Aza Bridge

Aza Bridge was built in the 17th century over the Gilanchay River in the village of Azadkend, Ordubad District.^[1][2]Connecting the villages of Azadkend and Darkend, the bridge is 3.5 meters wide and 46 pogonometric meters long.^[3][2]It has five spans and is constructed from reddish hewn local mountain stone.^[2][1] During its construction, the terrain was taken into account, and the distances between the arches were made in varying sizes.^[3] Four of the arches are equipped with wave breakers.^[1][4] The bridge was built during the reign of the Safavid ruler Shah Abbas I to facilitate the movement of trade caravans traveling along the Silk Road from east to west and vice versa.^[1][5][6]

After Azerbaijan regained its independence, the bridge was included in the list of immovable historical and cultural monuments of local importance by Decision No. 132 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated August 2, 2001.^[7] The bridge suffered damage due to natural disasters and certain historical events over various periods.^[1][8] As strong floodwaters washed away part of the bridge, it underwent major restoration in 1997.^[4][3][1]

By Decision No. 98 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic dated November 21, 2007, the Aza Bridge was included in the list of architectural monuments of national importance.^[9]

The bridge remains functional. Residents and vehicles traveling from Nakhchivan and Ordubad to the village of Azadkend use this bridge.^[1][4]

• Architecture of Azerbaijan

• Naxçıvan ensiklopediyası (in Azerbaijani). Vol. I. Naxçıvan: Elm nəşriyyatı. 2005. p. 360. ISBN 5806614689.
• Naxçıvan tarixi (in Azerbaijani). Vol. I. Naxçıvan: Əcəmi NPM. 2013. p. 452. ISBN 978-9952-8237-0-7.
• The encyclopaedia of “Nakhchivan monuments” (in Azerbaijani). Naxçıvan: national Academy of sciences of Azerbaijan nakhchivan branch. 2008. p. 521.
• Baxşəliyev, Vəli; Quliyeva, Fizzə (2017). Naxçıvanın tarixi abidələri (PDF) (in Azerbaijani). Bakı: Nurlan nəşriyyatı. p. 212.
• İsayev, Elbrus (2012). Böyük İpək yolu və Naxçıvan (in Azerbaijani). Bakı: Elm və təhsil nəşriyyatı. p. 214.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
• Səfərli, Hacıfəxrəddin (2017). Naxçıvanın türk-islam mədəniyyət abidələri (in Azerbaijani). Naxçıvan: Əcəmi NPM. p. 216.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)