Azerbaijan's Gakh, Italy's Bormio become twin cities
By Nazrin Gadimova
Officials from Azerbaijan and Italy have signed an agreement to announce cities of Gakh and Bormio as sister cities.
Based on the agreement, inked by Head of Gakh Executive Authorities Musa Shakiliyev and Bormio's Mayor Giuseppe Occhi, the two cities will develop relations in cultural, humanitarian, scientific, art, educational, economic and social fields. Meanwhile the cities will exchange experiences in different fields.
Before signing the agreement the officials discussed a number of issues of mutual concern.
The signing ceremony held in Italy was attended by Musa Shakiliyev, Giuseppe Occhi, Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Italy Vagif Sadigov, MP and Head of the working group for Azerbaijan-Italy interparliamentary ties Azer Karimli, as well as officials of the Lombardy region and public figures.
Being situated in the north-west of Azerbaijan near the border with Georgia, Gakh has a rich nature. There are plenty of mountain rivers and waterfalls in the region. You can see bears, mountain-goats, wolves, wild cats, boars, jackals and others in the national park Ilisu located in the city.
Moreover, Gakh is located in a part of Azerbaijan where one can see a number of ancient Albanian temples - these are first churches in the Caucasus and some of the first churches in the world. There is a round in shape church in Gum village, a unique chapel - Gum basilica, ruins of buildings of 5-7 centuries, fortress Sirtgala (18 century). Also in Lekit village there is a complex of majestic temple buildings (5-6 centuries).
Bormio, located in the province of Sondrio, Lombardy region of the Alps in northern Italy, has a population of 4,200. In addition to modern skiing facilities, it is famous for several hot springs that provide hot spring water to spa baths at Bagni Vecchi, Bagni Nuovi and Terme di Bormio.
Due to its thermal baths, Bormio has long been a tourist destination. Members of the Roman aristocracy travelled to Bormio to enjoy warm baths in the mountainous scenery. Most of these thermal baths are still in use.
The city is centred around the historic Piazza Cavour and Via Roma, a historic main trading point on the route from Venice to Switzerland. Bormio retains its unique medieval town centre, attracting many tourists, mainly Italian, from Milan and other cities.
Earlier, Azerbaijan's Goychay and Italy's Valmontone had become twin cities.