Construction of Old City of Baku

The Old City, or Icherisheher, is the walled historic core of Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, on the western shore of the Caspian Sea. Its fortifications were rebuilt in the 12th century under the Shirvanshahs, whose rulers later made Baku their capital, although settlement on the site is much older. Inside the walls a maze of narrow streets leads to the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, caravanserais, mosques, baths and the Maiden Tower, reflecting Persian, Arab, Ottoman and Russian influences. UNESCO inscribed the Old City, with the palace and the tower, on the World Heritage List in 2000. It was listed as endangered from 2003 to 2009 because of earthquake damage and concerns over poorly controlled restoration and development.

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