Azerbaijan–Italy relations
Encyclopedia
Azerbaijani–Italian relations have lasted for centuries and today remains strong. Azerbaijan has an embassy in Rome
. Italy has an embassy in Baku
. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe
and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
.
testifies that the Roman legions crossed through Azerbaijan in the old times. In 75 AD, XII Fulminata was in Caucasus
, where Emperor Vespasian
had sent the legion to support the allied kingdoms of Iberia
(Georgia
) and Caucasian Albania
(Azerbaijan
). Even though Roman Empire controlled Azerbaijan as a vassal state
, Azerbaijan, unlike Armenia
and Iberia didn't turn out to be as an actual part of Roman Empire
and protected its independence. Caucasian Albania also signed signed a peace treaty with Roman Republic as Strabo
attested. Sara Ashurbeyli's book about history of Baku brings a possibility of settlement of Ramana
was that possibly founded by the Roman troops of Lucius Julius Maximus from Legio XII Fulminata in circa 84-96 AD and derives its name from the Latin
Romana.
Roman Empire has left a notable influence on Azerbaijan. Christianity
remains as one of them. According to Strabo
, who travelled to the region in the 1st century B.C., the local tribes practised polytheism
but Christianity have entered into Caucasian Albania in early 1st century. In 4th century Eastern Roman Empire have accepted Christianity as a state religion, but Christianity didn't spread among nation that strongly. During Arab invasions Azerbaijani people had to accept Islam
because polytheist and Zoroastrian religious views were a sin according to Islamic rule but Christian minority were able to protect their belief (monotheist views are respected among Muslims) and still certain part of Azerbaijan remains as Christian. Despite of Islamisation of Azerbaijan, the oldest Christian church in the Caucasus, the Albanian Church founded by the apostle Yelisey in Sheki, near Kish as well as the Gandzasar
, Targmanchats
and Amaras
monasteries in Karabagh
have reached our times in relative good shape. Christianity were not the only thing out of a huge cultural legacy Rome left to Azerbaijan but also the Latin alphabet and the western-oriented society of contemporary Azerbaijanis. After Arab invasions Azeri people sticked to Arabic alphabet. However, a Latin-based alphabet was adopted in 1928 but soon later, in 1939, Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin
ordered the Azerbaijanis to use the Cyrillic alphabet, which is used for the Russian language
. When Azerbaijan gained its independence in 1991, head of state Ayaz Mutallibov
and its parliament adopted a Latin-based alphabet.
Archaeological works have proved that Caucasian Albania used Rome coins and dinars. Azerbaijan protects such ancient founds in their museums.
tried independently or together to build both political and military alliance with Ruler of Persia and Azerbaijan Aq Qoyunlu (White Sheep Turkomans) Uzun Hassan
against the Ottoman Empire
. Many diplomatic missions were exchanged between 1463 and 1477 In December 1463, the Venetian senate opted to enter an alliance with Hassan. Lazzaro Quirini was sent to Empire and in the same year, the Aq Qoyunlu ambassador Haji Mohammad was sent to Rome for the inception of the pontificate of Sixtus IV and then to Venice, and Caterino Zeno was dispatched by the senate on a similar mission to the empire. Zeno was married with a niece of Uzun Hassan's wife in a way counted as a member of his family and was very well liked at his court.
Pope Sixtus IV
was among the major supporters of establishing connections with Aq Qoyunlu. Soon afterwards the alliance between the Italian States and Iran & Azerbaijan were actually established, many times confirmed, and enforced with military supplies. Hassan was promised control of whole Anatolia
on the condition that he would not construct any fortresses on the coastline and would allow free passage for Venetian ships. but his hesitations and rare successes at wars made him was out of the international arena. Uzun Hassan died in 1478 which is also a day can be noted as the end of possible alliance between Italian states and Azerbaijan (Iran)
.
was enthroned as Shah of Azerbaijan. and later on, he became the Shah of Iran. Diplomatic relations were established with Italian states Friendship and an intention for an alliance was repeatedly reaffirmed but there were not any kind of strong allience during the time of Ismail nor with his successor Tahmasp I
but strong commercial ties between Safavid Empire and many Italian states remained, especially during the reign of Shah Abbas
.
but after the collapse of the Russian Empire, Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
established which was the first democratic and secular state in the whole Muslim world. Italy was one of those countries that were able to establish diplomatic relations with Azerbaijan. Italy opened its consulate and military office in Baku. In that time official visits of the Azerbaijani delegation to Italy and Italian delegation to Azerbaijan were realized.
on January 1, 1992. The diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on May 8, 1992. The first embassy of Italy among the Southern Caucasian republics was opened in Azerbaijan in 1997. the embassy of Azerbaijan to Italy functions since 2003.
