ΙRAN

ATRIPTOIRAN
InSeptember2019,Ireturnedfromalong,magnificenttriptoIran.
Iran (known as Persia in the past) is one of the world's oldest
civilizationsdatingbackto3,000years,andhasbeenamongtheworld's
most thoughtful and complex civilizations from the very beginning.
Some of history's biggest names - Cyrus and Darius, Alexander the
Great, Genghis Khan - all left their mark here and the cities they
conquered or over which they ruled are among the finest in a region
rich with such storied ruins. There are aspects of Iranian civilization
that,inonewayoranother,havetouchedalmosteveryhumanbeingon
the planet. Iran ought to be one of the world's most treasured travel
destinations, blessed as it is with extraordinary historical sites,
exquisite landscapes and a fascinating culture that has influenced
cultures and peoples in different parts of the world including Europe,
East Asia, and South Asia. This culture encompasses many disciplines
including literature, music, dance, architecture, painting, weaving,
pottery,calligraphy,metalworkingandstonemasonry.
Iran is a treasure house for some of the most beautiful architecture on
the planet. Seemingly at every turn, Islam's historical commitment to
aestheticbeautyandexquisitearchitecturereignssupreme.
Iran'sgreatestattractioncouldjustbeitspeople.TheIranians,anation
madeupofnumerousethnicgroupsandinfluencedoverthousandsof
years by Greek, Arab, Turkic and Mongol occupiers, are endlessly
welcoming,warmandfriendly.
DIMITRASTASINOPOULOU

SHIRAZ
ShirazisthecapitalofFarsprovince,oneofthemost
beautiful, historical cities in the world. Farsi
(Persian or Parsi) the language of Ancient Fars
(Pars), has become the official language of Iran
(Persia). The name of Shiraz has been found in the
AchaemenidinscriptionsinPersepolis.Thiscityhas
been known as the cultural capital of the country,
the2 nd literarycityintheworld,the3 rd religiouscity,
the3 rd holyshrineofIranandthecityofpoetry,wine
and flower. The tombs of Hafez and Saadi, the
country’s most famous poets, are also here.The city
embracesamajorpartofIran’sancienthistory,with
many historical, cultural, religious and natural
attractions.
ThefirsthistoricaldocumentsaboutShirazindicate
its centrality and importance during the Sassanid
period. And after that, we can see its continual
presence in the literary and historical documents
related to different Islamic periods. The name of
Shirazhasalwaysbeenaccompaniedbytheconcepts
of art, culture and peace. The same features made
Shirazoneofthefewcitiesthatweresparedboththe
MongolonslaughtandTimur’sattack.
Choosing Shiraz as the capital of Iran and
establishing the great cultural complexes, with
support of a courtesy and righteous ruler, Zand
dynasty,addedtothegloryandgrandeurofthecity.
SHRINEOFSHAHCHERAGH
ShāhChérāghisafunerarymonumentandmosque
housing the tomb of the brothers Ahmad and
Muhammad, sons of Mūsā al-Kādhim and brothers
of ‘Alī ar-Ridhā. The two took refuge in the city
duringtheAbbasidpersecutionofShiaMuslims.
Shāh-é-Chérāgh is Persian for "King of the Light".
Thisshrinewasbuiltinthe6 th c.Thedecorativework
in a mosaic of mirror glass, the inscriptions in
stucco, the ornamentation, the doors covered with
panels of silver, the portico, and the wide courtyard
aremostattractive.Itisthemostimportantplaceof
pilgrimagewithinthecityofShiraz.
TOMBOFSAADI
Tomb and mausoleum dedicated to the iconic
Persian poet Saadi. He was born in Shiraz around
1200,andiswidelyrecognizedasoneofthegreatest
poets of the classical literary tradition, earning the
nickname "Master of Speech". In the 13 th c. a tomb
was built for Saadi by Vizir Shams al-Din Juvayni.
The current building was built between 1950 and
1952.Aroundthetombonthewallsaresevenverses
ofSaadi’spoems.
Oneofhispoemsiswrittenontopoftheentranceof
the United Nations: ‘Human beings are members of
a whole, in creation of one essence and soul. If one
member is afflicted with pain, other members
uneasy will remain. If you’ve no sympathy for
humanpain,thenameofhumanyoucannotretain’.
Huge number of Iranians pay a visit to this burial
placeandshowtheirrespecttoSaadiandinterestin
hisworks,proseandpoems.
TOMBOFHAFEZ
In memory of the celebrated Persian poet Hafez,
who was born in Shiraz in 1315 and died there in
1390. A beloved figure of the Iranian people, who
learnhisversesbyheart.Hafez’scollectedworks,the

