Baku - the vibrant heart of Azerbaijan
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Streetlife in Baku, Azerbaijan.Getty Images![Streetlife in Baku, Azerbaijan.]()
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Streetlife in Baku, Azerbaijan.Getty Images![Four Seasons Hotel in Baku, Azerbaijan. Given the city's reputation as a tourist magnet in Central Asia, a number of major hotel chains have opened here.]()
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Four Seasons Hotel in Baku, Azerbaijan. Given the city's reputation as a tourist magnet in Central Asia, a number of major hotel chains have opened here.Getty Images![A general view of Shirvanshah's place in Baku, Azerbaijan.]()
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A general view of Shirvanshah's place in Baku, Azerbaijan.Getty Images![A mosque in front of the new buildings 'Flame' in Baku, Azerbaijan.]()
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A mosque in front of the new buildings 'Flame' in Baku, Azerbaijan.Getty Images![Architectural ruins in Baku's Old City, Azerbaijan. The Inner City is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.]()
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Architectural ruins in Baku's Old City, Azerbaijan. The Inner City is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Getty Images![Streetlife in Baku, Azerbaijan. Islamic architecture coexists harmoniously with modern buildings and relics from the Soviet occupation on the city's skyline.]()
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Streetlife in Baku, Azerbaijan. Islamic architecture coexists harmoniously with modern buildings and relics from the Soviet occupation on the city's skyline.Getty Images![A general view of Baku, Azerbaijan.]()
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A general view of Baku, Azerbaijan.Getty Images![A worker in Baku, the capital, the largest city, and the largest port of Azerbaijan.]()
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A worker in Baku, the capital, the largest city, and the largest port of Azerbaijan.Getty Images![An old church is seen in Baku, Azerbaijan.]()
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An old church is seen in Baku, Azerbaijan.Getty Images![General view of market in Baku, Azerbaijan.]()
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General view of market in Baku, Azerbaijan.Getty Images![People sit in front of a fountain in Baku, Azerbaijan.]()
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People sit in front of a fountain in Baku, Azerbaijan.Getty Images![Satellits are seen on an old house in Baku, the capital, the largest city, and the largest port of Azerbaijan.]()
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Satellits are seen on an old house in Baku, the capital, the largest city, and the largest port of Azerbaijan.Getty Images![A carpet shop is seen in Baku, Azerbaijan.]()
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A carpet shop is seen in Baku, Azerbaijan.Getty Images![A taxi in Baku, Azerbaijan.]()
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A taxi in Baku, Azerbaijan.Getty Images![Streetlife in Baku, Azerbaijan.]()
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Streetlife in Baku, Azerbaijan.Getty Images![A kebap shop in Baku, Azerbaijan.]()
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A kebap shop in Baku, Azerbaijan.Getty Images![An old church in Baku, Azerbaijan.]()
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An old church in Baku, Azerbaijan.Getty Images![The qui qalazi tower in Baku, Azerbaijan.]()
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The qui qalazi tower in Baku, Azerbaijan.Getty Images![A mosque in front of the new building 'Flame" in Baku, Azerbaijan.]()
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A mosque in front of the new building 'Flame" in Baku, Azerbaijan.Getty Images![A restaurant in Baku, Azerbaijan.]()
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A restaurant in Baku, Azerbaijan.Getty Images![Traditional bread bakery in Baku, Azerbaijan.]()
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Traditional bread bakery in Baku, Azerbaijan.Getty Images![Streetlife in Baku, the capital, the largest city, and the largest port of Azerbaijan.]()
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Streetlife in Baku, the capital, the largest city, and the largest port of Azerbaijan.Getty Images![Traditional tea and sweets are served at a restaurant in Baku, Azerbaijan.]()
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Traditional tea and sweets are served at a restaurant in Baku, Azerbaijan.Getty Images![Traditional bread bakery in Baku, Azerbaijan.]()
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Traditional bread bakery in Baku, Azerbaijan.Getty Images![Azneft roundabout at the city center and new buildings 'Flame' (L) in Baku, Azerbaijan.]()
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Azneft roundabout at the city center and new buildings 'Flame' (L) in Baku, Azerbaijan.Getty Images![General view of Baku, Azerbaijan.]()
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General view of Baku, Azerbaijan.Getty Images![View of Baku city.]()
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View of Baku city.Getty Images![Fashion stores in in Baku, Azerbaijan.]()
