Page 707 - Liverpool Philharmonic 22-23 Season Coverage Book

Shirvan Shakir’s Palace, Baku
(Getty Images)

Baku, Azerbaijan

The old Soviet Union meets Dubai on the shores of the Caspian Sea. This
Bolshevism-to-bling city – the lowest-lying capital in the world, 100 feet
below ocean level – is a deeply intriguing location, combining a fascinating

Old City and dramatic new architecture. Baku is exactly the same latitude as
Madrid, but further east than Baghdad. The oldest Shia mosque, Bibi Heybet,
survived at its clifftop location south of the city centre from the 13th century
to the 20th – when it was demolished to make room for a new highway
winding south from the city. A replacement was completed in 1998. You are
free to wander in and around the mosque; afterwards, take in the superb view

of the Caspian shore from the mirador. Thanks to Azerbaijan’s oil wealth,
there are plenty of shiny new upscale hotels. But the ideal location is within
the walls of the Old City – besides characterful lodgings, you will also find
some tranquillity from the always-buzzing traffic outside. The pick is the
Shah Palace, a boutique hotel arranged around a peaceful courtyard. Simon
Calder