AZERBAIJAN GUIDESTORIES & ROUTES
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Ismailiyya Palace

Oil Boom & Seaside · 2Grand Baku Tour · 6

Ismailiyya Palace

Venetian Gothic · 1908–1913 · Istiglaliyyat St 30, Baku

Rhajizada · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized; cropped for display

This palace in Venetian Gothic style was built for the Muslim Charitable Society. It was funded by the oil millionaire Musa Naghiyev in memory of his son Ismail – hence the name.

Today it is the seat of the Presidium of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences.

Audio guide

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Narrated with a synthetic voice.

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The Ismailiyya Palace has a personal story behind its striking facade. Musa Naghiyev funded the building in memory of his son Ismail. Its Venetian Gothic design gives it a very different character from the fortress walls of the nearby Old City.

The pointed arches and fine stone ornament are good details to focus on. Rather than taking in the whole facade at once, follow a few of those shapes and see how they repeat. The building is associated with the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. For an independent walk, treat it as an exterior architecture stop unless an authorised interior visit has been arranged.

Look for

The pointed arches and lace-like stone decoration.

Riddle

In memory of whom was the palace named?

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