture and set of traditions.

Back in the old days, entering the city was possible via two gates: the Salyan Gate and the Shemakha (or Shamakhi) Gate, a paired entry located in the northern wall of the Baku Fortress. The Fortress Wall itself, built in the 1130s, is an attraction in its own right.

Historically, the Old City was divided into several quarters, which also served as social divisions. Sometimes, these divisions were named after their mosque, such as, for instance, Juma Mosque quarter or Mahammad[yar] Mosque quarter. Behind the Juma Mosque, for a long time, an explicit symbol of the city, a mulberry tree, was located.

Other sections within the Inner City, including their mosques, were named after the clans and ethnic groups that resided there. One such is the Lezgi Mosque in Lezgiler street where the Dagestani armorers and gunsmiths used to live.

Among the more modern attractions within the Old City is the Museum of Miniature Books, the only one of its kind in the world.

To acquaint yourself more closely with the ancient part of the Azerbaijani capital, take this self-guided walking tour.