You will find a rich heritage of Arts in the Caucasus ranging from the fine craft of carpet weaving to startling modern experiments in painting and theater. Petroglyphs beckon from cliffsides revealing the life of prehistoric man, while ancient churches carved into bedrock testify to ingenuity, spirituality and sheer love of beauty. Museums and galleries display collections of abstract or figurative art, with both traditional and modern influences.
In Baku, Azerbaijan, the newest addition to the arts and culture scene is the YARAT centre. Located in a renovated Soviet era building overlooking the Caspian Sea, it is now a locus for innovative arts in the Caucasus, Central Asia and other neighboring countries. If tradition is more to your taste check out the carpet museum—a striking, modern building that aecho texturally resembles a rolled up carpet, and housing a dizzying collection of gorgeous carpets along with exhibits explaining the history and craft of carpet making.
If you want to see how a museum can become part of the heartbeat of a city, visit the Cascade Complex and the Cafesjian Center for the Arts in Yerevan, capitol of Armenia. The late Mr. Cafesjian was determined to help his country get to its feet after the Soviet exit, and one of his great gifts was renovating this massive, neglected complex into a cultural center for sculptures, installations and rotating shows. It is also a favorite social hang out in Yerevan. From the huge to the intensely personal, a visit to the Parajanov museum showcases the extraordinary creativity and singularity of the Caucasus’ greatest pioneer of cinema, Sergei Parajanov. Going from being a darling of the Soviet film schools, he plummeted to persecution in prisons and labor camps, (even while being lauded by the European critics) but never stopped creating.
The Republic of Georgia has over 100 museums. The National Museum in Tbilisi has an exceptional collection of ancient gold jewelry a fabulous display of Georgia's ages-old tradition of fine metal work. Like Azerbaijan, Georgia has also made significant investment in cutting-edge architecture. The Tbilisi Public Service Hall is a stellar example of the architectural arts in the Caucasus, with its petal-like upper tiers and linked areas reflecting the elimination of formerly endless bureaucracy. The Peace Bridge and the Presidential Palace dome both use light and glass to create symbols of transparency and hope.
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It's been another year filled with fabulous clients, wonderful colleagues and the support of family and friends around the world as we navigate our way back to long awaited travel plans. We've been able to send our clients back to Uzbekistan, and it's always an honor to welcome guests to my homeland. Silk Road cities like Bukhara, Samarkand, and Khiva introduce our travelers to thousands of years of history, fascinating historic sites, amazing experiences, authentic cuisine, and unparalleled traditional hospitality.
This past year our escort guide Abdulaziz Isomov and I had the great pleasure of working with award-winning journalist and passionate traveler Sarah Khan from Condé Nast Traveler Magazine. Her family story guided our adventures seeking her ancestors' roots in Central Asia and discovering a part of the world many dream of. This is a must-read article, bound to inspire wanderlust in all of us! Come and find your way along the ancient Silk Road routes. Include Uzbekistan and Central Asia on your 2023 travel wish list with Silk Road Treasure Tours.