Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, founder and head of the IDEA Public Union Leyla Aliyeva and Head of the Baku Media Center Arzu Aliyeva have participated in the opening of several historical and architectural monuments following their restoration in the "Yukhari Bash" National Historical-Architectural Reserve in Sheki.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that Leyla Aliyeva and Arzu Aliyeva familiarized themselves with the conditions created at the Sheki History and Local Lore Museum and the Shebeke Workshop and Training Center. It was noted that the restoration and conservation works serve to protect historical heritage, sustain the ancient craftsmanship traditions of Sheki, and further enhance the city's tourism potential.
At the Sheki History and Local Lore Museum, the officials viewed exhibits reflecting the region's history, culture, ethnography, traditional crafts, and culinary heritage. The museum houses more than 3,000 artifacts of material and cultural value, 1,826 of which are presented in the exhibition halls. It was emphasized that restoration and conservation works on other historical monuments within the "Yukhari Bash" National Historical-Architectural Reserve will continue in stages.
Sheki, one of Azerbaijan's oldest cities, is a major cultural hub known for its unique architecture and traditional crafts. The "Yukhari Bash" reserve, which includes the iconic Palace of Sheki Khans, is a site of global significance, with the historic center of Sheki being inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. These restoration projects are part of a broader state strategy to protect national monuments and promote Azerbaijan as a key destination for cultural tourism.
During the visit, Leyla Aliyeva and Arzu Aliyeva also inspected the Shebeke Workshop and Training Center, which includes an exhibition hall, a workshop, and training rooms dedicated to the art of shebeke. They met with renowned shebeke master Tofiq Rasulov and his students, participating in the process of preparing shebeke samples. They expressed their gratitude to Tofiq Rasulov for his work in preserving this ancient Azerbaijani art form and passing it on to future generations, wishing the master and his students success. Later, Leyla Aliyeva and Arzu Aliyeva took part in the preparation of traditional sweets and visited the ABAD Ceramics Center.
