Travel to Shamakhi, Azerbaijan with Bob & Wilma

Shamakhi is an old historic city dating back to the 5th century B.C. During the 9th to the 16th centuries, it was the capital of the Shirven Empire and one of the most beautiful cities in Asia. Between invaders and earthquakes though, it was nearly destroyed and now only has a population of around 32,000. It was the second city in the Caucasus that an Islamic place of worship, a mosque, was built which was opened in 743 A.D.

The style of this mosque is unique in that it has three sections each with a mihrab

and entrance.

We were allowed to go in, of course, shoeless. It was gorgeous!!

Not far from this mosque, only about a mile away, is the Yiddi Gumbeg mausoleum, the final resting place of the last Shirven Sheikhs. It is called SEVEN TOMBS though there are only three structures, all of which have domes.

As you enter the cemetery, there are some special modern graves

then up the hill are many very old, weather worn, leaning or fallen tomb stones.

In the domed structures are some lovely decorated tomb stones. Though little really remains of Shamakhi, it is a very fascinating city in a very exotic country.  

Photos and story courtesy of Bob & Wilma.

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