Heydar Aliyev
paid his first official visit to Italy on September 1997 and in back between 1998-2003 government officials of Italy visited Azerbaijan which resulted with signed agreements on cooperation in different spheres. Italian ambassador to Azerbaijan have stated that visas might have lift in soon between two countries. In April 1999 opened a new building of the Italian Embassy in Baku.
's acting for the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. During Ilham Aliyev
's official to Italy the subject were touched again. President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi
reminded that the attempts of the Minsk Group of OSCE had not produced any results yet and stated that he would do his best to strengthen the activity of the Minsk Group. In June 2005, during his visit to Azerbaijan, the head of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Migration of the Senate of Italy, said that Italy will protect the just position of Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
.
, and the Azerbaijani capital Baku
, have been declared sister cities. Since that time, the cultural ties between Italy and Azerbaijan have become more intense but relations between two countries have actually a long history which can be seen from travelers being visit Azerbaijan in the Middle Ages (including Marco Polo
) and Nasreddin Tusi's book "Interpretation of Euclid's "Elements" being translated into Latin and published in 1594 in Rome
. There are different paintings of well-known Italian painters in museums of Azerbaijan, and a lot of carpets and jewelry articles made in Azerbaijan are in different museums and private collections in Italy. Since the end of XIX and the beginning of XX century in Baku different buildings were built by famous Italian architectures. The works of Dante
and Petrarki were translated into Azerbaijani and published in big copies. Some legendary singers of Azerbaijan such as Bulbul and Muslim Magomayev mastered the bases of opera art in Italy. There have been many cultural events have been hold in each countries. Italy is among those countries who render humanitarian assistance to Azerbaijan. The agreement on the humanitarian aid between Azerbaijan and Italy, signed on June 1, 2005, is directed at easing the hard life of refugees and IDPs settled in Azerbaijan. Italian government helped a number of medical and social institutions in Azerbaijan as well. The soloist of the State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, honored artist Fidan Hajiyeva became the first artist from Azerbaijan to perform on the stage in Italian city of Rimini.
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. Italy has an embassy in Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe is the world's largest security-oriented intergovernmental organization. Its mandate includes issues such as arms control, human rights, freedom of the press and fair elections...
.
Roman Azerbaijan
An ancient Latin inscription on the rocks in the territory of QobustanQobustan
Gobustan is an administrative district, or rayon, of Azerbaijan. Area 1,369.4 km²; population 37,137; population density 27 persons/km². Administrative centre is Maraza located about 50 miles west of Baku. From 1930 until 1943 and again from 1960 until 1990 the territory belonged to Shamakhi...
testifies that the Roman legions crossed through Azerbaijan in the old times. In 75 AD, XII Fulminata was in Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
, where Emperor Vespasian
Vespasian
Vespasian , was Roman Emperor from 69 AD to 79 AD. Vespasian was the founder of the Flavian dynasty, which ruled the Empire for a quarter century. Vespasian was descended from a family of equestrians, who rose into the senatorial rank under the Emperors of the Julio-Claudian dynasty...
had sent the legion to support the allied kingdoms of Iberia
Iberia
The name Iberia refers to three historical regions of the old world:* Iberian Peninsula, in Southwest Europe, location of modern-day Portugal and Spain** Prehistoric Iberia...
(Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
) and Caucasian Albania
Caucasian Albania
Albania is a name for the historical region of the eastern Caucasus, that existed on the territory of present-day republic of...
(Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
). Even though Roman Empire controlled Azerbaijan as a vassal state
Vassal state
A vassal state is any state that is subordinate to another. The vassal in these cases is the ruler, rather than the state itself. Being a vassal most commonly implies providing military assistance to the dominant state when requested to do so; it sometimes implies paying tribute, but a state which...
