Ismailiyya Palace

The Independence Museum of Azerbaijan or "Istiqlal" Museum (Azerbaijani: İstiqlal Muzeyi) – is a museum established on 7 December 1919 in Baku - the capital of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. H. Mirzajamalov and I. M. Aghaoglu had a great role in creation of the museum. Archeological finds, exemplars of rare books, objects of numismatics, jewelry, etc. were collected in the museum.The museum was located in the building of the ADR’s Parliament (at present – the building of the Institute of Manuscripts of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences). It is noted that, namely at that time, an attempt at making a legal document about organizing and storing museum items was undertaken. The museum existed only a year and couldn’t realize all intended plans. It was liquidated in 1920, when the Soviet Power was established in Baku. Materials collected in the museum became basis for "Muzexcurs" foundations and Azerbaijan State Museum. The second Independence Museum was established on 9 January 1991. Then the museum had only 7,000 exhibits. Due to attempts and investigations of the museum's collective the number of exhibits is above 20,000 now. The main goal of the museum is to highlight national independence movement of Azerbaijan that lasts from ancient times till now. The exposition of the museum is exhibited in six halls: The first hall is dedicated to the history of Azerbaijan from the ancient times to the 19th century, the second hall to the history of Azerbaijan between the second half of the 19th and 20th centuries, the third hall to national independence movement in the Southern Azerbaijan in the first half of the 20th century, the fourth hall to the history of Azerbaijan during repression and the Great Patriotic War, the fifth hall to national independence movement of Azerbaijan at the end of the 20th century and the first Karabakh War, and the sixth hall to the history of Independent Republic of Azerbaijan and activity of the national leader Heydar Aliyev. There are masterpieces of art and architecture, maps, pictures, books, currencies and other exhibits in the Independence Museum of Azerbaijan. A lot of expositions and activities dedicated to historical events are held in the exposition of the museum. The museum opens its doors during such events as the International Day for Monuments and Sites (April 18), International Museum Day (May 18) and World Tourism Day (September 27). Free access to the museum is available for members of ICOM (International Council of Museums), museum workers, military personnel, veterans of World War II, victims of the Karabakh war and Black January. The museum also has a children’s circle called “We are the heirs of the independence”, where children are offered a variety of tasks and told about the history of the state in entertaining form.

A Monument to Mirza Alakbar Sabir was installed in 1958, in Baku, on Istiglaliyyat Street, in a park near Ismailiyya building. Its sculptor was Jalal Garyaghdi, and architects were H.Alizade and A.Ismayilov.

Quadrangular Tower (Azerbaijani: Dördbucaqlı qala), or Keeper of the Fortress of Baku (Azerbaijani: Bakı qalasının donjonu), is a stone keep built in the 14th century. It is part of the Old City in Baku, Azerbaijan. On August 2, 2001, the building was declared a "national architectural monument" by the Cabinet of Azerbaijan.

The Declaration of Independence monument was erected on the Istiglaliyyat Street in honor of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, and was opened on May 25, 2007. The monument is located between the buildings of the Institute of Manuscripts of the National Academy of Sciences and the Azerbaijan State Economic University. The Declaration of Independence proclaimed by the National Council of Azerbaijan on May 28, 1918 in Tiflis city, Georgia. This day is celebrated as Republic Day since May 28, 1992.

Baku Fortress (Azerbaijani: Bakı Qalası) is a medieval building in Baku, Azerbaijan, the largest of Absheron fortresses. The fortress consists of the Icheri Sheher and the walls and towers surrounding it and it was included by UNESCO into the World Cultural Heritage List in 2000. It was built in about 1138–1139 on the order of the Shirvanshah Manuchohr III (1120–1149).Based on traveler's illustrations and photos of the 19th century, the fortress consisted of a double wall. The first wall was built by the Shirvanshah III Manuchohr, and the second wall was built during the time of Shirvanshah Akhsitan I.However, the second fortress walls were destroyed during the reign of Russia in Azerbaijan. The first fortress wall still remains. Baku Fortress has two gates. One of them opened to the Caspian Sea and the other to land. The city walls, which had a height of 8–12 meters and a width of 3.5 meters, provided for Baku's security. In the Middle Ages, the fortress walls were 1500 meters long and now the walls are 500 meters long. In the northern part of the fortress, there is the main tower - quadrangular castle. This fortress is called "armory" in the nation's etiology. The peculiarity of the armory is that, despite being a defensive unit, builders have strengthened the wall by raising it in the center of the fortress wall, not in the center of the city.

