Azernews.Az

By Nazrin Gadimova

Baku is an astonishing city of contrasts, where the antiquity comes hand in hand with modernity, where you can find an old house in front of a skyscraper, impressive with its large size and stunning architecture, or accidentally discover that the house that you have been familiar with for so long has celebrated its one-hundredth anniversary, but still amazes with its majestic appearance.

Many people living in Baku are not even aware of the richness and heritage that they were bequeathed by the past centuries. Rushing to work and home everyday, they often do not even raise their heads to look up and appreciate the beauty of the architectural ensemble of the old houses and their value.

Every stone in Baku holds different stories, each house carries the mark of ancient times; those times passed long ago, but the memory of them are engraved in the majestic buildings, which can tell stories about strong friendship and betrayal, mad love and bitter hostility, or life and death.

These houses were usually owned by wealthy people, Baku's millionaires of the last century, rich and famous people who unfortunately lost all their property in a flash.

Such houses could also serve as apartment houses, bringing their owner fabulous profits. The fate of these people is very tragic; many of them left their hometown at times of trouble, their tracks lost in Iran, Turkey, and Europe, while others remained in Baku, although fate was no less cruel to them - most of them suffered until the end of their days.

Baku's joining to the Russian Empire in 1806 marked the beginning of a new historical stage in the development of the city's architecture, and the city's appearance started to change quickly after it was assigned to it provincial status in 1859. Separate buildings in varying compositional interpretation depending on the tastes of the customer or the project's author began to appear in city squares. The luxury of these private houses was usually prompted by the customer's to highlight and advantageously emphasize their architectural features before his rich friends or enemies.

The influence of the Baku's oil on the region's economy, the attraction of the foreign capital, and the rapid growth of the population caused urgency in building houses outside the walls of the Old City.

All the architectural pearls of Baku are situated right in the center of the city; one of these pearls is Mukhtarov Palace - a building in the central part of the Istiglaliyyat Street.

Murtuza Mukhtarov, a millionaire, inventor, and oilman like many others Baku millionaires, worked his way up from a simple worker to an oil magnate.

Going to Europe with his beloved wife Lisa Khanum, his attention was drawn to the architecture of Venice. After his trip, Mukhtarov decided to build a palace for Lisa in the Venetian style in Baku.

The palace was designed and built by famous Polish architect and author of multiple architectural projects in Baku Józef Plośko in the style of French Gothic architecture.

When the palace was finished, Lisa was deeply impressed with such a royal gift. Each column, window, door, and element of the architectural composition was a true work of art.

In 1914, the Mukhtarovs' Palace became the residence of the first Female Moslem Philanthropic Society founded by Liza. Together with her husband, she offered many of these girls financial support so that they could continue their education in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

But it was not all plain sailing in their lives. A bloody revolution broke out in 1917 and many millionaires began to emigrate from the country.

Mukhtarov was urged to leave Azerbaijan, but he remained adamant; he was not afraid of anyone! He sent his family out of the city and stayed at home fearing nothing. One day the soldiers of the Red Army entered his courtyard in order to arrest Mukhtarov. Hearing the noises, the millionaire went to the balcony and saw the intruders. Indignant at such impudence, he asked them how they dared enter a courtyard of his luxurious house riding a horse. His answer was abusive language, and without losing self-control, Murtuza pulled a revolver out and shot the invaders, leaving the last bullet for himself.

Mukhtarov Palace remained in its place. It is still a great building, keeping the same majesty and bringing happiness to many lovers, because it is the Wedding Palace. The Palace became a cult place for honeymooners because of the touching love story of the oil magnate and his wife.