Gabrovo residents mesmerized by beauty of Sheki

/By Amina Nazarli - AzerNews /

The beauty of the picturesque and mountain region of Sheki fascinated residents of the Bulgarian town of Gabrovo, who were able to attend a cultural event dedicated to the city.

Organized by the Azerbaijani embassy in Bulgaria, the ceremony presented a photo exhibition featuring Sheki’s ancient monuments and picturesque nature.

The event was attended by representatives of the diplomatic missions of foreign countries in Bulgaria, as well as well-known political and public figures.

Sheki and Gabrovo became sister cities in 2004, and a document on ties between the two cities was signed as part of a visit of Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov to Azerbaijan.

Gabrovo’s Mayor Tanya Hristova addressed the ceremony, highlighting the importance of the event in developing relations between the two countries.

“Gabrovo and Sheki are very similar thanks to their beauty of nature, friendly people and, their world-famous sense of humor. The frequent mutual visits, culture and art presentations will contribute to further friendship between our peoples. And all these will lead to strengthening economic ties between the two cities,” she said.

The governor of the city, Nikolay Sirakov, talked about the successful development of relations between Bulgaria and Azerbaijan and expressed confidence that such events will raise relations to a higher level.

Bulgarian Vice President Margarita Popova sent a message to Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to the country, Emil Kerimov, Gabrovo’s Mayor and the guests. She stressed the interest of the country's leadership in the development of relations with Azerbaijan in all spheres.

Popova emphasized the friendly relations between the two countries, which, she said, promotes the expansion of ties between the two nations. “Such events bring together our peoples,” she noted in the message.

Azerbaijan and Bulgaria have historically had good relations that, in recent years, have reached a new level, said the Azerbaijani ambassador to Bulgaria.

“The two countries are interested in developing cooperation in all fields. Cooperation in the cultural sphere brings together our peoples, opens up new possibilities for cooperation in other areas such as tourism, economy, etc.,” Kerimov said.

This is the first event for the two sister cities, he said.

He said both cities are the cultural centers of their countries, they have rich tourism potential and economic development.

At the event, a film about the beauty of Sheki was screened. The film displays tourism opportunities of the ancient city, the majestic Palace of Sheki Khans built in the XVIII century, as well as the fortress, numerous caravanserais, Juma Mosque, and many other attractions.

The guests had the chance to taste delicious Sheki khalva and enjoy fragrant Azerbaijani wines.

Sheki is one of the most ancient and historical cities in Azerbaijan. It is one of the country's main tourist destinations. Every year more than 100,000 tourists visit the city. There are 84 historical and cultural monuments in Sheki.

The city is a real natural wonder with its beautiful landscapes, mineral water springs, forests and rivers. Archaeological findings suggest that the city might be one of the oldest settlements in the Caucasus. Artifacts dating back 2,500 years have been unearthed here.