Mirza Alakbar Sabir Garden (or simply Sabir's Garden) is one of the gardens located in the Sabail district of Baku. The garden named after the famous Azerbaijani satirical poet Mirza Alakbar Sabir. It is bordered by the fortress wall of the Icheri Sheher in the south, Istiglaliyyat Street in the north, the Constitutional Court in the east, and the Institute of Manuscripts in the west which known as the Ismailiyya. The statue of Mirza Alakbar Sabir has been erected in the garden.The garden was erected by the sculptor H.Aleskerov in the area of "Kaspi" publishing house in the 20s of the last century. The formation of the garden took place gradually. A statue of Sabir was erected near the fortress wall in 1922. In the 50s, the area of the park considerably expanded, the garden landscaped and greened. In this regard, putting a new and monumental statue to the poet was actualized. In 1958, the sculptor Jalal Garyaghdi, architects H. Alizadeh and E. Ismayilov worked together for the statue. The statue was placed in the center of the garden. Historical monuments around the garden are also of great importance. In recent years, the park has been renovated.

Istiglaliyyat Street (Azerbaijani: Istiqlaliyyət küçəsi) is an arterial road in the central uptown part of Baku, Azerbaijan. It begins at Gulustan Palace, located on the southern hillside part of Baku, and continues north, then northeast, terminating at the intersection of Aziz Aliyev and Mammad Amin Rasulzade Streets at the edge of Fountains Square.

Haci Bani Mosque (Azerbaijani: Hacı Bani məscidi-Hacı Bani məscidi) is one of the mosques of Azerbaijan, was built in the 16th century. It is located in Old City, Baku.

The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (Russian: Александро-Невский Собор; Azeri: Aleksandr Nevski Başkilsəsi, often referred to as Qızıllı kilsə – "The Gilt Church") was the main Russian Orthodox cathedral in Baku, Azerbaijan from when it was completed in 1898 until its destruction in 1937 during the Soviet era under Joseph Stalin. The cathedral was the biggest Russian Orthodox structure ever built in the South Caucasus.

Old City or Inner City (Azerbaijani: İçərişəhər) is the historical core of Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. The Old City is the most ancient part of Baku, which is surrounded by walls which were easily defended. In 2007, the Old City had a population of about 3000 people. In December 2000, the Old City of Baku, including the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and Maiden Tower, became the first location in Azerbaijan to be classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Old City Museum Center or Icherisheher Museum Center (Azerbaijani: İçərişəhər Muzey Mərkəzi) is a museum in Azerbaijan. The Museum Center is a part of the State Department of the Historical and Architectural Reserve of Old City. The museum explores the architecture, life and culture of the ancient Shirvanshahs' Palace, Maiden Tower, ancient mosques, baths (Beyler Mosque, Siratagly religious-architectural complex), Baku Khans' Palace, and the Gala village. The Center collects, preserves and propagates material about the cultural monuments of the period, and holds international conferences, symposiums, themed parties, theatrical museum events at the Monuments Complex.The fund of the Old City Museum Center includes photo negatives, applied arts, numismatics, rare books, documents, photos, graphics and archeology examples.

The Monument to Nizami Ganjavi, a medieval Persian poet, is located in Baku in Nizami Square, on the intersection of Istiglaliyyat, Ahmad Javad, Azerbaijan and Islam Safarli streets. The opening ceremony of the monument was held in April 1949. The sculptor of the monument was Fuad Abdurahmanov, People’s Artist of Azerbaijan.The monument is a 6-meter high bronze statue installed on 9-meter high octahedral pedestal. The pedestal is of red Labrador, and elements of Azerbaijani architecture of Nizami’s epoch were used in its handling. There is an ornamental carving and faced bronze plates on the lower part of the monument. Seven plates feature scenes from Nizami's works, and one plate displays a memorial inscription.