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For quite a long time tourist attractiveness of the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku, has been prejudiced, and few tourists came there. But, everything has changed for the last 10 years. The city has been transformed, and now you can affirm with confidence that it may be very interesting for tourists.

When coming in Baku you should stay at one of the hotels of Icheri Sheher or near it. All primary tourist attractions of Baku are within a walking distance from this ancient quarter. It must be noted that Baku is equally beautiful at daytime and at night. Almost all houses in the center of the city were built in the impressive Empire style and very beautifully illuminated. It creates a peculiar atmosphere of well-being.

Surely, the main tourist attraction of Baku is Icheri Sheher. Its fortified walls have fully survived, and it will take you most part of the first day to wander along its narrow streets. All houses of Icheri Sheher have characteristic balconies the on second floors.

On the Oilmen`s Avenue, the most beautiful street in Baku, there located a local landmark - the Maiden Tower. Most likely, it is an ancient Zoroastrian temple of 8-12 centuries, although this hasn’t yet been proved. You should ascend onto the viewing platform of the Maiden Tower to enjoy a view of the old town.

If you climb up the narrow streets of the old town, you can see the Palace of Shirvanshahs. This is another have-to-visit-place. The palace of the rulers of the Baku Khanate built in 15 century was completely reconstructed and now there is something to look at here: the palace properly, mosques, baths complex, and burial vaults.

Ateshgah Zoroastrian Temple (or Fire Temple) is very important as a historical and cultural site. It`s located not far from the center of Baku, in the immediate vicinity of Heydar Aliyev International Airport. Zoroastrian sanctuaries have been there since the earliest times, as in this place natural gas came to the surface and spontaneously ignited, and Zoroastrians worshiped fire.

Primorsky Boulevard is one of the premium places for deliberate walks over Baku. It is a broad embankment running along the Bay of Baku. On a stretch from Azneft Square to the Nagorny (Upper) Park there has recently been constructed a system of canals where you can have a boat ride. On the sides of the canals you can see buildings and bridges in the Venetian style. 

From Primorsky Boulevard you can ascend to the Nagorny Park by cableway. From there you can have a magnificent view of the old town and the Bay of Baku. The Governor`s Garden is at least as beautiful. It is a small picturesque park at the fortified wall of the old town near Azneft Square.

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High-rise buildings dominating Primorsky Boulevard in Baku
View of old quarters of Icheri sheher from the Maiden Tower
Entrance of the mortuary complex of the Shirvanshah`s Palace (1435)
At night the Governor garden in Baku and all the buildings around it are beautifully illuminated
Stones with Gobustan bas-reliefs on the walking alleys of the Governor garden in Baku
Fountain near the state Philharmonic in the Governor garden in Baku
Archaelogical excavations of old quarters at the foot of the Maiden Tower in Icheri sheher
Asaf Zeynalli street is a main street in the old city of Icheri Sheher in Baku
Embankment of Primorsky Boulevard in daytime
Oilmen Avenue, one of the most beautiful streets of the city, is parallel to Primorsky Boulevard
Zoroastrian temple of Ateshgyakh. The natural fire, which was worshipped by the Zoroastrians, have burnt there for several centuries
Ancient fire worshippers Zoroastrians near the Ateshgyakh Temple
«Venetian» canals on Primorsky Boulevard in Baku
Center of Primorsky Boulevard where the opening of «Euorivision 2012» took place
Venetian style buildings and canals on Primorsky Boulevard in Baku
Venetian style buildings and canals on Primorsky Boulevard in Baku
Old mosque, Soviet Hero Monument and new skyscrapers in Nagorny (Upland) Park are the reperesentation of Azerbaijan history
Houses along the city wall of Icheri Sheher. It is just on this site that one of the scenes of the famous Soviet film `Diamond Arm` was shot
Cable way of the Funicular allowing to ascend in a small carriage from Primorsky Avenue to Upland Park
Eternal flame is the center of Memorial Upland Park
The building of the state Philharmonic in the Governor garden in Baku
Dervish Mausoleum within the Shirvanshah`s Palace (1464)
Typical interior of the Azerbaijani Shirvanshah`s Palace in the Middle Ages
Mosques and minarets within the Shirvanshah`s Palace
Entrance to the Juma mosque in the old quarter of Baku Icheri Sheher
Primorsky Boulevard as viewed from the Maiden Tower
Primorsky Boulevard as viewed from the observation deck of the Nagorny (Upland) Park