take a journey throughAzerbaijan’s literary history
The National Museum of Azerbaijani Literature named after Nizami Ganjavi, located in the centre of Baku, is part of a large complex of charming architecture, from the statues adorning the facade to the magnificent statue of the great Nizami Ganjavi in front. The historic building in which it is located began as a one-storey caravanserai in the 1850s and became the famous Metropol Hotel during Baku’s first Oil Boom. Later, members of the government of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (1918-1920) lived and worked in it.
The museum’s exposition takes you on a fantastic journey through Azerbaijani literature, revealing the works of literary greats like Nasraddin Tusi, Shams Tabrizi, Zulfugar Shirvani, Molla Gasim Shirvani, with separate halls dedicated to Shah Ismail Khatai, Hasan bey Zardabi and Huseyn Javid. All of them are bound to interest visitors, as are some very rare exhibits including miniature manuscripts of classic divan literature, the handwriting of Fuzuli, an elegant embroidery by Khurshidbanu Natavan, chess board figures presented to her by Alexander Dumas, and manuscripts written by Mirza Fatali Akhundzade. In general, the museum showcases Azerbaijan’s greatest poets and writers dating back to the ancient Turkic epics.
For more information:
National Museum of Azerbaijani Literature
Address: 53 Istiglaliyyat Street, Baku
Tel: +99412 492 1864
http://nizamimuseum.az
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