Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan gained its independence in 1991 after a long history of
conflict and tribulation. Due to its strategic location and wealth
of natural resources, Azerbaijan has for centuries been of interest
to foreign powers and as such, has been invaded, plundered and
fought over since the very first peoples inhabited the area.
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The good fortune of being in so favourable a position—the landlocked
Azerbaijan territory being in the Caucasus and key to trade and
between the nations of the East and West—can perhaps retrospectively
be deemed a curse, as it was this feature that spurred much of the
nation’s torrid and tragic history. Add the fact that the territory
of the modern-day Azerbaijan housed the precious commodity of oil in
abundance, a commodity of which many knew the importance, even as
early as the fourth century BC, and it becomes more understandable
why so small a nation has borne the brunt of so much turmoil over
the ages.
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For varied reasons and at various times in history, Azerbaijan today
is an area that has seen, among others, Roman, Arab, Hellenic,
Russian, Persian, Turkish and Khazar occupation or conflict. And
yet, in spite of the millennia of turmoil that constitutes the
history of Azerbaijan, the nation now stands independent and,
accepting its close cultural similarities with Iran, completely
unique with a strong sense of identity. A tour to Azerbaijan is a
tour to a culturally diverse nation, a melting pot with as many as
70 racial groups, and an historically fascinating country whose
documented past stretches back to as early as has ever been
recorded, convincing many that Azerbaijan is in fact one of the very
cradles of civilisation.
The dry and warm climate of Azerbaijan makes touring the marvellous
sights that much more appealing. Khan’s Palace in Sheki, with its
intricately beautiful and stained-glass windows, is a must-see
attraction when it comes to tours in Azerbaijan, and the medieval
Palace of Shirvanshahs and the Diri Baba Mausoleum are highly
recommended sights, also. Our trips are the best way to see the
abundant Azerbaijan in all its glory.