Azerbaijan is one of the three former Soviet republics located in Caucasus. The country occupies the area of 86,600 sq. km. (33,400 sq. miles), with the population exceeding 7.6 million. Azerbaijan is bordered by the Russian Federation, Georgia, and Iran, and is divided by the Republic of Armenia into a smaller western part in the Lesser Caucasus and a larger eastern part, bordered by the Caspian Sea in the east. The map of the country is shaped somewhat like an eagle in flight with the capital city, Baku, for its head. Since the earliest times, this area has been known as “the land of flames.”

The history of Azerbaijan was determined by the country’s geographical position. Located on the very crossroads of Eastern and Western civilizations, it was exposed to the influence of both of them. As a part of the greatest empires in the history of human kind, Azerbaijan was the site of the most decisive events and had seen many mighty conquerors, including Haroun al-Raschid, Genghis Khan, Pompey, and Alexander the Great.

Azerbaijan was settled by the Medes before the 8th century BC and was a separate kingdom after the death of Alexander the Great. Over the centuries, however, Azerbaijan has enjoyed only brief periods of independent statehood. The country was incorporated into the Persian, Muslim Arab, Turkish Seljuk, Mongol, Ottoman, and Russian empires. Over the half of historical Azerbaijan now lies within Iran.

The modern republic is formed from the territory ceded to Russia by Persia in 1828; then, from 1922 to 1991, the territory was a part of the USSR as the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. Azerbaijan declared independence on August 30, 1991, and became an independent state when the Soviet Union disbanded on December 26, 1991.

In the 8th century, Azerbaijan, based on rich reserves of oil and natural gas, became one of the first petroleum-producing regions of the world. Today, in addition to oil processing, the country has a well-developed agricultural base (with cotton as the main cash crop), a large industrial sector, and an extensive transportation network.

Baku, the capital and the largest city of Azerbaijan, has the population of more than 1.2 million. The first historical reference to Baku dates back to 885 AD, although archaeological evidence indicates that a settlement there existed several centuries before that period of time. By the 11th century AD, Baku was in the possession of the Shirvan-Shahs, who made it their capital in the 12th century. During the 13th and 14th centuries, the city came under the sway of the Mongols. In 1723 Peter I the Great captured Baku, but it was returned to Persia in 1735; Russia recaptured the town finally in 1806. The oil boom transformed Baku into an urbane industrial center with oil refining being the chief industry. Baku served as the capital of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic from 1920 to 1922 and from 1936 to 1991.After the declaration of independence in 1991, Baku became the capital of the country. Today , Baku is the politic, economic, cultural, and educational center of Azerbaijan.

RED STAR TRAVEL invites you to visit Azerbaijan, the mysterious land of ancient history and culture, unique crafts, delicious vines and cognacs, and impressive landscapes. Enjoy the views of majestic mountains, fast-running rivers, woods full of oxygen-rich air, and a gentle warm sea.

RADISSON SAS ISR PLAZA BAKU HOTEL

Located in the heart of the business area of Baku, within walking distance to the Fountain Square and the Old Town. 15 miles from the airport and 2 miles from the railway station. Opened in 1998. 17 floors. All floors accessible by elevator. 40 beautifully decorated suites overlooking the Caspian Sea. All rooms feature private bathroom, hair-dryer, air conditioner, color satellite TV, international direct-dial telephone, modem connection, refrigerator, coffee maker, in-room safe. 24-hour room service. Panoramic restaurant serving national and international cuisine. Panoramic piano bar serving light meals and snacks. Plaza lounge. Vitamin bar. Business center: facsimile and photocopying facilities, secretarial and computer services, multi-language translating. Service bureau. 2 conference rooms for up to 60 seats. The Plaza Health and Fitness Club: in-door heated swimming pool, gym and sauna. Currency exchange. Beauty shop. Gift shops. Drug store. First aid medical office. Laundry. Dry-cleaning. Baggage storage. Towncar service. On-site parking. Security Service. Multi-lingual staff. Room rates - from $270.

