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BakuDate of publishing: 7/29/2013

ParagraphsIntroduction............................................................................................ 2

Travel Guide.......................................................................................... 2

Travelers' tips........................................................................................ 3

Popular Tags

AdventureArt & CultureFoodand WineYouth travelRomanceSun & beachBike friendly

CosmopolitanChaotic

Travellers' choice1. flame towers

2. mardakan or bilgah beach

3. Mugham theatre4. National park

5. old baku

6. shirvanshakh palace

Editorial StaffThough our Editorial Staff constantly works on checking and updating

tourist information, we invite our readers to personally double check al

information before departure. PlacesOnLine is not responsible for any

unpleasant or dangerous situation resulting from the use of information

contained on the site.

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IntroductionIntroductionIntroduction

Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, is located on the western shore

of the Apsheron Peninsula on the Caspian Sea. With about 2

million people, its the largest city in the country. The origin of the

name Baku is generally explained as coming from the Persianword Bagh-Kuh, meaning the Mount of God. Another explanation

is from the Persian word "bad kube", meaning "Hit by winds".

Baku is a real ancient settlement: archaeologists have found

remains of a settlement predating by several centuries the birth

of Jesus. However, the first written reference to Baku dates from

885. Persia controlled the area by the 11th century, though for a

period during the 13th and 14th centuries it fell under Mongols

control. In 1723 Baku was conquered by Peter I the Great, the

czar of Russia, but it was returned to Persia in 1735. Russia

captured again the town in 1806 and in 1920 it became the

Azerbaijans capital. Baku's main product is without any doubt

petroleum. The existence of the black gold has been known

since the 8th century and about fifty years before the World War

II, Baku produced half of the world's oil supply. Today, Baku canbe divided into three main parts: the Old Town (a fortress which,

in December 2000, has become the first location in Azerbaijan

classified as world cultural site by UNESCO), the boomtown and

the Soviet-built town.

Travel GuideTravel GuideTravel Guide

The medieval walled city (Icheri Sheher), with its attractive

narrow streets and a particular atmosphere, is really a must is

you happen to visit Baku. Inside the Old Town you cant miss theMaiden's Tower (Gyz Galassy), Azerbaijan's best known

landmark and the beautiful symbol of Baku. If you climb its eight

floors, you will be rewarded by an impressive view of the old town

and Baku bay. The Juma Mosque, built in the early twentieth

century, is famous for its intricate and unique stone

ornamentation. Even the Taza Pir Mosque, finished in 1914 and

built in honour of the philanthropist Nabut Khanum Ashurbekova,

is really fantastic to admire. Fountain square is Baku's most

relaxing area and is surrounded by restaurants and shops. If you

love to understand more about the culture of the country you are

visiting, dont forget to go to the Nizami museum of Azeri

Literature and the charming Carpet and Applied Arts Museum.

Other attractions in Baku include: the Shirvan-Shah's Palace,

the Academy of Sciences, the Weddings' Palace (also knownas "Palace of Hapiness"), the 26 Commissars Square, the

Opera and Ballet Theatre and the Government House. The

Surakhany Temple, the Apsheron Peninsula and the village

of Gobustan are located near enough to Baku for one-day

excursions to be feasible.

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Travelers' tips

Afzal Mehmood - Vote: 6"Baku is a beautiful capital city. but lot of problems you will face there like

immigration law. You will get lot of problems if you don't know about the

law and most of visitor don't know about it. And Baku is very expensive."

Viktor- Vote: 7"It's enjoyable to acquaint with a new culture There are too much not

popularized places that wait for their time one. Delicious. Affordable. Not

too comfortable but very easy and pleasant."

Not to be missed: shirvanshakh palace mardakan or bilgah beach

Mugham theatre

- Vote: 6"A lot of places for sightseeing and entertainment with the kids, nice

weather all year round but very windy from November till end March"

Ilham - Vote: 10"I love Baku. I woould like to see very cute and very happy people in thestreets"

Not to be missed: flame towers National park old baku

- Vote: 10"Very good. The best city in the world. I loved it."

Elmar- Vote: 10"Baku is a nice city! I'm enjoing in here!!"

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