Lithuanian PM explores UNESCO-listed Icherisheher on official trip to Baku PHOTO

Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė has toured Baku’s historic Old City during an official visit to Azerbaijan, receiving a guided introduction to the capital’s key cultural landmarks.

The Lithuanian leader visited the UNESCO-listed Old City of Baku, known as Icherisheher, where she was briefed on ongoing restoration, conservation and urban improvement works, Caliber.Az reports.

Officials highlighted that the area preserves a wide range of architectural monuments spanning several centuries.

During the visit, Ruginienė also toured the iconic Maiden Tower. She was informed about its historical development, with authorities noting that the cylindrical structure, approximately 28 metres high and 16–16.5 metres in diameter, was originally built in antiquity and later restored in the 12th century. The monument remains one of the most recognisable symbols of Baku’s historic skyline.

The delegation then visited the 15th-century Bukhara Caravanserai, located along ancient trade routes and historically used as a resting place for Central Asian merchants. Officials said the site has been extensively restored as part of a wider preservation programme implemented under a presidential directive, with work focused on maintaining both its architectural and engineering integrity.

Ruginienė was also shown areas where traditional crafts are produced, with visitors able to observe artisans at work and purchase locally made souvenirs. During the walk through the Old City, she was offered traditional tandir bread.

The visit concluded at the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, a UNESCO-recognised medieval architectural complex situated on one of the highest points within Icherisheher. Built in the early 15th century, the complex remains a prominent example of medieval Islamic architecture and continues to dominate the historic cityscape visible from across Baku and the Caspian coast.