Icherisheher, often translated as the Inner City or Old City, is Baku’s historic core on a hill beside the Caspian Sea. Its walls and compact street pattern make it feel distinct from the modern capital around it, yet this is not an archaeological enclosure separated from daily life. The State Historical-Architectural Reserve Administration describes Icherisheher as a living urban area with homes, businesses, cultural sites and visitor services. That everyday dimension matters: the district is a place to walk through respectfully, not a stage set built only for sightseeing.
UNESCO’s World Heritage property covers 21.5 hectares, with a 12-hectare buffer zone. Much of the defensive wall dates to the 12th century, and the property includes the Maiden Tower and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs. UNESCO inscribed the walled city in 2000 for its historic urban ensemble and architecture, which record the presence and influence of different cultures over time. The walls are not just a dramatic frame for photographs; they help define the historic boundary and explain how Baku’s old centre was organized.