Halal Travel Guide: Baku Old City — Historic Buildings (Part 1)
Reposted from the web
Summary: Baku Old City — Historic Buildings is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English, beginning with this scene: Baku's Old City, also known as İçərişəhər, is the oldest part of Azerbaijan's capital. UNESCO listed it as a World Heritage site in 2000. The account keeps its focus on Baku Old City, Azerbaijan Travel, Historic Buildings while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source.
Baku's Old City, also known as İçərişəhər, is the oldest part of Azerbaijan's capital. UNESCO listed it as a World Heritage site in 2000.
In the 8th century, the Abbasid Caliph appointed Arab general Yazid ibn Mazyad al-Shaybani as the governor of the Arminiya region, which covered most of the Caucasus. The Abbasid Caliphate fell into civil war in 861. Yazid's grandson, Haytham ibn Khalid, declared independence. He used the ancient Persian title Shirvanshah, and the state he founded became known as the Shirvanshah Dynasty.
In 1191, an earthquake destroyed Shamakhi, the original capital of the Shirvanshah Dynasty. The 21st Shirvanshah king, Akhsitan I, moved the capital to Baku. From then on, Baku became the capital of the Shirvanshah Dynasty.
The Shirvanshah Dynasty suffered a devastating blow from the Mongol cavalry in 1235. It then became a vassal state of the Mongol and Timurid dynasties during the 13th and 14th centuries. After Timur the Great died in 1405, the Shirvanshah Dynasty became independent again. It reached its peak during the reign of the 34th king, Khalilullah I (1418-1465). The Palace of the Shirvanshahs in Baku's Old City was built during this time.
In 1501, the Persian Safavid Dynasty invaded the Shirvanshah Dynasty and eventually captured Baku. After this, the Shirvanshah Dynasty became a vassal of the Safavid Dynasty until it was officially annexed in 1538.
Baku was then briefly controlled by the Ottomans and Imperial Russia, but Iran quickly took it back. In the 18th century, local tribal leaders established the Baku Khanate (1747-1806). Russia eventually occupied it in 1806.
Baku held an important place in ancient Eurasian trade. It was a key hub in the Eurasian trade network, and many merchants and travelers from India and Central Asia stopped here. Today, this ancient city has a palace complex from the Shirvanshah Dynasty, relatively complete ancient city walls, over a dozen old mosques built between the 11th and 18th centuries, four large caravanserais (ancient inns) that saw ancient trade, and several traditional bathhouses. It is well worth a visit.
1. The Palace of the Shirvanshahs: Mostly 15th Century
The Palace of the Shirvanshahs (Şirvanşahlar sarayı) was built after the Shirvanshah Dynasty (Şirvanşah) moved its capital to Baku in 1191. Most of the existing buildings were constructed in the 15th century by the 34th ruler, I Xəlilullah (Khalilullah I, who reigned from 1418-1465). In 2000, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list under the name
This complex is a prime example of the Şirvan-Abşeron architectural school. This school started in the 8th century and was popular from the 11th to the 15th centuries. It is Azerbaijan's most important traditional architectural school. This school is known for combining smooth stone facades with delicate decorative carvings. It specialized in building heavy, defensive structures.
1. The Palace Building
The palace building (Şirvanşahların saray binası) is the oldest and most important part of the Shirvanshahs' Palace. The exact start date of the palace's construction is still unknown. We only know that it was looted in 1500 during the invasion by the Persian Safavid Dynasty. After Russia occupied Baku in 1828, the palace became the Russian army headquarters. During repairs, the Russians destroyed many valuable structures. They even planned to build a cathedral here, but this never happened.
The palace entrance is very simple. Inside, there are no stone inscriptions or complex decorations. This is a sharp contrast to the grand palaces of other Muslim dynasties from the same period. The palace has two floors and originally had 52 rooms. The most important room on the second floor is the central octagonal hall. This is also the oldest part of the palace and was likely the king's reception hall. The second floor also has the sleeping quarters for the king and his family. From the windows, you can see beautiful sea views of Baku Bay.
