Tucked in the Caucasus between Eastern Europe and western Asia, this country of 10.3 million - the size of the U.S. state of Maine and just a bit larger than Scotland - offers a fascinating blend of cultures, architecture, landscapes, and cuisine that feels both familiar and refreshingly different, combining Silk Road towns and caravanserais, medieval Islamic architecture, the dramatic Caucasus Mountains, Caspian Sea landscapes, mud volcanoes, and an unusually cosmopolitan capital.
Another of Azerbaijan´s most interesting aspects is its cultural identity, shaped by a long history of influences from various cultures as part of Persian, Arab, Seljuk Turkic, Mongol, Ottoman and Russian empires before it became part of the Soviet Union in the 20th century and finally gained independence in 1991 under its Communist-era boss Heydar Aliyev (who essentially bequeathed the presidency to his son Ilham, whose authoritarian regime has been in power since 2003, fueled by a booming petroleum and natural gas industry). Getting around is fairly straightforward, and English is fairly widespread in capital Baku, although more spotty in the hinterland (the Azeri language, by the way, is closely related to Turkish). One interesting point: Azerbaijan is often dubbed the “Land of Fire,” and once you´re here you’ll understand why, from naturally burning hills to ancient religious sites to modern flame-shaped skyscrapers.
And here´s a look at five of the country´s top five destinations not to miss...
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