Exploring Bakus contrasts, from ancient streets to modern city life - YouTube

Welcome to Baku, a city of contrasts. Here on the Caspian Sea you can see the blend of history and contemporary life. On this episode of Around Azerbaijan we'll be exploring the city's old soul and modern spirit. The city moves quickly and so will we, from coast to cobblestones in minutes. The old city is still the beating heart and soul of Baku today. High above the rooftops the Maiden Tower watches over a maze of stories. Down here every turn pulls you into a different century. Workshops, caravanserais, cafes and courtyards all blending into one rhythm. To see how reinvention really works in Azerbaijan you have to head just 30 minutes out of Baku to a place that's lived through booms, busts and an impressive rebirth, Balakani. Below the surface Balakani hides its oldest treasure, the Ovdan. Cool stone walls, ancient channels and the sense that every drop once mattered to life here. Just steps away is another landmark of the past, the Agam Hammam, known for its sand bath. One of the businesses here focuses on bridging that past with visitors coming today. What were once faded walls are now a living gallery, transforming the village into one of the region's most Instagrammed stops. These murals are painted by local artists and they've become such a tourist attraction that people queue up to take selfies. We're at Chalabi, a gallery and showroom that offers a fresh view of Azerbaijan's visual identity with every piece rooted in the culture. The art and design seen here is thriving and it's bridging the gap between traditional techniques and heritage crafts alongside modern artists and creatives. Azerbaijan sits at the crossroads of three major religions and for centuries people have shared their neighborhoods, their holidays and their stories. The result, a rare kind of harmony. So this is one of the oldest mosques in the city? It's from the 13th century. In 2008 it was renovated again. Well as I mentioned it's a small pilgrimage place and a majority of the tourists visit the mosque. The spinning synagogue itself was built in 2011. The interesting thing is it is the biggest synagogue in Europe for the mountain Jews and the mountain Jews is a community of the Jewish people living in Azerbaijan for more than more than thousand years. So we're in one of the city's many churches? Yeah because this one is unique because one of the few Catholic churches which fundaments was laid by the visit of Roman Pope John Paul II in 2002. So we've been to a synagogue, a mosque and we're in a church. There's lots of faith celebrated in the country. It is, it's really multicultural. Baku's modern spirit thrives in its green spaces. It's hard to believe we're in the middle of the city but right here the botanical gardens are beautifully designed and full of color bringing nature into the rhythm of the city. As my weekend draws to a close I've learned that Baku is full of surprises. Yes history is always close but so is the energy of something new and it's that balance that makes this city unforgettable.