Azernews.Az

By Amina Nazarli

Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku continues to host “From the regions to the capital” festival, which aims to promote country’s regions among nationals and foreign tourists, highlighting the country’s rich culture and traditions.

This time, the audience familiarized themselves with one of country’s most picturesque corners - Ismayilli.

The event co-organized by the Baku Culture and Tourism Department and the Ismayilli Culture and Tourism Department was held in the Azerbaijan State Youth Theater on June 2.

Guests learned a lot thanks to the exposition which featured the region's rich culture, folk art traditions and cuisine.They tasted delicious samples of regional cuisine, as well as fruits and sweets.

Abulfaz Garayev, the culture and tourism minister also attended the event.

Addressing the event, the minister underlined the fact that the government has paid great attention to the regions’ socio-economic development and worked to restore Azerbaijan's ancient heritage, including monuments and reserves.

The event’s guests were also kept abreast with the work, projects and events implemented in Ismayilli, as well as the achievements made in the economic and tourism sectors, as well as culture and art.

Following the event, a concert program of regional folk groups and musicians amused the guests.

The Ismayilli region located north of the country was once part of Caucasian Albania - IV c. B.C. Here, on top of the highest mountain lay the ruins of a medieval fortress.

Alongside Azerbaijanis there are other nations and ethnic groups living in the area: Lezgins, Russians (malakans), Jews, lahyıch and hapyts, the descendants of ancient Albans.

Folk art traditions are very strong in this region. In villages like Galajig, Tezekend and others people are still engaged in carpet-making.

On the banks of Girdmanchay, a name which has been known since the VII century, at 1200 m above sea level, lies the village of Lahij. This small mountainous town is one of Azerbaijan's most famous craft centers.

The region is very interesting for tourists. Both the Maiden Tower and Shirinsu have become favorites among picnic lovers, eco-tourism enthusiasts and trekkers.

The Basgal village was widely known here as a center of handicrafts and sericulture in the middle ages. To this day, the traditional female headscarf - Kelagayi, which is included in the UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity has been manufactured in this village.

Ismayilli is also a center of wine production in Azerbaijan, which of course put the region on the map of wine tourism. For example guests can stay in the complex Shato Monolit – a full cycle winery that includes all processes: from growing grapes to bottling, in keeping with the French chateau (castle).

Because Ismayilli has a very rich wildlife, hunting tourism has also prospered here. Forests in the area are inhabited by deers, mountain goats, wild boars, bears, wolves, foxes, hares and other animals.

Hunting and fishing licenses are issued by the Office of Environment and Natural Resources of Ismayilli region.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

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