Sheki

Sheki is a historic town in north-western Azerbaijan at the foot of the Caucasus, once a stop on the old Silk Road. Its historic centre and the Khan's Palace were inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2019.

Its best-known monument is the Palace of the Sheki Khans, built in the late 18th century as the khans' summer residence. Its windows are filled with shebeke, fine wooden lattices set with pieces of coloured glass, and its inner walls are covered in bright paintings.

The old town has stone caravanserais with wide courtyards, craft and silk shops, and the shops of Sheki halva, thin layers of pastry with walnut, honey and saffron, the town's speciality.

Sheki is about five hours from Baku and an hour and a half from Gabala, so the two are usually visited together. It is best from April to October.