Flaming towers, carpet-mania and the world’s biggest Kentucky Fried Chicken: the delights of Baku await Arsenal and Chelsea supporters following their respective qualification for this year’s Europa League final.
The Azerbaijani capital, with its swirling blend of neo-Stalinism and oligarch-chic, proved a fascinating host of the inaugural European Games in 2015. Here, Press Association Sport singles out some of its many highlights.
THE FLAME TOWERS
Baku Nights cannot be imagined without Glorious Fairmont Baku, Flame Towers ?#fairmontbaku #fairmontmoments #flametowers #baku #azerbaijan #accorhotels #luxuryhotels #besthotels #luxurytraveller #luxurytravellers #nightphotography pic.twitter.com/vU8dfQCrAi
— Fairmont Baku, Flame Towers (@FairmontBaku) November 1, 2018
Azerbaijanis revere fire, and their obsession is no better emphasised than in the form of three huge skyscrapers which literally light up the skyline each night with moving images of flames and other neon vagaries. The skyscrapers – which incorporate hotels and office space – are completely plated with LED screens and their effect is impressive, if slightly OTT.
NATIONAL CARPET MUSEUM
On the occasion of #InternationalMuseumDay, here is #carpetmuseum in #Baku #Azerbaijan #azerbaijantourism #travel #museumday #museum #tour pic.twitter.com/Xf4owfrY3z
— Azerbaijan Tourism (@AzerbaijanTour) May 18, 2017
No trip to Baku would be complete without a visit to the National Carpet Museum: it’s even designed to look like a roll of carpet. You can try your hand at traditional carpet-weaving and, well, look at carpets. Once you’ve had enough, it’s a quick walk to the coffee bars on the windy waterfront, an ideal place to reflect on your new-found knowledge.
KFC
OLD TOWN MARKETS
GIANT FLAG
