This ornate 1762 palace building features vivid murals and dazzling coloured light streaming through 艧蓹产蓹办蓹 (stained-glass windows), making it 艦蓹ki鈥檚 foremost sight and one of the South Caucasus鈥 most iconic buildings. It was originally the 艦蓹ki Khan鈥檚 administrative building, just one of around 40 now-lost royal structures within the fortress compound.
You don't have to pay the entrance fee to enter the walled rose garden in which the palace is set behind two huge plane trees, planted in 1530. The facade combines silvered stalactite vaulting with strong geometric patterns in dark blue, turquoise and ochre. The petite interior is only one room deep, but lavished with intricate designs. Most are floral but in the central upper chamber you鈥檒l find heroic scenes of Haci 脟蓹l蓹bi鈥檚 1743 battle with Persian emperor Nader Shah complete with requisite swords, guns and severed heads. No photos are allowed inside.