, Azerbaijan, unlike Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
and Iberia didn't turn out to be as an actual part of Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
and protected its independence. Caucasian Albania also signed signed a peace treaty with Roman Republic as Strabo
Strabo
Strabo, also written Strabon was a Greek historian, geographer and philosopher.-Life:Strabo was born to an affluent family from Amaseia in Pontus , a city which he said was situated the approximate equivalent of 75 km from the Black Sea...
attested. Sara Ashurbeyli's book about history of Baku brings a possibility of settlement of Ramana
Ramana
* Ramana, place in Pakistan.* Chintapalli Ramana, Telugu film writer.* Ramana, Azerbaijan is an urban-type settlement and municipality in Azerbaijan.* Ramana Maharshi, Hindu spiritual figure.* Ramana Reddy, famous Telugu film actor....
was that possibly founded by the Roman troops of Lucius Julius Maximus from Legio XII Fulminata in circa 84-96 AD and derives its name from the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
Romana.
Roman Empire has left a notable influence on Azerbaijan. Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
remains as one of them. According to Strabo
Strabo
Strabo, also written Strabon was a Greek historian, geographer and philosopher.-Life:Strabo was born to an affluent family from Amaseia in Pontus , a city which he said was situated the approximate equivalent of 75 km from the Black Sea...
, who travelled to the region in the 1st century B.C., the local tribes practised polytheism
Polytheism
Polytheism is the belief of multiple deities also usually assembled into a pantheon of gods and goddesses, along with their own mythologies and rituals....
but Christianity have entered into Caucasian Albania in early 1st century. In 4th century Eastern Roman Empire have accepted Christianity as a state religion, but Christianity didn't spread among nation that strongly. During Arab invasions Azerbaijani people had to accept Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
because polytheist and Zoroastrian religious views were a sin according to Islamic rule but Christian minority were able to protect their belief (monotheist views are respected among Muslims) and still certain part of Azerbaijan remains as Christian. Despite of Islamisation of Azerbaijan, the oldest Christian church in the Caucasus, the Albanian Church founded by the apostle Yelisey in Sheki, near Kish as well as the Gandzasar
Gandzasar monastery
Gandzasar monastery is a 10-13th century Armenian monastery situated in the Mardakert region of Nagorno-Karabakh, near the village of Vank. "Gandzasar" means treasure mountain or hilltop treasure in Armenian. The monastery holds relics believed to belong to St. John the Baptist and St Zechariah,...
, Targmanchats
Targmanchats Monastery
The Monastery of Saint Translators is an Armenian monastery, founded in the 4th century. It is located north of Daşkəsən, in Azerbaijan.Monastery was founded by Saints Mesrop Mashtots and Sahak Partev. In 411 they translated the Bible from Syriac.-History:...
and Amaras
Amaras Monastery
Amaras Monastery is one of the oldest Christian sites in the world and in Nagorno-Karabakh, and is an Armenian Apostolic monastery located near the village of Sos in the Martuni county of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.- History :...
monasteries in Karabagh
Nagorno-Karabakh
Nagorno-Karabakh is a landlocked region in the South Caucasus, lying between Lower Karabakh and Zangezur and covering the southeastern range of the Lesser Caucasus mountains...
have reached our times in relative good shape. Christianity were not the only thing out of a huge cultural legacy Rome left to Azerbaijan but also the Latin alphabet and the western-oriented society of contemporary Azerbaijanis. After Arab invasions Azeri people sticked to Arabic alphabet. However, a Latin-based alphabet was adopted in 1928 but soon later, in 1939, Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
ordered the Azerbaijanis to use the Cyrillic alphabet, which is used for the Russian language
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
. When Azerbaijan gained its independence in 1991, head of state Ayaz Mutallibov
Ayaz Mütallibov
Ayaz Niyazi oğlu Mütallibov was the last leader of Soviet Azerbaijan, and the first President of independent Azerbaijan from October 1991 till May 1992.-Biography:...
and its parliament adopted a Latin-based alphabet.
