The city’s historical centre sheds light on Baku’s turbulent past, from its beginnings as a Silk Road port city to its oil boom and Soviet era. The ancient city contains a labyrinth of lanes, mosques, historical structures, and fortress remnants, including the Maiden Tower and Palace of the Shirvanshahs, which are now recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The city is much more than just a historical site; it is home to a thriving arts and cultural scene as well as a humming contemporary business community.