From Baku: Sheki, Shamakhi, and Kish Day Trip｜Azerbaijan

Begin your journey in Shamakhi, home to the Juma Mosque, one of Azerbaijan’s largest and most ornate places of worship. While the current building was reconstructed in 2013, the original mosque was built as far back as 743 AD, making it the second-oldest mosque in the Caucasus and the oldest in Azerbaijan.

Over the centuries, it has been destroyed and rebuilt several times, most notably after the devastating earthquake of 1859 that leveled much of Shamakhi, and later during inter-ethnic clashes in 1918. In addition to exploring its historical and religious significance, enjoy the mosque’s elegance and tranquility.

Next, visit the Hanging Bridge, a bridge that connects the remote village of Zarnava to the main road to Lahij, a historic town in the Ismayilli region of Azerbaijan. The bridge is made of iron and spans over the Girdimanchay River, a tributary of the Kura River. The bridge offers a scenic view of the river and the surrounding mountains. The bridge is also a symbol of the isolation and uniqueness of the local culture.

Continue to the Church of Kish, also known by different sources as the Church of Saint Elishe or Holy Mother of God Church, a Caucasian Albanian church located in the village of Kish, approximately 5 km north of Shaki, Azerbaijan. According to the 7th-century Albanian historian Movses Kaghankatvatsi, in the 1st century AD St. Elishe, a disciple of Thaddeus of Edessa, arrived to a place called Gis, where he built a church and recited a liturgy. The church became the "spiritual center and the place of enlightenment of people of the East". Radiocarbon analysis of various objects found on the site showed that the cultic site dates to about 3000 B.C., while the construction of the different parts of the church building dates to the Middle Ages (II-XII centuries).

Next, visit the Sheki Khan Palace, a world-famous historical and architectural monument located in the territory of "Yukhari Bash" National Historical-Architectural Reserve. On 7 July 2019, the Historic Centre of Sheki with the Khan’s Palace was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This Palace was built in 1762 during the period of Muhammed Huseyn Khan, who was the grandson of Haji Chalabi Khan. No glue, nail, or cement in the construction of the building. Local construction materials were used, including lime, burnt land, and egg white.

The building has two floors and consists of 6 rooms, 4 corridors, 2 mirrored balconies, and 4 doors. Thousands of small pieces of glass were used to produce the shebeke window mosaics, fitted together without glue or nails.

Finally, visit the Sheki Caravanserai, a historical complex in Sheki, Azerbaijan, that was built in the 18th century by the Sheki Khanate, a prosperous and artistic Azerbaijani state. It was a place for travelers and traders on the ancient Silk Road, where they could rest and exchange goods and culture.