Shamakhi is one of Azerbaijan’s most historic cities and the birthplace of legendary Azerbaijani poets such as Sabir and Nesimi. Invaders and earthquakes have left little in the way of an old town but the city’s Juma Mosque was one of the first to be founded in the Caucasus and, in rebuilt form, is truly splendid. And across the valley Yeddi Gumbaz houses the tombs of Shamakhi’s last independent rulers.

Located 22 kilometres north of Shamakhi’s city centre along a scenic road leading into the Caucasus Mountains, the settlement of Pirqulu is home to the largest astrophysical observatory in the Caucasus. Named after 13th-century astronomer Nasreddin Tusi, the observatory was established in the Soviet era when it was used to great effect to study the stars and secrets of the universe. While it continues to be at the forefront of Azerbaijani astrophysics today, there are also facilities for visitors: you can browse a small museum, admire the largest telescope in the region and even do some stargazing if visiting after dark.