Aq Qoyunlu - Italian states
The Republic of VeniceRepublic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
tried independently or together to build both political and military alliance with Ruler of Persia and Azerbaijan Aq Qoyunlu (White Sheep Turkomans) Uzun Hassan
Uzun Hassan
Uzun Hasan or Hassan , Sultan of the Aq Qoyunlu dynasty, or White Sheep Turkmen. Hassan ruled in parts of present-day western Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia between 1453 and 1478....
against the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. Many diplomatic missions were exchanged between 1463 and 1477 In December 1463, the Venetian senate opted to enter an alliance with Hassan. Lazzaro Quirini was sent to Empire and in the same year, the Aq Qoyunlu ambassador Haji Mohammad was sent to Rome for the inception of the pontificate of Sixtus IV and then to Venice, and Caterino Zeno was dispatched by the senate on a similar mission to the empire. Zeno was married with a niece of Uzun Hassan's wife in a way counted as a member of his family and was very well liked at his court.
Pope Sixtus IV
Pope Sixtus IV
Pope Sixtus IV , born Francesco della Rovere, was Pope from 1471 to 1484. His accomplishments as Pope included the establishment of the Sistine Chapel; the group of artists that he brought together introduced the Early Renaissance into Rome with the first masterpiece of the city's new artistic age,...
was among the major supporters of establishing connections with Aq Qoyunlu. Soon afterwards the alliance between the Italian States and Iran & Azerbaijan were actually established, many times confirmed, and enforced with military supplies. Hassan was promised control of whole Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
on the condition that he would not construct any fortresses on the coastline and would allow free passage for Venetian ships. but his hesitations and rare successes at wars made him was out of the international arena. Uzun Hassan died in 1478 which is also a day can be noted as the end of possible alliance between Italian states and Azerbaijan (Iran)
Azerbaijan (Iran)
Azerbaijan or Azarbaijan , also Iranian Azerbaijan, Persian Azarbaijan is a region in northwestern Iran. It is also historically known as Atropatene and Aturpatakan....
.
Safavid Empire
In July 1501, Ismail IIsmail I
Ismail I , known in Persian as Shāh Ismāʿil , was a Shah of Iran and the founder of the Safavid dynasty which survived until 1736. Isma'il started his campaign in Azerbaijan in 1500 as the leader of the Safaviyya, an extremist heterodox Twelver Shi'i militant religious order and unified all of Iran...
was enthroned as Shah of Azerbaijan. and later on, he became the Shah of Iran. Diplomatic relations were established with Italian states Friendship and an intention for an alliance was repeatedly reaffirmed but there were not any kind of strong allience during the time of Ismail nor with his successor Tahmasp I
Tahmasp I
Tahmasp or Tahmasb I was an influential Shah of Iran, who enjoyed the longest reign of any member of the Safavid dynasty...
but strong commercial ties between Safavid Empire and many Italian states remained, especially during the reign of Shah Abbas
Abbas I of Persia
Shāh ‘Abbās the Great was Shah of Iran, and generally considered the greatest ruler of the Safavid dynasty. He was the third son of Shah Mohammad....
.
Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
Russo-Perso War resulted with the invasion of present-day Azerbaijan territory by Russian EmpireRussian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
but after the collapse of the Russian Empire, Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was the first successful attempt to establish a democratic and secular republic in the Muslim world . The ADR was founded on May 28, 1918 after the collapse of the Russian Empire that began with the Russian Revolution of 1917 by Azerbaijani National Council in...
established which was the first democratic and secular state in the whole Muslim world. Italy was one of those countries that were able to establish diplomatic relations with Azerbaijan. Italy opened its consulate and military office in Baku. In that time official visits of the Azerbaijani delegation to Italy and Italian delegation to Azerbaijan were realized.
Recent political relations
Italy recognized the independence of Azerbaijan from Soviet UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
on January 1, 1992. The diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on May 8, 1992. The first embassy of Italy among the Southern Caucasian republics was opened in Azerbaijan in 1997. the embassy of Azerbaijan to Italy functions since 2003.
Heydar Aliyev
Heydar Aliyev
Heydar Alirza oglu Aliyev , also spelled as Heidar Aliev, Geidar Aliev, Haydar Aliyev, Geydar Aliyev was the third President of Azerbaijan for the New Azerbaijan Party from June 1993 to October 2003, when his son Ilham Aliyev succeeded him.From 1969 till 1982, Aliyev was also the leader of Soviet...
paid his first official visit to Italy on September 1997 and in back between 1998-2003 government officials of Italy visited Azerbaijan which resulted with signed agreements on cooperation in different spheres. Italian ambassador to Azerbaijan have stated that visas might have lift in soon between two countries. In April 1999 opened a new building of the Italian Embassy in Baku.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
Italy is notable for being the first chairman of OSCE Minsk GroupOSCE Minsk Group
The OSCE Minsk Group was created in 1992 by the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe to encourage a peaceful, negotiated resolution to the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh.-Founding and members:The Helsinki Additional Meeting of the CSCE Council on 24 March...