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Fashion stores in in Baku, Azerbaijan.Getty Images![A tourist taks pictures of a souvenir shop in Baku, Azerbaijan.]()
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A tourist taks pictures of a souvenir shop in Baku, Azerbaijan.Getty Images![Children playing around Aliaga Vahid statue at Shirvanshakhs place in Baku, Azerbaijan.]()
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Children playing around Aliaga Vahid statue at Shirvanshakhs place in Baku, Azerbaijan.Getty Images![General view of Baku city.]()
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General view of Baku city.Getty Images![Souvenir shop in Baku, Azerbaijan.]()
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Souvenir shop in Baku, Azerbaijan.Getty Images![View of Shirvanshakhs place in Baku, Azerbaijan.]()
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View of Shirvanshakhs place in Baku, Azerbaijan.Getty Images![Nard players in Baku, Azerbaijan.]()
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Nard players in Baku, Azerbaijan.Getty Images![View of Shekhidler Khiyabani place in Baku, Azerbaijan.]()
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View of Shekhidler Khiyabani place in Baku, Azerbaijan.Getty Images![View of Baku city.]()
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View of Baku city.Getty Images![Mosque in front of the new building 'Flame" in Baku city.]()
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Mosque in front of the new building 'Flame" in Baku city.Getty Images![Yacht Club in Baku, Azerbaijan. Baku is among the top 10 party cities in the world, according to Lonely Planet magazine.]()
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Yacht Club in Baku, Azerbaijan. Baku is among the top 10 party cities in the world, according to Lonely Planet magazine.Getty Images![General view of Baku city on the Caspian Sea.]()
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General view of Baku city on the Caspian Sea.Getty Images![Fashion stores in Baku. As globalization swept in following the disintegration of the USSR, Azeris have embraced global fashion with a passionate vengeance.]()
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Fashion stores in Baku. As globalization swept in following the disintegration of the USSR, Azeris have embraced global fashion with a passionate vengeance.Getty Images![Streetlife in Baku, Azerbaijan. The New York Times reported that in 2005, after the first oil from Azerbaijan's 7-billion-barrel reserves started flowing through the $4 billion Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline to the West, Azerbaijan’s GDP mushroomed from $7 billion in 2000 to over $63 billion in 2011.]()
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Streetlife in Baku, Azerbaijan. The New York Times reported that in 2005, after the first oil from Azerbaijan's 7-billion-barrel reserves started flowing through the $4 billion Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline to the West, Azerbaijan’s GDP mushroomed from $7 billion in 2000 to over $63 billion in 2011.Getty Images![Streetlife in Baku, Azerbaijan. In a 2011 report on the country's fashion industry, The New York Times report: "Graft and corruption are the norm. Azerbaijan ranks 143 out of 182 countries on Transparency International’s perceived corruption index, with a score of 2.4 out of 10."]()
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Streetlife in Baku, Azerbaijan. In a 2011 report on the country's fashion industry, The New York Times report: "Graft and corruption are the norm. Azerbaijan ranks 143 out of 182 countries on Transparency International’s perceived corruption index, with a score of 2.4 out of 10."Getty Images![Streetlife in Baku. Among the most vibrant cities of the world founded on a wealth of oil and natural gas, Baku has a reputation for serious partying.]()
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Streetlife in Baku. Among the most vibrant cities of the world founded on a wealth of oil and natural gas, Baku has a reputation for serious partying.Getty Images![Streetlife in Baku, Azerbaijan. Summers are best for buying fresh fruit and vegetables.]()
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Streetlife in Baku, Azerbaijan. Summers are best for buying fresh fruit and vegetables.Getty Images![Souvenir shop in Baku. Don't forget to try the caviar. Baku is located on the Caspian Sea, home of the finest and fast-disappearing sturgeon.]()
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Souvenir shop in Baku. Don't forget to try the caviar. Baku is located on the Caspian Sea, home of the finest and fast-disappearing sturgeon.Getty Images
Baku, the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, is one of the most important tourist destinations in the Caucasus. Big hotel chains have a presence in the capital of a nation by the Caspian Sea that thrives on its wealth of crude oil, natural gas and naphtha. In 2011, Baku ranked at 48 on the list of the world's most expensive cities. Baku's Inner City has been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it has been rated by Lonely Planet among the top ten cities for urban nightlife.
Take a look inside Baku.
Photos: Getty Images