HYATT REGENCY BAKU HOTEL

Located close to downtown Baku, within walking distance to the Exhibition complex and governmental offices. 15 miles from the airport and 3 miles from the railway station. Opened in 1995. 4 floors. All floors accessible by elevator. 160 rooms: 115 doubles, 30 twins, 15 suites. All rooms feature private bathroom, hair-dryer, air conditioner, color satellite TV, international direct-dial telephone, mini-bar. 24-hour room service. Delicious Restaurant serving national and international cuisine. Salakhov Tea Lounge on the Mezzanine overlooking the lobby. Beluga Bar serving light meals and snacks overlooking the swimming pool. Britannia Pub. Gourmet shop. Business center: facsimile and photocopying facilities, secretarial and computer services, multi-language translating. Service bureau. 8 conference and banquet rooms. Currency Exchange. Safety deposit box. Club Olympus Fitness center: indoor olympic-size swimming pool, saunas, steam baths, Jacuzzi, gym, aerobics studio, massage, solarium. Outdoor olympic-size swimming pool. Indoor and outdoor squash and tennis courts. Beauty shop. Boutique. Gift shops. News stand. Laundry. Dry-cleaning. Baby-sitting service. Florist service. First aid medical office. Towncar service. On-site parking. Security Service. Multi-lingual staff.  Room rates - from $260.

GRAND HOTEL EUROPE BAKU

Ideally situated in the city center, close to all main business and government offices and next to the Grand Europe Exhibition and Conference Center. 20 minutes drive from the International Airport and 15 minutes drive from the railway station. Opened in 1997. 9 floors. All floors accessible by elevator. 94 fully equipped deluxe rooms and suites with balconies overlooking the Caspian Sea: 76 singles and doubles, 16 junior suites and 2 apartment suites. All rooms feature private bathroom, hair-dryer, air conditioner, color satellite TV, international direct-dial telephone, mini-bar, in-room safe. 24-hour room service. Caviar Restaurant. Caspian Bar. Lobby bar. Terrace Bar (seasonal). Havana Club Poolside Bar and Restaurant (seasonal). Old Bavaria Pub and Beer Garden. Night club. Casino. 4 conference rooms for up to 400 seats. Business center: computer services, facsimile and photocopying facilities, multi-language translating. Service bureau. Currency Exchange. Health club: swimming pool, gym, sauna, massage. Beauty shop. Gift shop. Drug store. First aid medical office. Laundry. Dry-cleaning. Towncar service. On-site parking. Security Service. English-speaking staff. Room rates - from $175.

APSHERON HOTEL

Located in the city center, near the picturesque Azadlig square. 25 minutes drive from the airport and 15 minutes drive from the railway station. Opened in 1986. 17 floors. All floors accessible by elevator. 437 rooms. Upgraded and superior rooms with magnificent view of Baku and the Caspian Sea offered by Red Star Travel feature private bathroom, air conditioner, color satellite TV, international direct-dial telephone, mini-bar. Room service. 2 restaurants offering local, national and European cuisine. 3 bars. Casino. Meeting and conference facilities for up to 350 persons. Business center: facsimile facilities, photocopying, computer services. Beauty shop. Gift shop. Currency Exchange. Sauna. Laundry. Towncar service. Security Service. English-speaking staff. Room rates - from $120.

INTOURIST HOTEL

Located in the city center close to the Presidential Palace, near the Fine Arts Museum. 30 minutes drive from the airport and 10 minutes drive from the railway station. Built in 1936, reconstructed in 1984. 4 floors. All floors accessible by elevator. 50 single and twin rooms. All rooms feature private bathroom, air conditioner, color satellite TV, international direct-dial telephone, radio, refrigerator. Room service. Restaurant. Bar. Meeting and conference facilities. Business center. Service bureau. Beauty shop. Gift shops. Currency Exchange. Safety deposit box. Sauna with massage. Laundry. On-site parking. Security Service. English-speaking staff. Room rates - from $80.

Baku Museums

History Museum of Azerbaijan. Operating hours: from 10:00am to 05:00pm, closed on Mondays. Founded in 1919. As a part of the Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan the museum is the republic’s leading scientific and enlightening establishment, acquainting the public with the long and eventful history of the Azerbaijan people. It occupies one of the most beautiful buildings of Baku - the former private residence of Gadji Zeynalabdin Tagiyev, the oil industrialist and the famous Maecenas. The total of museum values is more than 300,000 units of a storage: 20,000 of them are on display, and the rest are kept in science funds - numismatic fund (more than 150,000 units), archeological fund (93,000 units), ethnographic fund (9,000 units), weapon fund (2,300 units), science fund (12,000 units), the fund of precious metals (15,000 units), negative fund (10,000 units), and the fund of rare books (4,570 units). The total area of the exposition halls exceeds ½ acre. Most of archaeological finds from different parts of Azerbaijan – Mingechaur, Orenkala, Kul-tepe, Kabala, Nakhichevan, Ismailly, Yally-tepe, Shemakha, Ganja, and Baku – are on display in the department of “Ancient and Medieval History of Azerbaijan.” There are glazed cups and dishes with images of birds and animals and details of inscriptions in Arabic, numerous stone and obsidian implements from the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, and Aeneolithic periods.