Postcards related to Baku's Old City are on display in the palace.
The palace displays 18th-century stained-glass windowpanes from Sheki, a city in northwestern Azerbaijan. They were made precisely to size, so they did not use nails or glue.
Photos from the palace's renovation in 2013 show the building before and after the work.
2. Bayil Stones
Bayil Castle, known as the The Great Baku Earthquake of 1306 submerged Bayil Castle in the Caspian Sea. It only resurfaced in the early 18th century when the Caspian Sea receded.
Between 1939 and 1969, the Institute of History of the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences excavated over 700 inscribed stones from Bayil Castle. These are now kept in the courtyard of the Shirvanshahs' Palace. These stones are important for studying the history and culture of the Shirvanshah Dynasty. Historians found the names of 15 Shirvanshah kings on them, along with a portrait of one king.
The inscriptions also show that the castle was called
The National Museum of History of Azerbaijan displays Bayil stones with animal and human figures.
3. Divankhana
The Divankhana is in a separate courtyard on the north side of the palace. It has arcades on three sides and a pavilion-style building in the center. Shirvanshah King Farrukh Yasar (who reigned from 1465-1500) ordered the construction of the Divankhana. People say it was used as a court, a reception hall, or a mausoleum, but there is no definite proof.
The Divankhana's gate is a classic example of Azerbaijan's Şirvan-Abşeron architectural school. The gate is decorated with fig and grape leaf carvings. On each side, a hexagonal geometric Arabic carving shows the Shahada (Islamic creed). Inside, the walls have carvings of Quranic verses.
4. Seyid Yahya Bakuvi Mausoleum
The Seyid Yahya Bakuvi Mausoleum (Türbəsi) was built between 1457 and 1458. Seyid Yahya Bakuvi (1403-1462), the person buried there, was a court scholar of the Shirvanshah Dynasty. He was also the second spiritual leader and a key promoter of the famous Sufi Khalwati order. He was a descendant of Musa al-Kadhim, the seventh Shia Imam.
Yahya practiced Sufism in Shamakhi, Azerbaijan, in his early years. He later came to the Shirvanshah court in Baku. In Baku, he had tens of thousands of followers. Fifteen of Yahya's works are now kept in Istanbul, Manisa, and Konya, Turkey. These works are valuable for Sufi philosophy and important for astronomy and mathematics.
Yahya's mausoleum has octagonal walls and a conical roof. This is the only example of its kind in the Şirvan-Abşeron architectural school; other mausoleums in this school have domes. The mausoleum has two levels: an upper level for visiting the shrine and a lower level for the burial chamber. The plaster on the walls and the mausoleum roof is the only surviving architectural coating in the Shirvanshahs' Palace.
A mosque called Keyqubad once stood in front of the mausoleum. Yahya served as a religious teacher there. The mosque was first built in the 14th century. However, Armenian forces burned it down in 1918. Only its foundations remain today.
5. Shirvanshahs' Palace Mausoleum
An inscription on the gate of the Shirvanshahs' Palace Mausoleum (Şirvanşahlar sarayı türbəsi) states that Shirvanshah King Khalilullah I (who reigned from 1418-1465) ordered its construction for his mother and 7-year-old son between 1435 and 1436. The mausoleum building is similar to the Divankhana, another palace structure. Its gate also has complex carvings. One hexagonal carving cleverly repeats the word
Archaeological excavations in 1947 uncovered burial chambers by removing the floor. Five of these contained skeletons, while two were empty. The famous Persian scholar Muhammad Khwandamir (1475-1537) wrote in his work
Badr Shirvani (1387-1450), a famous Persian poet of the Shirvanshah Dynasty, recorded the names of the tomb occupants in his writings:
The first was King Khalilullah I's 6-7-year-old son, who died in 1432.
