Comparative Analysis of Icherisheher and Itchan Kala: Preservation of the Historic Urban Environment and Tourism Potential

A comparative analysis of Icherisheher (Azerbaijan) and Itchan Kala (Uzbekistan), two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, reveals their significance as rare examples of preserved ancient Eastern urban planning traditions. Both complexes, characterized by fortress walls, palaces, mosques, madrasahs, caravanserais, baths, and residential buildings, serve as Open-Air Museums that safeguard national cultural heritage while fostering international tourism and intercultural communication. Despite architectural differences in style, building materials, layout, and religious/cultural diversity, both sites demonstrate effective preservation practices. The study employed comparative-historical, comparative, descriptive, and content analysis methods to highlight their distinct yet complementary roles in cultural conservation and tourism development.

Gulnar Nazarova. (2026). COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ICHERISHEHER AND ITCHAN KALA: PRESERVATION OF THE HISTORIC URBAN ENVIRONMENT AND TOURISM POTENTIAL. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.20733223