Sheki

Sheki, a charming and historic town set in the green foothills of the Greater Caucasus in northwestern Azerbaijan, was an important stop on the Silk Road and a centre of the silk trade, and its UNESCO-listed historic centre preserves much of that heritage. Its jewel is the Khan's Palace, a small but exquisite summer residence adorned with intricate frescoes and dazzling shebeke, the traditional coloured stained-glass windows made without nails or glue, alongside old caravanserais, a mosque and cobbled lanes amid a lush, mountainous setting.

What you actually see

• The Khan's Palace - the exquisite frescoed palace with its stained glass.
• The shebeke craft - the traditional coloured stained-glass windows.
• The caravanserai - the historic Silk Road inn, now a hotel.
• The mountain setting - the town amid the green Caucasus foothills.

When to go

May to October for the best weather in the mountain foothills, when the surroundings are green and lush; it is a scenic drive from Baku, best over an overnight to enjoy the town and its atmospheric caravanserai and cuisine.

Honest expectations

It is a few hours' drive from Baku through the countryside, so it is best as an overnight rather than a rushed day trip. The famous Khan's Palace is small, seen quickly, but genuinely exquisite, and photography inside is often restricted. Its appeal is the charming Silk Road heritage, the crafts, the local sweet halva and piti stew, and the green mountain setting, a lovely contrast to Baku.

Nearby

The village of Kish, the Caucasus mountains and the remote village of Khinalug are within reach.