The second was King Khalilullah I's mother, Bika, who died between 1435 and 1436.
The third was Khanika khanim, the wife of Shahrukh of Shirvan (who reigned from 1535-1538), the last Shirvanshah king.
The fourth was King Khalilullah I's two-year-old son, Sheikh Salah, who died in 1445. Porcelain and a large candelabra were found in his tomb.
The fifth was 19-year-old Ibrahim II, who died in 1432. The tomb contained silk remnants, blue beads, and a gold needle with turquoise and six sapphires.
On the other side of the entrance is the two-meter-high tomb of Khalilullah I himself. A comb and a gold earring were found inside.
6. Palace Mosque
Shirvanshah King Khalilullah I ordered the construction of the Palace Mosque between 1441 and 1442. In 1723, Tsar Peter I's army shelled Baku from the Caspian Sea, damaging the mosque's northeast facade. In 1918, artillery shelled the mosque's minaret.
The mosque's main prayer hall is small, only 70 square meters. This means it could not hold large congregational prayers. It was generally used only by people from the palace or nearby. The mosque has two main gates. One faces the palace mausoleum directly. The other is a side gate, used only by the Shirvanshah king and his family.
The cylindrical minaret in the mosque's northeast corner has a balcony supported by a stalactite cornice. You can reach it by a spiral stone staircase inside the tower.
7. Palace Bathhouse
The palace bathhouse is underground, at the lowest part of the palace. This kept the temperature stable. Over time, it was completely forgotten until it was accidentally discovered in 1939. It was partly cleaned in 1953, and some of the pools were later restored.
Water entering the baths flowed from a reservoir near the walls to the boiler room. Then, it went through special pipes to each room. In one corner of the bathhouse is a large domed room and two smaller rooms. These tiled rooms were likely reserved for the king.
2. Maiden Tower
The Maiden Tower (Qız qalası) is one of Baku Old City's landmarks. Like the Shirvanshahs' Palace, it is on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
There is no final conclusion about the Maiden Tower's construction. Most people believe the lower part was built between the 4th and 6th centuries, and the upper part in the 12th century. People guess that the Maiden Tower was first a Zoroastrian mosque during the Sasanian period. It was rebuilt in the 12th century. One view is that the rebuilt Maiden Tower was used for astronomical observations. Another view is that, based on its design, the Maiden Tower should be a defensive tower. Its walls are up to 5 meters thick, its internal staircase is easy to defend, and a well goes straight to the third floor. Russia reinforced the tower during its rule in 1806. Archaeological excavations in 1962-1963 showed that the Maiden Tower was built on a huge rock sloping towards the Caspian Sea. They also found a 14-meter-long wooden beam at its base.
Up to 20 legends surround the Maiden Tower. The most famous tells of a maiden who saved the people of Baku from slave owners. This epic shows Azerbaijan's Zoroastrian beliefs and cultural roots. In 1940, composer Afrasiyab Badalbeyli created Azerbaijan's first ballet,
3. Baku City Walls
Shirvanshah King Manuchohr III (who reigned from 1120-1160) ordered the construction of the Baku City Walls (Bakı qalası) between 1138 and 1139. Shirvanshah King Akhsitan I (who reigned from 1160-1197) later added outer walls. In 1865, Russia ordered the demolition of the city walls along the Caspian Sea. Between 1883 and 1888, all outer walls were also torn down. In 1910, the mayor at the time banned the demolition of ancient castle remains. He also partly restored the Baku City Walls.
The Double Gates (Qoşa Qala Qapısıdır) are the main city gates of Baku Old City. They are 8-10 meters high and 3-3.5 meters wide. The gates have carvings of a bull's head and a lion, symbols of the city. Historians believe the bull represents a leader, and the lion is a protector.