Azerbaijan Museum of Carpets and Applied Arts. Operating hours: from 10:00am to 02:00pm, from 03:00pm to 05:30pm, closed on Mondays. The museum is most admired by foreign tourists. Founded in 1972, the museum is now housed in an impressive 4-storey building (1961), still known for its original purpose as the Lenin Museum. It contains a large collection (about 6,000 items) of Azerbaijani carpets, jewelry, embroidery, metalwork, ceramics, and woodcarvings. 13 exhibition halls show 7 kinds of Azerbaijani smooth-faced carpets (Palaz, Jajim, Kilim, Zil, Sumag, Vierni, and Shedde) and 4 kinds of regular Azerbaijani carpets. Its collection was enriched with the carpets brought from Shusha carpet museum, evacuated before the Armenian advance.

Azerbaijan State Arts Museum. Operating hours: from 10:00am to 01:00pm, from 02:00pm to 05:00pm, closed on Mondays. Appeared in 1920s, the museum houses in two XIX century buildings. Over 4,000 exhibits. The exposition is constructed in historical-chronological succession and by countries – Azerbaijan, West-Europe (Italy, Holland, Germany, France), Russia, Middle East, etc. The earliest exhibits: archaeological vessels dated from the 6-4 millennia BC, ceramics of the Middle Ages, bronze and copper wares from the XI-XIX centuries, jewelry, unique ancient carpets and carpet wares of Guba, Baku, Shirvan, Tabriz, Garabakh, and Kazakh centers of carpet-making, Azerbaijan book miniatures from the XVII-XVIII centuries, varnished miniatures from the XVIII-XIX centuries, miniature paintings from the XVI century. The section of modern art of Azerbaijan consists of paintings, drawings, sculptures, and items of decorative and applied art. Travelling exhibitions.

National Museum of Azerbaijan Literature. Operating hours: from 11:00am to 05:00pm (from Monday till Friday), from 12:00 to 04:00pm, closed on Sundays. Founded in 1939 as the Nizami Memorial Museum contained a wide range of exhibits representing the life and activities of Nizami, as well as the historical period he lived. Since 1967 it is known as the National Museum of Azerbaijan Literature. Housed in a unique building with turquoise majolica decorated facade and the sculptures of the most outstanding Azerbaijanian writers along it, the Museum is considered to be one of the famous architectural monuments of Baku. Twenty-three exhibition halls contain a diverse collection that presents life and activities of the eminent Azerbaijaners such as Nizami, Nassimi, Fizuli, Vagif, M. F. Akhundov, J. Mammadguluzadeh, M. A. Sabir, J. Jabbarli, and S. Vurgun. The total of museum values is more than 60,000 units of a storage: 20,000 of them are on display, and the rest are kept in science funds. The Museum collection ranges from an ancient topic-designed Tabriz carpet of the early XIX century and topic-designed carpets based on Nizami’s “Hamseh” to miniatures based on Nizami’s motifs and ancient coin collection. It also includes unique manuscripts, lithographs, and printed books. The Museum has a wide collection of manuscripts, personal belongings and archives of writers, and a valuable collection of paintings and works of applied arts, too.

Baku City Tour

Over the last 10 years, under the influence of new economic and social conditions, the appearance of Baku has noticeably changed. Today, the city’s look significantly differs from what it was during the Soviet period. The modern city of Baku consists of the Old Town, the downtown, the two residential zones, and the industrial and oil-processing zones. The City Tour places the greatest emphasis on the Old Town, the historical part of the city.

The center of Baku is the Old Town, which is also a fortress. Most of the walls, strengthened after the Russian conquest in 1806, survive. This section is picturesque, with its maze of narrow alleys and ancient buildings. Part of a palace, a mosque, and a minaret date from the 11th century.

