center for carpet-weaving and embroidery, souvenir shop, audio-visual presentation hall, etc.
Spacious exhibition capacities of sculptures and carpets also include sizeable outdoor areas.
The Heydar Aliyev museums and museum centers
Following the Foundation’s initiative, a set of museums and museum centers dedicated to
Azerbaijan’s national leader Heydar Aliyev were established in numerous urban and rural
centers of Azerbaijan. The museums and museum centers furnished with state-of-the-art facilities
present information on Azerbaijan’s modern history and rich cultural legacy.
In the meantime, the centers in question offer conference halls and other capacities for
holding various conferences and symposia workshops, round tables, etc. Photo exhibitions and
show-rooms offer trailers dedicated to Heydar Aliyev’s activities as a statesman and politician
that play an exceptional role in conveying his legacy to younger generations. Besides this, the
centers offer study groups in chess, computers, carpet-weaving, figurative and applied arts and
sculpture for the youth.
Qala Archaeology and Ethnography Museum Complex, Qala Ethnic-Ecological Center and
Qala Antiques Museum
In 2008, an open air Archaeology and Ethnography Museum Center was founded with a
view of providing a better protection of relics and monuments at the Qala State History and
Ethnography Reserve and its further enrichment by the archaeological finds excavated in the
Absheron Peninsula. Along with the conservation and protection of Azerbaijan’s historic past,
this projects aims at further promotion of tourism in Azerbaijan and turning the country into a
recognized tourist hub. The Museum Center encompasses the rock carvings dating back to the
period of the 3-2
nd
millennia BC discovered in the Absheron Peninsula, the tambourine stone
(
gavaldash), ceramic works, home appliances, adornments, arms, coins, conserved remnants of
ancient residential premises and other relics. The Foundation has published a booklet based on
the museum complex.
Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences and Ethnography Institution held excavations at
the area with the initiative of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation during 2010-2011. Various findings
representing 14-15
th
centuries, as well as Bronze Area were discovered during the excavations.
These findings include rock settlements, carvings, ancient foundations and wall remains, 2
underground roads to the Caspian Sea and Baku city (10-14
th
, 10-15
th
centuries), clay oven
(
tandir) of 18
th
century. All findings are demonstrated at the Qala Museum Complex.
With the assistance of the Qala Information Center created within the museum complex,
guests and tourists can easily get information about the museums in the area, as well as hire
electro-buses and bicycles.
The Ethnic-Ecological Center intended basically for children and youths and the Qala
Antiques Museum were inaugurated in Qala Settlement in September 2011. Constructed under