Azerbaijan, nestled between the Caspian Sea and the Greater Caucasus, in search of ancient traditions and mud volcanoes

Imagine a place where fire gushes spontaneously from the earth, where flame-shaped skyscrapers reach for the sky alongside medieval walls, and where volcanoes spew not lava but cold, clay-like mud. Azerbaijan, nestled in the South Caucasus between the shores of the Caspian Sea and the peaks of the Greater Caucasus, presents itself as a land of geographical and cultural contrasts, still largely to be discovered. This republic, which covers an area roughly a quarter the size of Italy, acts as a natural bridge between Eastern Europe and Western Asia.

Autumn is perhaps the best time to visit, thanks to a mild climate that makes exploring a pleasure and a packed calendar of international events, ranging from the Formula 1 Grand Prix on the Baku street circuit (24–26 September 2026), featuring concerts by Calvin Harris and Katy Perry, to the Senior World Judo Championships (4–10 October), right through to the autumn festivals dedicated to cinema and contemporary art (from 21 to 31 October, the city will host the Baku International Film Festival, and from 28 October to 8 November, the Baku International Arts Festival).