Once the richest oil city in the world, several decades of Soviet occupation left the capital of Azerbaijan leagues behind the competition. Now a new wave of oil money and development has fed Baku’s growth into one of the most excitingly developing cities on the globe. In this, the first English language guide to Baku in the world, Hg2 unveils a city on the up and straddling the true dividing line of East and West. Discover a richly diverse and cosmopolitan city, filled with Persian bazaars, Georgian gastronomy, Caucasian hospitality, stunning architecture, luxurious hotels and the UNESCO world heritage site walled old town. A short journey from Baku lie mud volcanoes, lush forests and desert plains rising into the glory of the Caucasus mountains, to say nothing of the photogenic marvel of the Caspian oil refineries. Where Europe collides with Asia and Persian roots have grown into European aspirations, Baku has developed into one of the world’s last true melting pots of ancient and modern, East and West.