In 1954, one of the towers on Baku's north wall collapsed. Inside, a 12th-century Arabic inscription written in Kufic script was found. It is now kept in the Azerbaijan History Museum. The inscription states that Shirvanshah King Manuchohr III ordered the construction of the Baku City Walls.
North of the Baku City Walls is a rectangular tower, the Donjon, which served as an armory. The tower is 16 meters high and 2 meters thick. An underground passage leads directly to the Double Gates.
4. Mosques
1. Muhammad Mosque: 1079
The Muhammad Mosque was built between 1078 and 1079. It is the oldest surviving Islamic building in Azerbaijan. An Arabic inscription in Kufic script on the mosque's north wall shows that Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr built the mosque. Research shows that the Muhammad Mosque was built on the site of a Zoroastrian fire mosque. Muhammad was the mayor of Baku at that time.
During the Russian-Persian War in 1723, the Imperial Russian fleet shelled Baku. A cannonball hit the minaret of the Muhammad Mosque. At the same time, a strong wind suddenly blew the Russian fleet away from the city. The people of Baku believed this was Allah's protection. So, the minaret was not repaired until the mid-19th century, serving as a symbol of Baku's resistance to invasion. After this, the mosque was also called the
2. Takyeh: 13th Century
The Takyeh is a Sufi mosque built in the 13th century. It was also a place for Sufi practitioners to study and rest. Archaeological excavations took place here in 1967, and it was renovated in the 1970s.
3. Khidir Mosque: 1301
The Khidir Mosque was built in 1301. Archaeological excavations in 1988 found that this mosque was built on the site of a Zoroastrian mosque.
4. Mirza Ahmad Mosque: 1345
The Mirza Ahmad Mosque was built in 1345. The wall at its entrance has carvings of the Quran and the architect's name. It is currently out of use due to its poor condition.
5. Chin Mosque: 1376
An inscription above the entrance shows that the Chin Mosque was built between 1375 and 1376. It was repaired between 1772 and 1773. The Old City State Historical Architectural Reserve Department repaired it again in 2012.
6. Molla Ahmad Mosque: Early 14th Century
The Molla Ahmad Mosque was built in the early 14th century by Mahmud ibn Sad, a famous architect of the Şirvan-Abşeron architectural school. It is a typical example of a small community mosque from the Shirvanshah Dynasty.
7. Sheikh Ibrahim Mosque: 1416
Haji Amirshah ibn Yagub built the Sheikh Ibrahim Mosque between 1415 and 1416. Ibrahim I (who reigned from 1382-1417), the 33rd king of the Shirvanshah Dynasty, ruled Baku at that time. Because of this, the mosque is also called the Sheikh Ibrahim Mosque. In the 19th century, the mosque's facade was divided into three sections, and windows were added.
Today, it is a madrasa (Islamic school) for women.
8. Juma Mosque
The Juma Mosque is the main mosque in Baku's Old City. An inscription on the mosque wall shows that Amir Sharaf al-Din Mahmud rebuilt the mosque in 1309. The current main prayer hall was built in 1899 with donations from Baku merchant Haji Shikhlali Dadashov. It blends traditional and European architectural styles.
The clay tablet at the entrance of the main hall is called a Turbah. It symbolizes the earth. Shia Muslims place their foreheads on it during namaz (prayer).
The minaret on the north side of the main hall was built in 1437. It has a balcony supported by stalactite structures.
During the Soviet era, the Juma Mosque became a carpet museum. It resumed religious activities only in the 1990s and underwent major renovations in 2008.
A madrasa from the 15th century once stood next to the Juma Mosque. However, it was torn down in the mid-19th century for road expansion. Only one classroom remains today, which is now a souvenir shop.
9. Sayyid Yahya Murtuza Mosque: Early 17th Century
Sayyid Yahya Murtuza himself built the Sayyid Yahya Murtuza Mosque in the early 17th century. He was a well-known local imam and was buried here after his death. During the Soviet era, it became a carpentry workshop. After the 1990s, it resumed religious activities and is now part of the Juma Mosque.