The Downtown, also known as the Boom Town, is a business and entertainment center of Baku. It is also the city’s historical part, erected in the end of the 19th century. The Boom Town has interesting beaux-arts architecture; there are numerous mansions built by oil barons, and other grand buildings built during the oil boom that began in the 1870s. Fine arts, history, and literature museums are located there, all housed in the mansions of pre-revolutionary millionaires. As a result of the prestigious location of the area, various businesses enterprises prefer to place their offices there.

The Boulevard is a broad and shady pedestrian walkway, running along the edge of the Caspian Sea in the downtown. At its center, just across busy Neftchilar Avenue, a huge Stalinist-inspired office building is located, which is the house of the government of Azerbaijan. Along the canals there are rides and other amusements – outdoor cafes and restaurants, a long jetty, a chess pavilion, and billiard tables. The Terrace Disco and Garden Bar complex, popular among unattached Azerbaijanis and foreigners, are located here.

The Fountain Square is famous not for its fountain, an oblong, cement structure installed during the Soviet era, but for the stately 19th- and 20th-century buildings on the square. Many shops, restaurants, and outdoor cafes, as well as a number of bars frequented by foreigners, lie within walking distance of one another, making the square Baku’s social hub.

The Azadlyg Square is a large parade square facing the Seaside (Primorsky) Park along Baku Bay.

Walking Tour of the Old Town, 2 hours

The Old Town, called Ichari Shahar in Azerbaijani, extends from the curve of the Baku Bay through the hills behind it, and much of the area is closed to vehicular traffic. The Old Town is a warren of narrow alleys and winding passages neatly hemmed in by high fortress walls. The low, stone walls of the Palace of the Shervan-Shahs, built in the 15th and 16th centuries, belie the grandeur of the masonry and inscriptions on the royal chambers, mosques, and mausoleums within the compound. Located in the heart of the Old Town, the royal complex contains a domed pavilion, a small two-story palace, courtyards, a royal mausoleum, and a mosque. On the edge of the Inner City the legendary Maiden’s Tower commands a sweeping view of the bay. The purpose of the 100-feet high tower, which was built in the 12th century, is unknown, although popular legend tells that a maiden was locked up here. Two caravansaries, the ancient inns, dating back to the 14th century, stand behind the Maiden’s Tower in the Old Town. The inns were built for traders from Pakistan and Central Asia, and today serve as restaurants. The Synyk Kala Minaret, located in Baku’s Old Town, is the city’s oldest building (1093). The Lezgi Mosque constructed in the 12th century stands near the center of Baku’s Old Town. Although the palace and adjacent houses, mosques, and Turkish baths are not as well-preserved as the visitor might hope, the ancient streets and passages are slowly taking on new life as foreign companies take up residence in Baku’s most prestigious neighborhood. The Philarmonic Halls near the Old Town frequently offers performances of mugan, the traditional Azerbaijani style of music and singing.

TOURS AROUND BAKU

Tour of the Ateshgyakh Fire-Worshippers' Temple, 3 hours

The Ateshgyakh Fire-Worshippers’ Temple (18th century) is located within Greater Baku in the village of Surakhany (9 miles from Baku). The historical roots of the monument go back to the days when Azerbaijan statehood was only taking shape and establishing itself, and Zoroastrianism, the central part in whose ritual is played by fire, was the dominant religion in the country. People worshipped fire, seeking its protection against adversity and oppression and begging it for happiness and well being. These ancient fires are believed to have given Azerbaijan its name, which is thought by some researchers to mean “a land of fires.” Medieval Azerbaijan carried on trade and exchanged cultural values with many countries; one of them was India. Thus it happened that these structures were built one after another for a century and a half, from the late 17th to the mid-19th century. That is why the Ateshgyakh Temple looks not unlike a regular town caravansary - a kind of inn with a large central court, where caravans stopped for the night. As distinct from caravansaries, however, the temple has the altar in its center with tiny cells for the temple’s attendants – Indian ascetics who devoted them to the cult of fire – and for pilgrims lining the walls.

The inscriptions on stones set in the walls, made in Sanskrit and Hindi, testify to the Indian origin of the fire-worshippers’ temple at Surakhany. In the course of time, the “eternal fires” of Absheron ceased to be viewed as divine. The heat they give has been placed at the service of the people, and today gas serves people economic and every day needs. And only the place where the fires used to burn still remains in the memory of the people under the name of Ateshgyakh (home of fire). Today the temple is a unique monument of world culture.

