Amazing Day-trip at Shaki

Shaki is Azerbaijan's true travel gem, a small city off on the forested slopes of the Greater Caucasus Mountains. Etymology of the town’s name derived to the ancient times when this region of Azerbaijan was inhabited by tribe named sakas 6-7 age BC. Rich in Islamic architecture, Silk Road history, good food, and friendly people, this is travel and leisure in the Caucasus at its finest.

Waterfall "Yeddi Gozel" (Seven Beauties) in Gabala (on the way to Sheki) is stunning; it lies in the rolling, thickly forested foothills, which spread out to the south, while to the immediate north are the dramatic, snow-capped peaks of the Greater Caucasus.

Palace of Sheki Khans - This ornate 1762 palace building features vivid murals and dazzling colored light streaming through Shabaka (stained-glass) windows making it Sheki’s foremost ‘sight’ and one of the South Caucasus’ most iconic buildings. It was originally the Sheki Khan’s administrative building, just one of around 40 now-lost royal structures within the fortress compound. Its set in a walled rose garden behind two huge plane trees planted in 1530. The facade combines silvered stalactite vaulting with strong geometric patterns in dark blue, turquoise and ochre. The petite interior is only one-room deep, but lavished with intricate designs. Karavansaray - Swift development of trade in the Middle Ages enhanced importance of caravanserai existing in the territory of Azerbaijan at that time and favored construction of new ones. Generally, caravanserai was built in form of castles with one gate, closing of which made them impregnable during dangerous incidents. “Caravanserai” historical complex in Sheki is two magnificent caravanserais which reached present days and traditionally named “Yukhary” and “Ashaghy” caravanserai, which means “Upper” and “Lower” Caravanserai in translation from Azerbaijani into English. Construction of these caravanserai is dated back to the 18th-19th centuries.

Kish is a town of 7,000 years that is about 5km from Sheki. It is a bumpy ride on the narrow cobblestone roads, but well worth it to visit the beautiful Albanian church and this picturesque mountain town. Kish Albanian Church - The brilliantly renovated round-towered Albanian church in pretty Kish village has been lovingly converted into a very well-presented trilingual museum. In fact, the church site goes back well beyond the Christian era, and glass-covered grave excavations allow visitors to peer down on the bones of possibly Bronze Age skeletons. The church in the village of Kish is one of major Christian architectural monuments of Caucasian Albania. The time of the erecion of the monument is defined as the 6th-7th centuries.