Dear tourist!

You are being offered the unique opportunity to visit Azerbaijan one of the most beautiful places in the world, named the Eden on the Earth by one of the European scientists. Traveling is always a holiday, which is with you for a long time. And your holiday will be enhanced with the new knowledge, the esthetic pleasure of the sings seen, heard, felt. Beauty is an endless discovery and you are being offered to explore the uniqueness, originality of Azerbaijan’s culture and art, its customs, traditions and rituals. All of these and much more laying on the Azerbaijani carpets in front of you speak on the languages of architecture, music, painting, poetry… No matter how fast the previous centuries drove humanity forward, XXI century, came only three years ago, already dictates its unprecedented tempo. It seemed that humanity already has gone through all the levels of knowledge, but the thirst of adventures, traveling, exploration is not quenched. Rapid century of technological information gives us the knowledge of countries and cultures. But this is just knowledge. Mind and soul feel enlightened only while directly contacting culture and history of another country. And Azerbaijan calls the traveler to learn and feel it in full dynamical proximity. Offered tour is organized by the “Sheikh Sefi” society, which represents the Inter-Museum Center of Azerbaijan ICOM. “Sheikh Sefi” is the society representing the union of Azerbaijan’s capital “Museums of Baku”. “Sheikh Sefi”, during the tour, will be the guide who will help tourists in his travel in Azerbaijan. Of course, it is hard to imagine museum tourism without visiting the treasuries of the country museums. Today, museum tourism has modern social form with full internal and external structure. First of all this is a link connecting museum tourism with another tourism spheres and general tourism dimension. Azerbaijan, as other countries with ancient, rich history, has a lot of museums. They are: “Shirvanshahs’ Palace” museum reservation, museum of history, art, music culture, literature, memorial and ethnographical museums. State Museum of Azerbaijan Carpet and Applied Art the only museum of this kind in the world, has a special place among them. There are carpets from different regions of Azerbaijan, representing seven art schools of carpet weaving. They are Guba, Baku, Shirvan, Ganja, Gazah, Karabakh, Tebriz and modern carpet art. “Sheikh Sefi” society is honored to offer you one of the tours on Azerbaijan tour “Carpet treasures of Azerbaijan”. Tour is estimated to last for three days. Its special future is not just acquaintaning with the art of carpet, but also with thoroughly balanced harmony of carpet with surrounding world. Carpet plays a huge role in the culture, life of Azerbaijan; it is the part of the soul of those who made it, the love of everyone who owns it. We hope that after visiting Azerbaijan in the group (or privately) everyone will take back the part of our souls, which are always open for quests.

The First Day

Visit of Museum of Azerbaijani Carpet. All of the variety of Azerbaijan non-piled carpets and related items, carpets with nap is gathered in the museum’s exposition. The oldest carpet is dated from XVII century. Here, you not only can get acquainted with the types of carpets but also can weave your first little carpet. In museum you will also see the items of folk-applied art jewelry, weapons, national clothes etc., including some items that are dated from the Bronze Age (III-II thousand of years B.C.). Here tourist can feel himself a nomad in national clothes in the museum tent alachig; resting on traditional couch he or she can taste national dishes and take a picture like that. This is the East itself! In museum shop you will be able to buy souvenirs, CD’s, books, carpet items. Visit of the medieval town Icheri Sheher the architectural gem in the crown of Azerbaijan masonry, is planned in the second half of the day. There are Castle walls, Maiden’s Tower, Shirvanshahs’ Palace in the Inner town “Icheri Sheher”. The spirit of Icheri Sheher itself is full of the presence, patterns of Azerbaijani carpet. There are lots of little stores where one can buy carpets or carpet items. The day will end at the art gallery “Boyuk Gala, 19” with the fashion show of Sabina Hussein’s theatre, which combines ultrafashionable garments and accessories with carpet elements. In the gallery a dinner of traditional cuisine will be offered to guests they can enjoy it on the carpets in the medieval surroundings, with the music played on the ancient instruments.

The Second Day

The tour will start from visiting the carpet weaving workshop. Here tourists can the process of the carpet’s birth starting from the basic coloring of the weaves with natural colors; Process of creating non-piled carpets vernis, sumakhs, djedjms, hourjins using ancient technologies and peculiarities of carpet weaving in different regions will be demonstrated. Tourist will see how old carpets are being restored, straightened, cleaned. Workshop, together with “Sheikh Sefi” gives tourist absolutely unique opportunity. This is the purchase of the carpet and related items done with any sketch (including your own), modern or ancient or of any school. Certificate is immediately given, items is send to the tourists address anywhere in the world with the payment after delivery and two-year warranty of return and exchange. The second half of the day includes a trip through the village Mamedli to the temple of the ire worshippers “Ateshgyah” where the eternal fire has been burning for the centuries. Tongues of this flame are exactly like “buta” the main pattern of Azerbaijan carpet. The day will end with the dinner out of town with the participation of popular Azerbaijani singers.

The Third Day

Tourists are being acquainted with the activities, traditions, customs connected with the Azerbaijan carpet (weddings, engagements, elder’s anniversaries, family and folk holidays etc.), they will visit houses where they can see everyday life of the carpet makers, technique of coloring threads, the process of weaving, and learn the nuances of symbols weaving of carpet to the groom and his relatives by the bridge, fortune telling with the carpets4 they will be able to listen songs sung during carpet weaving and see other customs connected with weaving various types of carpets. Trip will end with the horse ride to the nomadic village, where for the centuries carpets play most significant part in life of their inhabitants (these trips are available in spring and summer). Two kinds of services are being offered here: (a) trip to the Apsheron villages Gobu and Hokmali (40 km. from Baku); (b) trip to such regions of Azerbaijan as Shamakhi and Guba (120 and 150 km. from Baku), Lahidj (250 km.). After returning to Baku tourist is invited to the “Mogham” folk theatre, located in the building of Karavansaray dated by XVII century. Here he or she will see performances “Bach and Duma”, “Seven Moghams” with dances. Performances will clearly demonstrate the ornamental sound movement of moghams together with ornamental structure of carpet. Also another interesting performance dedicated to Azerbaijani wedding will be demonstrated national carpets play very important role in wedding customs. Evening will end with the dinner in Karavansaray’s restaurant.

The Fourth Day

Visit to the artist’s workshop… This is the art gallery named after great scientist, artist and carpet maker Lyatif Kerimov. You can order and purchase any carpet or related item done with his drawings and sketches. Acquaintance with the sightseeing places of Baku. In the second half of the day Museum of Azerbaijani Carpet invites you again. Here, in relaxed atmosphere with food and refreshments offered, guests will watch the performance about national holidays, legends, myths, folklore presented by “Garavelli” folk satiric theatre.

How much?

Sheikh Sefi Society