Sheki, December 22, AZERTAC
As earlier reported, Azerbaijan's city of Sheki has been declared the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World in 2016. The decision was adopted at the 33rd session of the TURKSOY Permanent Council of Culture Ministers held in Mary, Turkmenistan in 2015.
A news conference dedicated to this occasion was held at the city’s “Sheki Palas” hotel to discuss preparatory activities in the months to come.
The conference was attended by TURKSOY Secretary General Dusen Kaseinov, the city top executives, employees of the Azerbaijan Ministry of Culture and Tourism, city public and media representatives.
The media representatives were highlighted the events to be arranged to worthily celebrate the role of Sheki as the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World in 2016.
The city of Sheki has long been a famous silk center and an important stop on the Great Silk Route. Since ancient times, Sheki has been famous for its silk, which has been used in the Middle East, Europe and India.
Sheki, located on the picturesque hillsides of the Caucasus Mountains in the background of snowy peaks is one of the country's main tourist destinations, hosting more than 100,000 tourists every year.
The city is a real natural wonder with its beautiful landscapes, mineral water springs, forests and rivers.
Beautiful Sheki can also be called the architectural reserve of the country, since the city has 84 historical and cultural monuments. Archaeological findings suggest that the city might be one of the oldest settlements in the Caucasus. Pieces dating 2,500 years were unearthed here.
