Why Nakhchivan
Nakhchivan is the capital and largest city of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, an exclave of Azerbaijan located 450 kilometers west of Baku. Positioned along the foothills of the Zangezur Mountains on the right bank of the Nakhchivan River, the municipality rests at an elevation of nearly 1,000 meters above sea level. Its administrative area includes the main urban center alongside the settlement of Əliabad and several surrounding villages, such as Başbaşı, Bulqan, and Daşduz. The region experiences a continental semi-arid climate marked by short, cold, and snowy winters alongside long, dry, and extremely hot summers. Reforestation efforts have been undertaken along the riverbanks to mitigate soil erosion and flooding caused by reduced tree cover.
First documented in Ptolemy's geography around 150 AD under the name Naxuana, the city possesses a deep history intertwined with regional lore, including ancient traditions connecting it to Noah's Ark. Over the centuries, rule over the settlement changed hands repeatedly among major regional powers, including the Sasanians, Arabs, Bagratid Armenia, the Kingdom of Georgia, the Mongol Empire, Timurids, Ottomans, and Safavid Persia. After functioning as the center of the Nakhichevan Khanate, it was annexed by the Russian Empire in 1828. Following periods of foreign military occupation and administrative reconfigurations in the early 20th century, it ultimately developed as an autonomous capital within Azerbaijan.
Visitors to Nakhchivan can explore a remarkable collection of architectural monuments and cultural institutions. A major landmark is the restored 12th-century Momine Khatun Mausoleum, a ten-sided structure decorated with complex geometric patterns, Kufic script, and turquoise glazed bricks. Other notable historical sites include the octagonal tomb of Yusuf Ibn Kuseir, the white marble mausoleum and house museum of writer Hussein Javid, and the Juma Mosque featuring its signature large dome. The city also hosts the Heydar Aliyev Palace, an open-air museum, and dedicated institutions for regional history and carpet weaving. Nearby, the natural cave sanctuary of Ashabi-Kahf, located between the Ilandag and Nahajir mountains, serves as a historic pilgrimage destination.
Historically recognized for traditional trade, shoemaking, and handicraft industries, the modern local economy is driven by infrastructure projects, expanded trade facilities, and new production sectors such as carpet manufacturing, salt processing, and food production. The regional culinary tradition places high emphasis on diverse breads, ranging from thick galin and ash-baked komba to paper-thin tendir lavash baked on a saj or inside a traditional oven. Flatbreads are routinely rolled into durmek sandwiches containing cheese, butter, herbs, or jam, while local festive meals feature signature specialties like shirin plov, a sweet rice dish cooked with mutton, dried fruits, and nuts.
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