Tour of Absheron Peninsula, 5 hours

The Absheron Peninsula, an extension of the Caucasus Mountains, juts 35 miles into the Caspian Sea, the largest inland sea in the world, covering 386,400 sq. km. (149,200 sq. miles).The wide plain contains ravines and salt lakes, and some parts are frequently flooded by tides. Vineyards and tea plantations are located here, but the region is particularly noted for its oil deposits.

On this excursion you will be informed about the history of oil development in Azerbaijan. Even in ancient times oil was known to exist on the Absheron Peninsula, and there were various religious cults connected with the oil and gas fields. Your guide will tell you about different methods of oil extraction both ancient and modern. You will be introduced to non-traditional uses of oil, to the present situation within the oil industry in Azerbaijan, and  to the oil development prospects in the country.

You will visit the oldest oil producing fields on the Absheron Peninsula, observe the natural gas outlets (Yanar Dag – “Burning Mountain”) and mud volcanoes together with the current on- and off-shore fields.

Tour of Gobustan, 5 hours

Gobustan (the territory of Gobu) is famous for its archeological monuments. Travel 30 miles south-west of Baku along the Caspian shore to the volcanic desert, where rocks covered with drawings stand amidst a chaos of stones and mountains. There are more than 4,000 rock drawings left by artists of the Neolithic period. They depict the customs of ancient tribes, hunting scenes and dances, the way they filled the ground, their everyday life. The range of themes is wide and the vividness with which they are executed can well evoke envy in a modern artist. Near Mt. Beyukshad there is a large, stone-enclosed circular plot with an altar in the center, where ritual ceremonies were held. Not far away on the mountainside is a Latin inscription carved more than 2,000 years ago.

Long after you have left Gobustan you will remember the drawings that have come down to us from the remote part.

Tour of Shemakha, 12 hours

Situated 80 miles west of Baku, at the foothills of the Big Caucasus Mountains Chain, the ancient town of Shemakha was one of the most ancient oriental trading cities the Silk Route was going through. Once the capital of Shirvan, Shemakha was founded in the VI century AD. The town was nearly destroyed over the centuries by repeated earthquakes. Some old buildings have survived, however, and are worth seeing: the Djuma Mosque, with two minarets, which dates back to the 10th century, the Seven Cupolas (Eddi Gyumbez) Mausoleum, which was the burial place for members of the royal families of the Shirvan.

On the hills just outside Shemakha you can visit the 11-th century Gulistan fortress. High in the Pirgulu Mountains, 8 miles from Shemakha and 4,600 feet above the sea level, the Tusi astronomic observatory is located where you will see the biggest mirror telescope in the CIS.

Shemakha is famous for excellent wines produced both in wineries and privately at homes. The wine tradition is quite old and the area even has its own grape variety, Matrassa used for excellent dry red wines. You will visit one of the local vineyards for a wine and cognac tasting.

Tour of Guba, 14 hours

ravel 95 miles to the North of Baku to see Guba, a pleasant town located on the northeastern slopes of the Shahdag range, at the height of 2000 feet above sea level. Historically Guba has been known since the 18th century as the center of Khanlygh (traditional Azery duchy). A 16th-century fortress dominates Guba, but most tourists go to Guba to see the hundreds of apple orchards. In the spring, the area on the right bank of the Kudyal-Chay River is fragrant with the scent of apple blossoms. With 22,000 inhabitants, Guba is famous for such architectural landmarks of the 19-th century, as the Juma-Mosque (Friday mosque), the Mosque of Sakine-Khanum, Ardabil-Mosque, and the Baths with their two domes.

An ancient Zoroastrian (fire-worshippers’) temple dated by the 9-th century AD is preserved in the village of Khanalygh, one of the suburbs of Guba. Here you’ll find a unique ethnic group of 1000 Tats who have preserved the original language, customs, and traditions; it is one of the most interesting components of vivid and colorful image of Guba district.

Continue your tour to the magnificent Tengin canyon to see the almost 4-mile high gorge’s walls, a 100-feet high waterfall at Afurja, and a cave with exquisite natural sculptures (Pirbashova).