Summary: Baku Old City — Historic Buildings is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English, beginning with this scene: Baku's Old City, also known as İçərişəhər, is the oldest part of Azerbaijan's capital. UNESCO listed it as a World Heritage site in 2000. The account keeps its focus on Baku Old City, Azerbaijan Travel, Historic Buildings while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source.
Baku's Old City, also known as İçərişəhər, is the oldest part of Azerbaijan's capital. UNESCO listed it as a World Heritage site in 2000.
In the 8th century, the Abbasid Caliph appointed Arab general Yazid ibn Mazyad al-Shaybani as the governor of the Arminiya region, which covered most of the Caucasus. The Abbasid Caliphate fell into civil war in 861. Yazid's grandson, Haytham ibn Khalid, declared independence. He used the ancient Persian title Shirvanshah, and the state he founded became known as the Shirvanshah Dynasty.
In 1191, an earthquake destroyed Shamakhi, the original capital of the Shirvanshah Dynasty. The 21st Shirvanshah king, Akhsitan I, moved the capital to Baku. From then on, Baku became the capital of the Shirvanshah Dynasty.
The Shirvanshah Dynasty suffered a devastating blow from the Mongol cavalry in 1235. It then became a vassal state of the Mongol and Timurid dynasties during the 13th and 14th centuries. After Timur the Great died in 1405, the Shirvanshah Dynasty became independent again. It reached its peak during the reign of the 34th king, Khalilullah I (1418-1465). The Palace of the Shirvanshahs in Baku's Old City was built during this time.
In 1501, the Persian Safavid Dynasty invaded the Shirvanshah Dynasty and eventually captured Baku. After this, the Shirvanshah Dynasty became a vassal of the Safavid Dynasty until it was officially annexed in 1538.
Baku was then briefly controlled by the Ottomans and Imperial Russia, but Iran quickly took it back. In the 18th century, local tribal leaders established the Baku Khanate (1747-1806). Russia eventually occupied it in 1806.
Baku held an important place in ancient Eurasian trade. It was a key hub in the Eurasian trade network, and many merchants and travelers from India and Central Asia stopped here. Today, this ancient city has a palace complex from the Shirvanshah Dynasty, relatively complete ancient city walls, over a dozen old mosques built between the 11th and 18th centuries, four large caravanserais (ancient inns) that saw ancient trade, and several traditional bathhouses. It is well worth a visit.
1. The Palace of the Shirvanshahs: Mostly 15th Century
The Palace of the Shirvanshahs (Şirvanşahlar sarayı) was built after the Shirvanshah Dynasty (Şirvanşah) moved its capital to Baku in 1191. Most of the existing buildings were constructed in the 15th century by the 34th ruler, I Xəlilullah (Khalilullah I, who reigned from 1418-1465). In 2000, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list under the name
This complex is a prime example of the Şirvan-Abşeron architectural school. This school started in the 8th century and was popular from the 11th to the 15th centuries. It is Azerbaijan's most important traditional architectural school. This school is known for combining smooth stone facades with delicate decorative carvings. It specialized in building heavy, defensive structures.
1. The Palace Building
The palace building (Şirvanşahların saray binası) is the oldest and most important part of the Shirvanshahs' Palace. The exact start date of the palace's construction is still unknown. We only know that it was looted in 1500 during the invasion by the Persian Safavid Dynasty. After Russia occupied Baku in 1828, the palace became the Russian army headquarters. During repairs, the Russians destroyed many valuable structures. They even planned to build a cathedral here, but this never happened.
The palace entrance is very simple. Inside, there are no stone inscriptions or complex decorations. This is a sharp contrast to the grand palaces of other Muslim dynasties from the same period. The palace has two floors and originally had 52 rooms. The most important room on the second floor is the central octagonal hall. This is also the oldest part of the palace and was likely the king's reception hall. The second floor also has the sleeping quarters for the king and his family. From the windows, you can see beautiful sea views of Baku Bay.