Divān,isregardedasapinnacleofPersianliterature.
Almost every home in the country contains this
book, and it is regularly read and consulted for
guidanceandinspiration.
In his memory, a small, dome-like structure was
erectedinShiraznearhisgraveatGolgast-eMosalla
in 1452 at the order of Abul-Qasim Babur Mirza, a
Timurid governor. The Golgast-e Mosalla were
gardens (now known as Musalla Gardens) that
featuredinHafiz'spoetry.
NASIRAL-MULKMOSQUE
Nasir al-Mulk Mosque was constructed between
1876 and 1888, during the Qajar dynasty, which
ruled Iran from 1785 to 1925. Also known as the
“Pink Mosque” due to the plethora of pink-colored
tiles blanketing the ceiling. With a spectacular
rainbow of stained glass, thousands of painted tiles
on the ceiling and Persian rugs covering the floor,
the "Pink Mosque" is one of the most beautiful in
Iran.The tiling is spectacular and unique. Nowhere
else in the whole world can you find similar tiling,
which are full of pink flowers, pink borders and
gorgeous small pictures of European buildings.
Another unique point is that pink color is not used
inanyothermosqueinIran.
ARG-EKARIMKHANCITADEL
The 18 th century Karim Khan citadel stands in the
center of Shiraz. Above the entrance gate, you will
notice a sizable tile-worked scene of Rostam’s battle
against a demon. Rostam is the protagonist
character of Shahnameh, the epic poem book of
Ferdowsy, the most well-known Iranian poet
of10 th c.
Inside there are residential quarters, baths and a
courtyardfilledwithcitrustrees. Itisrectangularin
shapeandresemblesamedievalfortress.
VAKILMOSQUE
The entire structure is extravagantly built. There’s a
vast courtyard with a relatively long pool in the
middleofit.Vakilmeansregent,whichwasthetitle
used by Karim Khan, the founder of Zand Dynasty.
ShirazwastheseatofKarimKhan'sgovernmentand
heendowedmanybuildings,includingthismosque.
Builtbetween1751and1773,wasrestoredinthe19 th
c.Itsnightprayerhall,withanareaofapproximately
2,700 square meters, contains 48 monolithic pillars
carved in spirals, each with a capital of acanthus
leaves.ThemosqueisconnectedtoVakilBazaarand
almost attached to Vakil Bathhouse with a lane in
between.Althoughitwascommontobuildmosques
with domes, the Vakil Mosque doesn’t have any
dome.
VAKILBATH
Vakil Bath is built based on a standard and highlydeveloped
architecture. A distinguishing fact about
VakilBathisthatitslightisprovidedbythegoblets
that are designed in the ceiling. The admiring
paintings on the walls have interesting themes of
Persian mythology, epic, and religious narratives
that have strong roots in the beliefs of the people.
Onespecialfactaboutancientbathsisthattheywere
not just normal baths for cleansing the body. The
otherfunctiontheyusedtohavewastobeaplacefor
particular ceremonies like baby shower, marriage
proposals,andotheroldmarriagetraditions.
VAKILBAZAAR
VakilBazaarisShiraz’smainmarketplaceandhome
to hundreds of shops and stalls. Satisfyingly
labyrinthine,thebazaaristheplaceforbuyingrugs,
spices, jewelry, and household goods, with
teahouses, courtyards, caravanserais, and the
traditional bathhouse are here. The vaulted arched
ceilings are a fine example of 18 th century Zand
architecture.Itisthoughtthatthemarketoriginally
was established by the Buwayhids in the 11 th c, was
completed mainly by the Atabaks of Fars, and was
renamedafterKarimKhanZandonlyinthe18 th c.
PERSIAN GARDENS – GARDENS OF
PARADISE
The Persian garden was conceived to symbolize
Eden and the four Zoroastrian elements of sky,
earth, water and plants. The notion of the Persian
Garden permeates Iranian life and its artistic
expressions: references to the garden may be found
in literature, poetry, music, calligraphy and carpet
design. The tradition and style of garden design
represented by Persian gardens, has influenced the
design of gardens from Andalusia to India and
beyond. From the time of the Achaemenid Empire,
the idea of an earthly paradise spread through
Persian literature and example to other cultures,
both the Hellenistic gardens of the Seleucid Empire
and the Ptolemies in Alexandria. The Avestan word
pairidaēza was borrowed into Akkadian, and then
into Greek Ancient Greek: παράδεισος,
Romanized: parádeisos, then rendered into the
Latin paradīsus, and from there entered into
European languages, e.g., French paradis, German
Paradies, and English paradise.
As the word expresses, such gardens would have
been enclosed. The garden's purpose was, and is, to
provide a place for protected relaxation in a variety
of manners: spiritual, and leisurely (such as
meetings with friends), essentially a paradise on
earth.
NARENJESTANGARDEN(QAVAM)
The majestic mansion was built between 1879 and
1886 by the wealthy merchant, Mohammad Ali
Khan Qavam al-Molk. The building has been
rehabilitatedoncebyEbrahimQavamandhasbeen
decorated with mirrors, paintings, tilework, plaster
work, and inlay. It is an architectural feast of Qajar
period. Due to abundance of sour orange trees it is
called Narenjestan. The Qavam "Naranjestan"
preserves the elegance and refinement enjoyed by
the upper-class families during the 19 th c. The
paintings on the low ceilings of the house are
inspired by Victorian era Europe. The greenish
surroundings epitomize the genuine concept of
PersianGarden,aUNESCO-inscribedelementthat
interweaves natural elements with manmade
components to embody the Paradise on Earth
through a patchwork of artistic, philosophical,
figurative,andreligiousnotions.
ERAMGARDENS,BAGH-ÉERAM
One of the most famous historical gardens in Iran,
these grounds and the building within them were
built in the mid-13 th century, but renovated 600
years later. Eram owes its fame and importance to
the botanical gardens that are home to a variety of
unique and rare plants. Most of the restoration was
done by Karim Khan Zand, whereas the charming
edificeinthecenterofthegardenwasconstructedby
Qajarkingdom.

