Baku – the capital and the biggest city of Azerbaijan, and also the biggest one in the whole Caucasian region. It is the lowest situated capital of country in the world with 25% of whole Azerbaijan’s population living in it. Baku has built its powers on gas and rope mining.
You can reach the most interesting and representative part of Baku – the old town – by foot, going from the side of the sea or from the square of Fountains. You will get there also by subway, which beautiful station is located just by one of the gates. In the old town there are renovated, marble streets, whereas the seaside boulevard goes for a few kilometres. Alongside it there are plenty of restaurants, a modern pier and English-styled taxis waiting for passengers.
The old town in Baku, enclosed inside walls from the 11th century, is so magnificent that it was added to the UNESCO world heritage list. Make sure to go to one of the squares in that part of the city – for instance Azalding square with government headquarters or City Square with the monument of Heydar Alijew, the president of the country in years 1993-2003, who upon his death passed the power to his son. In the city’s centre there are also shops of the best, worldwide-known designers.
Citizens are proud of local cuisine, then what can you eat while in Azerbaijan? Shish kebab among other things, but not only mutton one, but also versions filled with chicken, fish, eggplant or potatoes! A very popular dish is also dolma, which are meat stuffed in grapes’ leaves. Try also dyushbar, dumplings with mutton, served in broth. Drink also tea, prepared in typical for that place way: it is a very aromatic drink served in a lovely glass.
People used to think once that good, local cuisine can be tasted only in private houses. Today, thinking has changed, citizens and tourists can choose from variety of excellent restaurants. Among recommended are Shah at N.Rafiyev 25A, Nargiz at Tarlan Aliyerbeyov 9 or Firuze at T. Alitarbeyov 14.
