The Maiden's Tower is the most recognised monument in the city — a thick, eight-storey cylinder of grey stone that once sat at the water's edge before the Caspian retreated. Its construction is usually dated to the twelfth century, though sections of the lower walls may be older. From the roof you get the best panorama of the Old City rooftops, the Flame Towers on the ridge above, and the long curve of the boulevard along the bay.
The interior has been turned into a museum with each floor covering a different theme — the building's many proposed functions, the legends, the archaeology of Baku. The climb up the narrow stone staircase is steep, and the upper floors can be very hot in summer.