A jubilee event of the 25th anniversary of the inscription of Icherisheher, together with the Maiden Tower and the Shirvanshahs’ Palace Complex, on UNESCO’s World Heritage List was held in Baku.

Addressing the event, host Rahib Azeri emphasized that Icherisheher is one of the most striking examples of the work in the field of preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of Azerbaijan.

Rufat Mahmud, Chairman of the Board of the “Icherisheher” State Historical-Architectural Reserve Administration, noted that December 2 marks the 25th anniversary of the inscription of this unique heritage site marks on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

“National Leader Heydar Aliyev’s leadership secured Icherisheher’s Place on UNESCO World Heritage List. Today, the preservation and development of Icherisheher continues consistently under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, and with the attention and care of First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva,” Chairman of the Board Rufat Mahmud added.

Azerbaijan’s Deputy Minister of Culture Saadat Yusifova underscored that thanks to the strategy implemented under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan today is recognized as one of the most active and influential countries within UNESCO.

“The number of Azerbaijan’s nominated sites within UNESCO is increasing. Currently, examples of the country's tangible cultural heritage are represented on the World Heritage List, while mugham, ashug art, carpet weaving, the Novruz holiday and other elements are represented on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In total, 24 heritage examples of Azerbaijan have been registered in these lists,” Saadat Yusifova said.

Other speakers of the event included Sabina Hajiyeva, Head of the State Service for the Protection, Development and Restoration of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture; Simone Giometti, Secretary General of the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation; Second Secretary of the Azerbaijan National Commission for UNESCO Mustafa Shabanov.

The event continued with a concert program and concluded with a congratulatory video prepared for the 25th anniversary of the remarkable occasion.

Icherisheher, the historical core of Baku, is distinguished by its rich cultural heritage, unique urban structure and rare architectural examples formed over millennia. Located on the shores of the Caspian Sea, this ancient residential area covering an area of 22 hectares is one of the few unique examples of medieval urban culture in Azerbaijan that has been preserved up today.

Historical sources and archaeological research show that settlements have existed in the Old City since the Bronze Age. The street network formed over the centuries, the planning structure surrounded by fortress walls, as well as the consideration of the maritime factor in the development of urban planning have made Old City an example of highly developed urban planning art. Maiden's Tower, the Shirvanshahs Palace Complex, fortress walls, mosques, caravanserais and residential houses constitute the architectural integrity of this historical place.