00:00Welcome to Baku, a city of contrast. Here on the Caspian Sea you can see the blend of history and contemporary life.
00:21On this episode of Around Azerbaijan we'll be exploring the city's old soul and modern spirit.
00:28The city moves quickly and so will we, from coast to cobblestones in minutes.
00:35The old city is still the beating heart and soul of Baku today.
00:40High above the rooftops the Maiden Tower watches over a maze of stories.
00:44Down here every turn pulls you into a different century.
00:48Workshops, caravanserais, cafes and courtyards all blending into one rhythm.
00:53To see how reinvention really works in Azerbaijan you have to head just 30 minutes out of Baku to a place that's lived through booms, buss and an impressive rebirth, Balakhani.
01:05The city of Balaakhani is now the oldest treasure, the Avdan.
01:14Cool stone walls, ancient channels and the sense that every drop once mattered to life here.
01:20The Avdan is the history of the 14th century.
01:21The Avdan is the history of the 14th century.
01:22It is built in 15 meters and it is possible to fall below.
01:23Just steps away is another landmark of the past. The Agam Hammam known for its sand bath.
01:25To the surface, Balakhani hides its oldest treasure, the Avdan.
01:29Cool stone walls, ancient channels and the sense that every drop once mattered to life here.
01:35The Avdan is the history of the 14th century.
01:38It is built in 15 meters and it is possible to fall below.
01:43Just steps away is another landmark of the past. The Agam Hammam known for its sand bath.
01:48One of the businesses here focuses on bridging that past with visitors coming today.
02:12There is a first book called Balakhani's Social Workers.
02:17Then there are the noble brothers' love letters and articles.
02:21I will show them.
02:22I will show you the noble brothers.
02:25What were once faded walls are now a living gallery, transforming the village into one of the region's most Instagrammed stops.
02:33These murals are painted by local artists and they have become such a tourist attraction that people queue up to take selfies.
02:42We're at Chalebi, a gallery and showroom that offers a fresh view of Azerbaijan's visual identity, with every piece rooted in the culture.
02:52The art and design scene here is thriving and it's thanks to places like this, bridging the gap between traditional techniques and heritage crafts alongside modern artists and creatives.
03:04Azerbaijan sits at the crossroads of three major religions and for centuries people have shared their neighborhoods, their holidays and their stories.
03:14The result? A rare kind of harmony.
03:17So this is one of the oldest mosques in the city.
03:19It's from the 13th century.
03:21In 2008, it was renovated again.
03:24Well, as I mentioned, it's a small pilgrimage place and a majority of the tourists visit the mosque.
03:29The Spanish synagogue itself was built in 2011.
03:39The interesting thing is, it is the biggest synagogue in Europe for the mountain Jews.
03:44And the mountain Jews is a community of the Jewish people living in Azerbaijan for more than a thousand years.
03:50So we're in one of the city's many churches.
03:56Yeah, but this one is unique because one of the few Catholic churches which fundaments was laid by the visit of Roman Pope, John Paul II, 2002.
04:09So we've been to a synagogue, a mosque and we're in a church.
04:13There's lots of faith celebrated in the country.
04:17It is. It's really multicultural.
04:21Baku's modern spirit thrives in its green spaces.
04:27It's hard to believe we're in the middle of the city.
04:29But right here, the botanical gardens are beautifully designed and full of color, bringing nature into the rhythm of the city.
04:42As my weekend draws to a close, I've learned that Baku is full of surprises.
04:46Yes, history is always close, but so is the energy of something new.
04:52And it's that balance that makes this city unforgettable.
04:54And it is relatively calm, so the balance is still unforgettable.
04:55You're looking for a
04:56not only a year and a year and a year.
04:57You're not going to be used to it.
04:58It's not always a long time.
04:59It's very narrow, but it's very easy for us to think about it.
05:00It's a bit more unforgettable.
05:02I don't know if we were the best of getting those people a year and a year and a year.
05:03Because it's absolutely not unforgettable.
05:04But it's always cool and great.
05:05And I think that's a bit more unforgettable.
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