National Museum of History of Azerbaijan, Baku

Explore Azerbaijan's vast history and cultural heritage at the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan. This site represents the largest museum in the country, set in the Italian Renaissance-style mansion of the former oil magnate Taghiyev. Set up in 1920 by the Bolsheviks, the museum documents the region's complex and interwoven past through more than 2,000 well-presented exhibits. Ceramics, intricate metalwork, weapons, and ornate textiles, pre-historic burial mounds, and ancient stone carvings are housed in two large ballrooms, one in oriental and the other occidental style. The museum's second floor details Taghiyev's life through restored personal quarters with carefully restored fin-de-siècle style rooms. Due to the size and variety of the collection, consider getting a tour guide. To visit National Museum of History of Azerbaijan on your trip to Baku, use our Baku vacation planner.