Known as the second historical museum after the National Museum, Azerbaijan Museum which is located in the vicinity of Blue Mosque is considered as one of the most important museums in Iran, since it exhibits astonishing Islamic and pre-Islamic objects. The museum consists of three Exhibition halls, some office rooms and a library. Azerbaijan Museum was designed by the French architecture, Andre Godard, and was built by Iranian artists. In the basement, along with a small restaurant, there are several tall bronze statues and in the garden, there are several impressive inscriptions and stone objects which mostly belong to Islamic era. The first floor displays coins from Achaemenes period to 19th century, seals from pre-historic to Sasanians period, plus archaeological department which contains pottery, carpets, candlesticks, and glass from about 650 A.D to 1900 A.D. The third gallery displays some sculptures which were created by Ahad Hosseini. Azerbaijan Museum with 2300 registered antique pieces and artistic handicrafts and also more than one thousand non-registered objects attract a great deal of attention and many tourists and culture lovers from around the world every year.
