Nizami Street (Torgovaya)

The pedestrian part of Nizami Street is also known as Torgovaya. Shops and cafes make it an easy place for a relaxed walk, but its story continues above the windows and signs. The buildings recall Baku's rapid growth in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, when the oil industry transformed the city.

Look up to the balconies and upper floors. Reliefs, decorative details and the shapes of the facades are easy to miss when the street is busy. You do not need to turn the walk into an architectural checklist. Choose a few details that catch your eye, and follow how they change along the street.