AZERTAC's "If I were a tourist" feature: The next destination is the Shamakhi Juma Mosque.
Nestled at the foot of the Greater Caucasus, Shamakhi is a true treasure trove for history and culture lovers. One of the most magnificent legacies left behind in this ancient land is the Shamakhi Juma Mosque – one of the oldest mosques in the Caucasus and a valuable monument of the Islamic world. Here, past and future, faith and art are intertwined.
Built in 743, this sacred site has survived numerous earthquakes and historical trials to this day. Although damaged by earthquakes in 1859 and 1902, it has been restored and reopened.
In 1918, the terrible massacre committed by Armenian Dashnak groups claimed the lives of thousands of innocent people here. The mosque is a silent witness to this harsh event...
As a result of measures taken by National Leader Heydar Aliyev in 1980 and President Ilham Aliyev in 2009, this religious monument recovered its authentic splendor. Following the restoration in 2013, the mosque was reopened to the public both as a historical monument and a venue of pilgrimage and culture.
The "Address of Tolerance: Azerbaijan" project, spearheaded by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, revived the monument, a pearl of Azerbaijani-Eastern architecture.
The domes of the mosque are adorned with national patterns that contribute to their aesthetic appeal. The 36-meter minarets erected on both sides further enhance the grandeur of this temple. Visitors can see the traces of ancient madrasas and cells here and witness the living traces of religious and scientific heritage.
The Shamakhi Juma Mosque not only serves as a place of worship, it is also a cultural hub that embodies the spirit of the Azerbaijani people, their historical endurance, architectural aesthetics, and religious tolerance.
Without hesitation, include this magnificent site in your travel plans. If I were a tourist, I would not only visit this mosque once, I would visit it again every time I come across it, because the Shamakhi Juma Mosque is not just a structure, it is a hub of culture, resistance, and spirituality.
