DAY 2
The largest museum in Baku is a former mansion of the great philanthropist, Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev. In the early life of Zeynalabdin Taghiyev he learned masonry at the age of 7 to support his family and sister. By mid-1873, he purchased a land near the oil booming town with the Sarkis brothers to discover oil. However, the result was disappointing. His partners then sold their shares to him. Not long after, oil started gushing from one of the wells in 1877 making Taghiyev one of the richest men in Russian Empire. He used his wealth to pay for education fee, helped schools, built water line from Quba to Baku and the mil working in electricity in Mardakan. His greatest contribution was engaging girls in education (Source: Mehriban Aliyeva, n.d.).
The museum has restored his rooms, belongings and furnitures by specialists from Azerbaijan and Italy, based on the family photo-album they managed to restore the previous interior of the rooms. This memorial museum consists of 1) the Taghiyev’s study, 2) Oriental Hall, 3) a library 4) a billiard room, 5) a dining room, 6) a monitored room, 7) a boudoir, 8) a bedroom, 9) a dressing room.
Let’s have a look at it.
The photograph of his room ^
The top right photo is their Air ventilation (aircon), found it interesting that it’s coming from the floor.
Chanced upon this📍 Festival @Boyuk Qala while walking around the red city.
📍 The Maiden Tower ^
Chilled at the nearby cafe and the atmosphere was so calm and quiet.
📍 Fountains Square
That concludes my Day 2 at Baku (visiting the museum and exploring the red city). Moving on to Day 3 ~