U Devojačkoj kuli se nalazi muzej koji prikazuje priču o istorijskoj evoluciji Bakua The Maiden Tower houses a museum, which presents the story of the historical evolution of Baku
Baku is one of those cities that’s “re- ad” page by page, or peeled open layer by layer. As such, the city’s ol- dest part, Icheri Sheher, is a prote- cted UNESCO site that preserves architecture and urban structure da- ting back many centuries, with tra- ces of the periods of Persian, Turki - sh and Russian domination. And this isn’t merely an interesting milieu for tourists to experience, but rather a fully functional part of the city whe- re people still live to this day. You’ll find a network of narrow streets and small courtyards within the walled old town, which are home to craft workshops and galleries . Rising at its centre is the Maiden Tower. A symbol of Baku since the 12 th century, its true function has to- day been lost to history, though it is assumed to have served as both a temple and a defensive tower. Today it also has an observation area that provides one of the best views over the city and the Caspian Sea. Ente- ring the tower requires clambering up a narrow spiral staircase, while the interior has been arranged into a mini museum. Just a few minutes’ walk away, the city takes a dramatic shift to reveal glass façades, wide boulevards and
21 st century architecture. The best example of the new Baku is the Hey- dar Aliyev Centre. Designed by fa- mous architect Zaha Hadid, this bu- ilding has no sharp lines and was conceived as a continuous wave-li- ke form that washes away the bo- undary between interior and exte- rior. It is today the cultural heart of the city, offering permanent and the- med exhibitions covering Azerbaija- ni history, design and contemporary art. Located around a ten-minute dri-
ve from the city centre, the spacious plateau in front of the building is po- pular as a gathering place and for ta- king photos. Dominating the horizon – as you will see in most photos – are the Flame Towers. These three flame-shaped skyscrapers have light installations that also serve as reminders of the fire that is a symbol of Azerbaijan, which is also known as the “Land of Eternal Fire”. The towers are at their most impressive at night, when LED
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