Listening/Speaking

1. | GW/CW. Speak about the the following attractions/pictures and say: What are they remarkable for? Which of them would you like to visit? Why? Why do these wonders attract many people?

Model:

Lahij, one of the most picturesque and ancient human settlements in Azerbaijan, is located within the Ismayilli Region on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus. It was built in the 5th century B.C. on the canyon of the river Girdmanchay. The territory is recognized as a cultural reserve and is considered a popular tourist destination of the Great Silk Way. Here you can see very old houses, unique handmade items from copper adorned with carving in the form of oriental ornaments, knitted and weaved goods, wood and leather ware, souvenir knives and many other things.

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is more commonly known as the Blue Mosque because of the colour of tiles inside the building. The building was designed by Sedefkar Mehmet Aga and the construction started in 1609 during the reign of Ahmed I. The mosque was constructed to show the power of the Ottoman Empire to the world and it is considered to be the last great mosque to be constructed during the glorious era of Muslim rule. The mosque has five main domes*, six minarets, and eight secondary domes.

Hermitage Museum

The State Hermitage Museum, situated in Saint Petersburg, Russia, the second largest one in the world, is a massive museum of art and culture. It was founded in 1764 when Empress Catherine the Great acquired an impressive collection of paintings. The collections occupy a large complex of six historic buildings including the Winter Palace, a former residence of Russian emperors.

*dome - a round roof of a building or structure, typically with a circular base