Baku is the capital of Azerbaijan and is located in the Caucasus region, a geographical area between Eastern Europe and Western Asia. The city overlooks the western shore of the Caspian Sea.
Known as the “Windy City,” it blends a thousand-year history linked to the Silk Road with futuristic architecture funded by the oil boom, with the first wells being drilled in 1846 (dedicated article).
Baku is a metropolis of contrasts, the main difference being the architecture and atmosphere: the Old City and modern Baku.
The Old City of Baku, known locally as İçərişəhər, is the historical and medieval heart of the capital. This fortified core features several monuments, but the most notable are the Maidan Tower (dedicated article) and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs (dedicated article).
The modern Baku area features futuristic skyscrapers and Parisian-style boulevards.
The symbols of modern Baku are the Flame Towers, the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum (dedicated article), and the Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center.
Located at the end of the Baku Boulevard promenade overlooking the Caspian Sea is the State Flag Square. The Azerbaijani flag in Baku measures 70 meters long and 35 meters wide, weighing approximately 350 kg. The flagpole stands 162 meters tall, making it one of the largest flags in the world.
Since 2016, Baku has hosted the Formula 1 Grand Prix, with its city circuit in the heart of the Old City.
