Baku, where the past and the future meet

The capital, Baku, is the ideal gateway to understanding the soul of this country. Nestled on the Caspian Sea, it is an excellent base for day trips to the surrounding area. Its historic centre, Icherisheher (the Old City), is a labyrinth of narrow streets protected by medieval walls and recognised by UNESCO. Here, you can stroll amongst ancient caravanserais and monuments such as the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and the mysterious Maiden Tower, a stone structure some 29 metres high that now houses a history museum. Just a short walk from this atmosphere frozen in time, the skyline changes dramatically: the three Flame Towers dominate the bay with their modern silhouettes, which are illuminated by spectacular light displays in the evening, whilst the Heydar Aliyev Centre cultural complex, designed by architect Zaha Hadid, enchants visitors with its fluid, snow-white curves. To fully immerse yourself in the local atmosphere, there’s nothing better than sitting down in a traditional ‘chaykhana’ (tea house) to savour black tea served in the typical pear-shaped glasses, known as ‘armudu’, often accompanied by local cherry or fig jams. Getting there from Italia is fairly straightforward, thanks to direct flights lasting around four and a half hours operated by Azerbaijan Airlines from Milan and by Wizz Air from Rome. With a time difference of just three hours ahead of Italia (two during summer time) and an electronic visa (e-Visa) that can be applied for online in just a few simple steps, the country presents itself as an unusual yet accessible destination.