's acting for the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. During Ilham Aliyev
Ilham Aliyev
Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev is the President of Azerbaijan since 2003. He also functions as the Chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party and the head of the National Olympic Committee...
's official to Italy the subject were touched again. President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi
Carlo Azeglio Ciampi
dr. Carlo Azeglio Ciampi is an Italian politician and banker. He was the 73rd Prime Minister of Italy from 1993 to 1994 and was the tenth President of the Italian Republic from 1999 to 2006...
reminded that the attempts of the Minsk Group of OSCE had not produced any results yet and stated that he would do his best to strengthen the activity of the Minsk Group. In June 2005, during his visit to Azerbaijan, the head of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Migration of the Senate of Italy, said that Italy will protect the just position of Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
Economic relations
Italy has become the biggest trade partner of Azerbaijan in importing crude oil and oil products. 51.9% of exportation from Azerbaijan has been directed to Italy since 2003. Italy mainly exports pipes for oil sector, tobacco, leather and furniture to Azerbaijan. The visits of the ministers of Economic Developments of both countries in 2007 resulted signed agreements on the cooperation between Azerbaijan and Italy in the sector of natural gasNatural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
.
Co-operation in oil
In 2005 in from Azerbaijan to Italy exported 50% of oil. As the owner of a 5% share in the Contract of the Century, an Italian company Eni-Agip involved in the construction of the pipeline Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, the official opening ceremony which held in July 2006 as well. A number of other companies in Italy also participated in the construction of the pipeline on the basis of the contract. Eni-Agip is also active in the project Shahdeniz and in the oil field Kyurdashy.Cooperation in the field of viticulture
Azerbaijan also plans to collaborate with the Italian Vivai Cooperativi Rauscedo in the field of viticulture. Italy's Manual Vivai Cooperativi Rauscedo in order to exchange experience has invited officials of the Ministry of Agriculture of Azerbaijan economy in Italy in order to exchange experience has invited officials of the Ministry of Agriculture of Azerbaijan economy in Italy.Cultural relations
During the Soviet era, in 1972, city of Italy, NaplesNaples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, and the Azerbaijani capital Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
, have been declared sister cities. Since that time, the cultural ties between Italy and Azerbaijan have become more intense but relations between two countries have actually a long history which can be seen from travelers being visit Azerbaijan in the Middle Ages (including Marco Polo
Marco Polo
Marco Polo was a Venetian merchant traveler from the Venetian Republic whose travels are recorded in Il Milione, a book which did much to introduce Europeans to Central Asia and China. He learned about trading whilst his father and uncle, Niccolò and Maffeo, travelled through Asia and apparently...
) and Nasreddin Tusi's book "Interpretation of Euclid's "Elements" being translated into Latin and published in 1594 in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. There are different paintings of well-known Italian painters in museums of Azerbaijan, and a lot of carpets and jewelry articles made in Azerbaijan are in different museums and private collections in Italy. Since the end of XIX and the beginning of XX century in Baku different buildings were built by famous Italian architectures. The works of Dante
DANTE
Delivery of Advanced Network Technology to Europe is a not-for-profit organisation that plans, builds and operates the international networks that interconnect the various national research and education networks in Europe and surrounding regions...
and Petrarki were translated into Azerbaijani and published in big copies. Some legendary singers of Azerbaijan such as Bulbul and Muslim Magomayev mastered the bases of opera art in Italy. There have been many cultural events have been hold in each countries. Italy is among those countries who render humanitarian assistance to Azerbaijan. The agreement on the humanitarian aid between Azerbaijan and Italy, signed on June 1, 2005, is directed at easing the hard life of refugees and IDPs settled in Azerbaijan. Italian government helped a number of medical and social institutions in Azerbaijan as well. The soloist of the State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, honored artist Fidan Hajiyeva became the first artist from Azerbaijan to perform on the stage in Italian city of Rimini.