Juma Mosque - On the way from Baku to Sheki, we stop to visit the Shamakhi Juma Mosque, one of the oldest existing Muslim temples in Azerbaijan, as well as in the South Caucasus and the Middle East, built in 743. In 2009, a major renovation project was undertaken by the Government to restore the mosque to its former glory. Aesthetically, the Shamakhi Juma Mosque is an iconic sight in the visual landscape of the South Caucasus and an important monument of Islamic heritage. It is one of the most famous mosques in Azerbaijan and a popular tourist attraction. While entering the Mosque, you need to remove your shoes, but walking barefoot is not a problem because the floor is covered with thick carpets. Additionally, women must wear a head cover to enter, which is provided for free at the entrance and must be returned upon exit.

Sheki Khan’s Palace - The main attraction of the city is Sheki Khan Palace, a world-famous historical and architectural monument located in the “Yukhari Bash” National Historical-Architectural Reserve. The palace was nominated for the List of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 1998, and in 2019, the Historic Centre of Shaki with the Khan’s Palace was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sheki Khan Palace was built in 1762 during the period of Muhammed Huseyn Khan, the grandson of Haji Chalabi Khan. No glue, nails, or cement were used in the construction of the building; instead, local materials such as lime, burnt land, and egg white were used. The building has two floors and consists of 6 rooms, 4 corridors, 2 mirrored balconies, and 4 doors. Thousands of small pieces of glass were used to create the shebeke window mosaics, fitted together without glue or nails.

Sheki Karvansaray - The Caravansarai of the XVIII century will make you feel the authentic trade life of this period and transport you to the atmosphere of a Medieval Bazaar with merchants from all over the world.

Church of Kish - The last point we visit in Sheki is the first Albanian church called Kish in the Caucasus, dating back to the 1st century AD. The Kish Albanian Temple is located in Kish village, Sheki region, one of Azerbaijan’s oldest cities and cultural centers. This temple was one of the first Christian churches built in the Caucasus, not just in Caucasian Albania. This church, which dates from the first century AD, is a historical monument built on the foundation of the Moon Temple, symbolizing the spread of Christianity in the Caucasus approximately 2,000 years ago. According to legend, Elysee built a church in the village of Kish in Uti Province, Albania, to spread Christianity at the request of St. James, Jesus Christ’s brother. It’s the best place to learn about mysterious Caucasian Albania, the Christian nation that once covered most of northern Azerbaijan.