Conical dome
Red-tiled roof.
Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Grandmaster — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Rüfət Həsənli — CC BY 4.0 · Interfase — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Rəcəb Yaxşı — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Interfase — CC BY-SA 4.0 · John Deckinga — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Matti Blume — CC BY-SA 4.0
An old stone church in the mountain village of Kish, about five kilometres north of Shaki, with a cylindrical drum topped by a conical red-tiled roof, set among green orchards ringed by mountains. It is one of the oldest surviving churches in the area and now houses a small museum. An old tradition says a disciple of the apostles built a church here in the first century, but archaeological research carried out in 2000 to 2003, in a joint project funded by Norway, showed that the present building dates from around the twelfth century and stands on a place of worship some five thousand years old. Scholars disagree about which Christian community first built it. The church was restored in the same project, and the Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl took a close interest in it; a monument to him stands nearby. Finds from the excavations are displayed inside, including old graves beneath a glass floor. Tickets are about 4 AZN per visitor guides. The road up to the village is narrow and steep, so a taxi from Shaki is easiest, and the quiet village is pleasant to stroll after the visit.
Red-tiled roof.
Excavation finds.
The Norwegian explorer.
Kish village, about five kilometres north of Shaki
By taxi from Shaki in about a quarter of an hour, as the road is steep and narrow; it pairs well with the Khans' Palace in half a day.