Monuments – Republic of Azerbaijan

With its historical and cultural richness, the Ancient Gabala City occupies a special place in the ancient and medieval culture of Azerbaijan.

The ancient city remains are situated approximately 18 km southwest of Gabala district centre and span a considerable area, encompassing three significant historical and archaeological parts, i.e. Güllütala, Salbir and Gala. Gullütala is the oldest part of the city.

Ancient Gabala was the largest city in the Caucasus region during the 5^th century BC – 1^st century AD. It served as a hub for craftsmanship and trade. The location of the ancient city of Gabala on the Silk Road between East and West, the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea, and on the Eurasian global trade routes throughout its history, resulted in the transformation of the region into a trading hub of international importance.

In 1978, the Gabala State Historical-Artistic Reserve was established to study, protect and promote the ancient city. In 2014, the Gabala Archaeological Centre, which reflects the material culture of the ancient city of Gabala, was built and opened near the Reserve.

In 2024, Azerbaijan submitted a nomination proposal for the area where the Reserve is located, under the title of “Ancient Gabala City”, to be considered for inclusion in UNESCO's World Heritage List.

Bonus Trivia!

• The first written information about Gabala is recorded in the “Natural History” of the Roman scholar Pliny the Great from the 1^st century AD. After him, the Greek scientist Claudius Ptolemy mentions the city of Gabala in his work “Geography”.
• The oval buildings of Gabala are an example of ancient world architecture of universal value, rare in the Caucasus, and represent the development of urban planning in the region.

Sources: https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/6778/

Courtesy of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan

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