The Ensemble of Shirvanshahs` Palace built in the XV century, is one of the pearls of Azerbaijanian architecture. The constructions of the palace are situated on the highest point of one of the hills of "Icheri Sheher" - Baku fortress.
Being picturesquely spread over three terrace-yards towered above each other the ensemble is seen from the sea and the hights surrounding the city. It`s buildings crowned with cupolas with the well-proportioned portals and minaret, irreproachably made details, inimitable kind of fine and deep carving of ornaments and inscriptions, splendid masonry - have come down to us in all their beauty.
The ensemble contains dwelling-house, "Divankhane", Shirvanshahs` tomb, Palace mosque with a minaret, bath-house, Mausoleum of court scientist Seyid Yahya Bakuvi and Portal of Eastern Gate set up later. The strict, concise forms, sunny tones of smooth surfaces of the walls, stately portal with it`s deep shadows of niches, patterned shebeke of the upper windows and window-slits of the ground floor present the dwelling-house.
Divankhane was the place for official receptions and state meetings. Rotonda of Divankhane is crowned with the cutstone cupola with pointed arch surrounded by the same arcade of a closed yard. A high, well-proportioned portal of the main entrance is decorated with ornaments and inscriptions of unusual polish and beauty.
Turbe - the Shirvanshahs` family tomb - is the work of architect Muhammed Ali, whose name was skillfully ciphered in ornamental medalions of portal which is as beautiful and rich as the portal of Divankhane.
The Palace Mosque is situated next to tomb. The polish ornamentation of arabic writting at it`s minaret announces the date of building - 1441.
In the southern yard of the complex there is an octangular mausoleum of courtscientist Seyid Yahya Bakuvi.
At the very lower part of the complex almost under the ground the palace bath-house is situated. It has been destroyed, but the remains inform about the rational arrangment of it`s premises overlapped by the cupolas and arches, skillfully arranged system of water-coming and water-heating. The Eastern Portal is a work of architect Amirshah (1585) which is the only monument of Palace builted in the XVI century.
An immence attractive force of this renique ensemble of monuments made the government of Azerbaijanian Republic possible to convert it into State historical and architectural reserve-museum "The Complex of Shirvanshahs` Palace" in 1964. Using different methods of museum work such as excursions, lectures, exhibitions, open-door days, music days, Eastern parties - the museum has gained a world-wide popularity.
The reserve-museum is daily opened for vizitors from 10-00 to 17-00.
If you're planning a trip to Baku you may need: 1) A wide selection of accommodation options in Baku (basic hostels, budget hotels for unpretencious travelers, small size family run hotels, international business hotel chains). 2) Practical information for tourists (visa regime, prices, best time to vizit and etc). Please do not hesitate to contact us for consultation
