Shirvanshahs Palace Complex, Baku (Azerbaijan) 🇦🇿 - A Traveller's Memoir

Located in the inner city of Baku, the Palace of the Shirvanshahs is a 15th century palace built by the Shirvanshahs and described by UNESCO as one of the pearls of Azerbaijan's architecture. In the 15th century, the Shirvanshah dynasty under Ibrahim I of Shirvan transferred his capital from Shimakha to Baku following a devastating earthquake. He committed himself to the construction of the palace. The construction of the residential building was started in 12th century. The building was extended later during the 14th to 15th centuries. The palace ensemble consists of nine buildings, the palace, the Diwan Khana or the courthouse, the Dervishes' Mausoleum, the Eastern Gate, the Palace Mosque, the Qikubad Mosque, the Palace Burial Vault, the Hammam, and the Ovdan or the Storage Lake. It has two floors. The building's upper floor served as a living space for Shah's family. It reflects distinctive architectural techniques and characteristics of oriental palaces. The ground floor served the household needs of the palace. The museum's permanent exhibition provides insights into the history of the palace, the dynasty of the Shirvanshahs, and the culture of Azerbaijan. Murad's Gate is the only building of the 16th century in the complex. It was built during the reign of Sultan Murad by architect Amir Shah under orders from the governor of Baku, Rajab Baba Baghovi.