Ali and Ninowalking tour of Baku
First published in Vienna in 1937, the novel Ali and Nino tells the story of a romance between an Azerbaijani nobleman (Ali) and a Georgian princess (Nino), set against a backdrop of major historical events: World War I, the Bolshevik Revolution, and the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. The novel is mainly set in Baku, but also moves to Shusha, Ganja, Tbilisi, Dagestan, and Iran, covering the period from 1909 to 1920. Besides being extremely beautiful and moving, it’s also a useful guide to the complex ethnic and cultural contrasts of the Caucasus in the early 20th century. Meanwhile, the mysterious identity of the book’s author, writing under the pseudonym Kurban Said, adds an extra layer of intrigue.
The tour takes you through the iconic locations described in the novel: the Old City, where Ali lived and which he admired, and the European part of Baku, where Nino resided. The program includes the State Philharmonic and its garden, the National Museum of History, the Opera and Ballet Theatre, as well as key buildings along Istiglaliyyat Street, such as the city’s executive authority, the Ismailiyya Palace, and the Manuscripts Institute. You will see where the novel’s plot unfolded, admire Baku’s architecture from the era of the first oil boom, and learn about the historical events that shaped Azerbaijan’s capital. The tour offers a unique opportunity to connect with the past of Azerbaijan’s capital, brought to life on the pages of a book that has captured the hearts of generations.
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