Postcards related to Baku's Old City are on display in the palace.
The palace displays 18th-century stained-glass windowpanes from Sheki, a city in northwestern Azerbaijan. They were made precisely to size, so they did not use nails or glue.
Photos from the palace's renovation in 2013 show the building before and after the work.
2. Bayil Stones
Bayil Castle, known as the The Great Baku Earthquake of 1306 submerged Bayil Castle in the Caspian Sea. It only resurfaced in the early 18th century when the Caspian Sea receded.
Between 1939 and 1969, the Institute of History of the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences excavated over 700 inscribed stones from Bayil Castle. These are now kept in the courtyard of the Shirvanshahs' Palace. These stones are important for studying the history and culture of the Shirvanshah Dynasty. Historians found the names of 15 Shirvanshah kings on them, along with a portrait of one king.
The inscriptions also show that the castle was called
The National Museum of History of Azerbaijan displays Bayil stones with animal and human figures.
3. Divankhana
The Divankhana is in a separate courtyard on the north side of the palace. It has arcades on three sides and a pavilion-style building in the center. Shirvanshah King Farrukh Yasar (who reigned from 1465-1500) ordered the construction of the Divankhana. People say it was used as a court, a reception hall, or a mausoleum, but there is no definite proof.
The Divankhana's gate is a classic example of Azerbaijan's Şirvan-Abşeron architectural school. The gate is decorated with fig and grape leaf carvings. On each side, a hexagonal geometric Arabic carving shows the Shahada (Islamic creed). Inside, the walls have carvings of Quranic verses.
4. Seyid Yahya Bakuvi Mausoleum
The Seyid Yahya Bakuvi Mausoleum (Türbəsi) was built between 1457 and 1458. Seyid Yahya Bakuvi (1403-1462), the person buried there, was a court scholar of the Shirvanshah Dynasty. He was also the second spiritual leader and a key promoter of the famous Sufi Khalwati order. He was a descendant of Musa al-Kadhim, the seventh Shia Imam.
Yahya practiced Sufism in Shamakhi, Azerbaijan, in his early years. He later came to the Shirvanshah court in Baku. In Baku, he had tens of thousands of followers. Fifteen of Yahya's works are now kept in Istanbul, Manisa, and Konya, Turkey. These works are valuable for Sufi philosophy and important for astronomy and mathematics.
Yahya's mausoleum has octagonal walls and a conical roof. This is the only example of its kind in the Şirvan-Abşeron architectural school; other mausoleums in this school have domes. The mausoleum has two levels: an upper level for visiting the shrine and a lower level for the burial chamber. The plaster on the walls and the mausoleum roof is the only surviving architectural coating in the Shirvanshahs' Palace.
A mosque called Keyqubad once stood in front of the mausoleum. Yahya served as a religious teacher there. The mosque was first built in the 14th century. However, Armenian forces burned it down in 1918. Only its foundations remain today.
5. Shirvanshahs' Palace Mausoleum
An inscription on the gate of the Shirvanshahs' Palace Mausoleum (Şirvanşahlar sarayı türbəsi) states that Shirvanshah King Khalilullah I (who reigned from 1418-1465) ordered its construction for his mother and 7-year-old son between 1435 and 1436. The mausoleum building is similar to the Divankhana, another palace structure. Its gate also has complex carvings. One hexagonal carving cleverly repeats the word
Archaeological excavations in 1947 uncovered burial chambers by removing the floor. Five of these contained skeletons, while two were empty. The famous Persian scholar Muhammad Khwandamir (1475-1537) wrote in his work
Badr Shirvani (1387-1450), a famous Persian poet of the Shirvanshah Dynasty, recorded the names of the tomb occupants in his writings:
The first was King Khalilullah I's 6-7-year-old son, who died in 1432.
