Trace Baku’s oil-boom architecture from the Philharmonic and City Hall along Istiglaliyyat Street. Continue past the Ismailiyya Palace and literary museum to Fountain Square, the History Museum and Nizami Street.
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The city built by oil.
Trace Baku’s oil-boom architecture from the Philharmonic and City Hall along Istiglaliyyat Street. Continue past the Ismailiyya Palace and literary museum to Fountain Square, the History Museum and Nizami Street.
A city walk of roughly 4 km, with the option to finish near Sahil metro.
Many mansions are working buildings and are best viewed from outside. Do not assume palace or theatre interiors are open; check museum visits and performances separately. Government House is an optional final detour.
Places along the way
Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Hall & Philharmonic Garden
A concert hall and terraced garden make a calm stop outside the southern Old City walls.
Baku City Hall (City Executive Power)
The former City Duma building anchors an architecture walk near Icherisheher metro.
Palace of Happiness (Mukhtarov Palace)
The Mukhtarov mansion brings neo-Gothic towers and decorative stonework to central Baku.
Ismailiyya Palace
Ismailiyya's pointed arches and stone ornament make it a distinctive oil-boom palace.
Nizami Museum of Azerbaijani Literature
An arcaded facade beside Fountains Square introduces Azerbaijan's literary heritage.
Fountains Square
Fountains Square is a lively meeting point between Baku's old stone streets and its pedestrian shopping area.
National Museum of History of Azerbaijan (Taghiyev Palace)
The History Museum combines Azerbaijan's past with the interiors of the Taghiyev mansion.
Nizami Street (Torgovaya)
Nizami Street combines a pedestrian shopping promenade with the facades of oil-boom Baku.
Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre
The ornate Opera and Ballet Theatre belongs to the architectural story of early-twentieth-century Baku.
Government House (Dom Soviet)
Optional extension
Government House forms a monumental backdrop to the waterfront side of central Baku.
Sources and official information
Photographs: 18
Places on this itinerary
Photographs of the stops on this itinerary. Open a place for its full collection.
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Contemporary views
2016-09-26Date not independently verified
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Original title: Edificio en Baku, Azerbaiyán, 2016-09-26, DD 46
Date label in the source: 2016-09-26
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Contemporary views
2015Date not independently verified
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Original title: Mayoralty of Baku main façade, 2015
Date label in the source: 2015
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Contemporary views
Date not established
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Original title: Palace of Happiness9
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Original title: Azərbaycan Milli Elmlər Akademiyasının Rəyasət heyətinin binası 1
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Contemporary views
2016-09-26Date not independently verified
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Original title: Museo de Azerbaiyán de Literatura Nizami, Baku, Azerbaiyán, 2016-09-26, DD 199
Date label in the source: 2016-09-26
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Contemporary views
Date not established
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Original title: Fountains Square, Baku 01
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Date not established
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Original title: Palace of Haji Zeynalabdin Tagiyev 6
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Contemporary views
2016Date not independently verified
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Original title: Yaşayış evi, Nizami küçəsi, 56 2016
Date label in the source: 2016
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Contemporary views
Date not established
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Original title: Azərbaycan Dövlət Akademik Opera və Balet Teatrının binası
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Contemporary views
Date not established
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Original title: Governement house - panoramio
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2016Date not independently verified
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Original title: Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Hall 2016
Date label in the source: 2016
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Contemporary views
Date not established
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Original title: Bakı şəhəri İcra Hakimiyyətinin binası işıqlarla
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Date not established
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Original title: Palace of Happiness 2
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Original title: Milli Elmlər Akademiyasının Rəyasət heyəti binası yazı
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Original title: Baku NizamiMuseum 004 1763
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Urek Meniashvili · CC BY-SA 3.0
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Original title: Fountains Square, Baku 2
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Contemporary views
Date not established
Contemporary views
Date not established
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Original title: Nizami street-Baku-01
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