Azerbaijan, a country at a crossroads between Eastern Europe and Western Asia welcomes the summer season with a bang! The capital city, Baku, enriched with history, culture, music and great food, is the perfect vacation spot this year. Famously known for its active spirit and sporting traditions, the European Games will be held in Baku from 12 to 28 June 2015, featuring over 6,000 athletes from 50 National Olympic Committees, competing in 20 sports.
Number one on the list of things to do at Baku this summer is to take part in the social events planned around the European Games. For a country that takes pride on its history with sports and competition, it seems only right to be a part of the European Games at the multi-sport centre, and involve yourself in the ongoing light festival every night of the Games.
Before the spectacular light festival, immerse yourself with the stunning summer sunsets at the beautiful beaches of Baku, which is number two on the list of reasons to visit Azerbaijan this summer. Plenty of warm sunny days are what makes Azerbaijan the centre of beach tourism. Beach season opens at the Absheron seaside in May and lasts till the end of September.
The rich architecture of the city further compliments its natural beauty, and supports the title of a World Heritage Site. Built on a site inhabited since the Palaeolithic period, the Walled City of Baku is shaped by Zoroastrian, Sasanian, Arabic, Persian, Shirvani, Ottoman, and Russian civilizations. The Inner City still has preserved much of its 12th-century fortifications like the defensive walls or the legendary Maiden Tower. Among other famous architectural attractions includes the Opera houses, branded boutiques, magnificent gardens and art galleries and museums.
Another reason to spend this summer in Azerbaijan is for its unique climate and pleasant weather. Majority of the Azerbaijan territory is situated in the subtropical zone. This allows planting oranges, tangerines, lemons, feijoa, kiwi and other exotic fruits – and who wouldn’t want exotic, fresh, homegrown fruit every day?
Other must-visit sites include the mud volcanoes of Azerbaijan. These volcanoes occupied 5th place in the international contest of “Seven Natural Wonders” held by a non-commercial Swiss organisation. In 2004, the Guinness Book of Records noted that the largest mud volcano in the world is located in Azerbaijan. Another must-see on the list is Park Boulevard, the well-known trade and entertainment centre. Guests come here for the picturesque landscape, shadowy alleys, comfortable cafes which offer the most delicious ice-cream, tea, deserts and appetizers of any kind. Many amusement arcades for children and adults are also available here.
Social events and site-seeing locations aside, the unique national cuisine of Azerbaijan is one of the most interesting gastronomically experiences in the East. It consists of different meat, fish and vegetable dishes supplemented by flavoured herbs and spices. Saffron is a especially popular in Azerbaijan – this spice is used in over 50 national dishes! Among bakery goods the Azerbaijanis prefer long bread and lavash (flat bread baked in tandoor). Halal food is popularly discovered here, as 99.2% of the population is Muslim. One of the most famous dishes of Azerbaijan is the Kelem, which is a cabbage roll stuffed with meat, rice and fresh herbs.
From sporting events to site-seeing and adventures at the beach, summer at Baku promises visitors an experience of a lifetime.