The second was King Khalilullah I's mother, Bika, who died between 1435 and 1436.
The third was Khanika khanim, the wife of Shahrukh of Shirvan (who reigned from 1535-1538), the last Shirvanshah king.
The fourth was King Khalilullah I's two-year-old son, Sheikh Salah, who died in 1445. Porcelain and a large candelabra were found in his tomb.
The fifth was 19-year-old Ibrahim II, who died in 1432. The tomb contained silk remnants, blue beads, and a gold needle with turquoise and six sapphires.
On the other side of the entrance is the two-meter-high tomb of Khalilullah I himself. A comb and a gold earring were found inside.
6. Palace Mosque
Shirvanshah King Khalilullah I ordered the construction of the Palace Mosque between 1441 and 1442. In 1723, Tsar Peter I's army shelled Baku from the Caspian Sea, damaging the mosque's northeast facade. In 1918, artillery shelled the mosque's minaret.
The mosque's main prayer hall is small, only 70 square meters. This means it could not hold large congregational prayers. It was generally used only by people from the palace or nearby. The mosque has two main gates. One faces the palace mausoleum directly. The other is a side gate, used only by the Shirvanshah king and his family.
The cylindrical minaret in the mosque's northeast corner has a balcony supported by a stalactite cornice. You can reach it by a spiral stone staircase inside the tower.
7. Palace Bathhouse
The palace bathhouse is underground, at the lowest part of the palace. This kept the temperature stable. Over time, it was completely forgotten until it was accidentally discovered in 1939. It was partly cleaned in 1953, and some of the pools were later restored.
Water entering the baths flowed from a reservoir near the walls to the boiler room. Then, it went through special pipes to each room. In one corner of the bathhouse is a large domed room and two smaller rooms. These tiled rooms were likely reserved for the king.
2. Maiden Tower
The Maiden Tower (Qız qalası) is one of Baku Old City's landmarks. Like the Shirvanshahs' Palace, it is on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
There is no final conclusion about the Maiden Tower's construction. Most people believe the lower part was built between the 4th and 6th centuries, and the upper part in the 12th century. People guess that the Maiden Tower was first a Zoroastrian mosque during the Sasanian period. It was rebuilt in the 12th century. One view is that the rebuilt Maiden Tower was used for astronomical observations. Another view is that, based on its design, the Maiden Tower should be a defensive tower. Its walls are up to 5 meters thick, its internal staircase is easy to defend, and a well goes straight to the third floor. Russia reinforced the tower during its rule in 1806. Archaeological excavations in 1962-1963 showed that the Maiden Tower was built on a huge rock sloping towards the Caspian Sea. They also found a 14-meter-long wooden beam at its base.
Up to 20 legends surround the Maiden Tower. The most famous tells of a maiden who saved the people of Baku from slave owners. This epic shows Azerbaijan's Zoroastrian beliefs and cultural roots. In 1940, composer Afrasiyab Badalbeyli created Azerbaijan's first ballet,
3. Baku City Walls
Shirvanshah King Manuchohr III (who reigned from 1120-1160) ordered the construction of the Baku City Walls (Bakı qalası) between 1138 and 1139. Shirvanshah King Akhsitan I (who reigned from 1160-1197) later added outer walls. In 1865, Russia ordered the demolition of the city walls along the Caspian Sea. Between 1883 and 1888, all outer walls were also torn down. In 1910, the mayor at the time banned the demolition of ancient castle remains. He also partly restored the Baku City Walls.
The Double Gates (Qoşa Qala Qapısıdır) are the main city gates of Baku Old City. They are 8-10 meters high and 3-3.5 meters wide. The gates have carvings of a bull's head and a lion, symbols of the city. Historians believe the bull represents a leader, and the lion is a protector.
In 1954, one of the towers on Baku's north wall collapsed. Inside, a 12th-century Arabic inscription written in Kufic script was found. It is now kept in the Azerbaijan History Museum. The inscription states that Shirvanshah King Manuchohr III ordered the construction of the Baku City Walls.
