SHUSHA THE FLORENCE OF AZERBAIJAN

 

Located in the Karabakh region, Shusha has earned the nickname "Little Florence" due to its architectural richness, cultural heritage, and artistic significance. The city has hosted numerous artists, poets, and musicians, becoming a striking center for culture and art. Just as Florence historically excelled in art and culture, it has inspired Shusha to be recognized with this title. This mutual development in arts and culture has established a natural bond between the two cities.

Shusha is also notable for its multicultural structure, reflecting the influences of Russian, Turkish, and Persian cultures. This cultural diversity is evident in the city's architecture, especially in its mosques, which showcase elements from its own heritage. Notable structures like the Upper Govher Agha Mosque and the traditional houses and baths from the Karabakh Khanate period carry the traces of this diversity. In this city, intertwined with various cultures, one can be both surprised by the richness of traditions and find commonalities. With these features, Shusha stands out not just as a settlement but as an extraordinary cultural center, especially as a place where significant works in literature, painting, and music have emerged.

Looking at Shusha’s history, it was founded in the early 18th century by Panahali Khan, the Khan of Karabakh. In its early days, it was also referred to as "Panahabad" in honor of the Khan. Interestingly, Shusha was called "The Conservatory of the East" during that time and was also known by titles such as "Little Paris" and "The Transcaucasian Conservatory." Additionally, Shusha is known as the cradle of muqam, Azerbaijan’s traditional music, which has produced world-famous muqam artists. Despite the occupations in Karabakh and the numerous hardships Azerbaijan has faced throughout history, Shusha has managed to maintain its beauty and "quality" until today. While its short name may give an impression of a small town, Shusha is densely populated, with the Armenian population once constituting about half of its residents.

Furthermore, examining the famous inhabitants of Shusha reveals that the city has placed great importance not only on art but also on education and health. Notable figures include the famous folk poet Mirza Agha Rahim, playwright and politician Hashim Bey Vezirov, significant Azerbaijani cartoonist Elyar Azimzade, and artist Azad Emirov. Another surprising famous name is Süreyya Ağaoğlu, the first female lawyer in Turkey. These names illustrate Shusha's deep-rooted heritage in arts, education, and culture. It is also worth mentioning that Shusha is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Temporary List.

Lastly, I must emphasize that Shusha carries traces of our past and culture and is a shared treasure not only of Azerbaijan but of the entire Turkic world. With its rich culture and beauties, Shusha is a valuable heritage that we all should cherish. I hope that one day we will encounter this unique city, discovering its beauties and profound history, and better understand the importance of our cultural richness.

 

"Şuşa is the land where the ideal of a continuous Turkic world began to be spoken of, rather than just thought of."

–  Assoc. Prof. Dr. SERDAR YILMAZ

"Whoever takes Shusha, takes Karabakh."

"Şuşa’yı alan Karabağ’ı alır"

SOURCES

https://www.azerbaijans.com/content_1532_en.html

https://www.azerbaijans.com/content_1398_en.html

https://www.azerbaijans.com/content_410_en.html

https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep44867.6?searchText=shusha&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3Dshusha%26so%3Drel&ab_segments=0%2Fbasic_search_gsv2%2Fcontrol&refreqid=fastly-default%3A37b0466e157413ad65e914e5a9b876d2

https://shusha.gov.az/en/susa-trixi

https://report.az/en/karabakh/shusha-a-city-which-lives-in-heart-of-every-azerbaijani/

https://en.everybodywiki.com/Shusha_State_Historical_and_Architectural_Reserve

https://insightkarabakh.com/2020/10/31/how-was-the-capital-of-the-karabakh-khanate-shusha-panahabad-founded/

https://shusha.today/famous-people-of-shusha/

https://azerbaijantravel.com/shusha-azerbaijan-a-historical-gem-in-the-caucasus-mountains/

https://shusha2023.org/en/histories

https://akademikarastirma.org/susaya-neden-karabagin-kalbi-deniliyor/

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