North of the Baku City Walls is a rectangular tower, the Donjon, which served as an armory. The tower is 16 meters high and 2 meters thick. An underground passage leads directly to the Double Gates.
4. Mosques
1. Muhammad Mosque: 1079
The Muhammad Mosque was built between 1078 and 1079. It is the oldest surviving Islamic building in Azerbaijan. An Arabic inscription in Kufic script on the mosque's north wall shows that Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr built the mosque. Research shows that the Muhammad Mosque was built on the site of a Zoroastrian fire mosque. Muhammad was the mayor of Baku at that time.
During the Russian-Persian War in 1723, the Imperial Russian fleet shelled Baku. A cannonball hit the minaret of the Muhammad Mosque. At the same time, a strong wind suddenly blew the Russian fleet away from the city. The people of Baku believed this was Allah's protection. So, the minaret was not repaired until the mid-19th century, serving as a symbol of Baku's resistance to invasion. After this, the mosque was also called the
2. Takyeh: 13th Century
The Takyeh is a Sufi mosque built in the 13th century. It was also a place for Sufi practitioners to study and rest. Archaeological excavations took place here in 1967, and it was renovated in the 1970s.
3. Khidir Mosque: 1301
The Khidir Mosque was built in 1301. Archaeological excavations in 1988 found that this mosque was built on the site of a Zoroastrian mosque.
4. Mirza Ahmad Mosque: 1345
The Mirza Ahmad Mosque was built in 1345. The wall at its entrance has carvings of the Quran and the architect's name. It is currently out of use due to its poor condition.
5. Chin Mosque: 1376
An inscription above the entrance shows that the Chin Mosque was built between 1375 and 1376. It was repaired between 1772 and 1773. The Old City State Historical Architectural Reserve Department repaired it again in 2012.
6. Molla Ahmad Mosque: Early 14th Century
The Molla Ahmad Mosque was built in the early 14th century by Mahmud ibn Sad, a famous architect of the Şirvan-Abşeron architectural school. It is a typical example of a small community mosque from the Shirvanshah Dynasty.
7. Sheikh Ibrahim Mosque: 1416
Haji Amirshah ibn Yagub built the Sheikh Ibrahim Mosque between 1415 and 1416. Ibrahim I (who reigned from 1382-1417), the 33rd king of the Shirvanshah Dynasty, ruled Baku at that time. Because of this, the mosque is also called the Sheikh Ibrahim Mosque. In the 19th century, the mosque's facade was divided into three sections, and windows were added.
Today, it is a madrasa (Islamic school) for women.
8. Juma Mosque
The Juma Mosque is the main mosque in Baku's Old City. An inscription on the mosque wall shows that Amir Sharaf al-Din Mahmud rebuilt the mosque in 1309. The current main prayer hall was built in 1899 with donations from Baku merchant Haji Shikhlali Dadashov. It blends traditional and European architectural styles.
The clay tablet at the entrance of the main hall is called a Turbah. It symbolizes the earth. Shia Muslims place their foreheads on it during namaz (prayer).
The minaret on the north side of the main hall was built in 1437. It has a balcony supported by stalactite structures.
During the Soviet era, the Juma Mosque became a carpet museum. It resumed religious activities only in the 1990s and underwent major renovations in 2008.
A madrasa from the 15th century once stood next to the Juma Mosque. However, it was torn down in the mid-19th century for road expansion. Only one classroom remains today, which is now a souvenir shop.
9. Sayyid Yahya Murtuza Mosque: Early 17th Century
Sayyid Yahya Murtuza himself built the Sayyid Yahya Murtuza Mosque in the early 17th century. He was a well-known local imam and was buried here after his death. During the Soviet era, it became a carpentry workshop. After the 1990s, it resumed religious activities and is now part of the Juma Mosque.