NASIRAL-MULKMOSQUE

NARENJESTANGARDEN(QAVAM)

TOMBOFSAADI

ARG-EKARIMKHANCITADEL

VAKILMOSQUE

VAKILBATH

MADRASAKHAN

ERAMGARDENS,BAGH-ÉERAM

TOMBOFHAFEZ

SHRINEOFSHAHCHERAGH

PERSEPOLIS
Founded by Darius I in 518 B.C., Persepolis was the
capital of the Achaemenid Empire, built on an
immense half-artificial, half-natural terrace, where
the King of Kings created an impressive palace
complex inspired by Mesopotamian models.
Renowned as the gem of Achaemenid (Persian)
ensembles in the fields of architecture, urban
planning,constructiontechnology,andart,theroyal
city of Persepolis ranks among the archaeological
siteswhichhavenoequivalentandwhichbearunique
witnesstoamostancientcivilization.
The Achaemenid kings Darius I (522-486 BCE), his
son Xerxes I (486-465 BCE), and his grandson
Artaxerxes I (465-424 BCE) built a splendid palatial
complex. This 13-ha ensemble of majestic
approaches, monumental stairways, throne rooms
(Apadana), reception rooms, and dependencies is
classified among the world’s greatest archaeological
sites.Theterraceisagrandiosearchitecturalcreation,
withitsdoubleflightofaccessstairs,wallscoveredby
sculpted friezes at various levels, contingent
Assyrianesque propylaea (monumental gateway),
gigantic sculpted winged bulls, and remains of large
halls.Bycarefullyengineeringlighterroofsandusing
wooden lintels, the Achaemenid architects were able
to use a minimal number of astonishingly slender
columns to support open area roofs. Columns were
topped with elaborate capitals; typical was the
double-bull capital where, resting on double volutes,
the forequarters of two kneeling bulls, placed backto-back,
extend their coupled necks and their twin
headsdirectlyundertheintersectionsofthebeamsof
the ceiling. The terrace of Persepolis continues to be,
asitsfounderDariuswouldhavewished,theimageof
the Achaemenid monarchy itself, the summit where
likenesses of the king reappear unceasingly, here as
the conqueror of a monster, there carried on his
throne by the downtrodden enemy, and where
lengthy cohorts of sculpted warriors and guards,
dignitaries,andtributebearersparadeendlessly.
Persepolis was the seat of government of the
Achaemenid Empire, though it was designed
primarilytobeashowplaceandspectacularcenterfor
the receptions and festivals of the kings and their
empire.
PASARGADAE–MAUSOLEUMOF
CYRUSII
Pasargadae was the first dynastic capital of the
Achaemenid Empire, founded by Cyrus II the Great,
inthe6thc.BC.SpanningtheEasternMediterranean
and Egypt to the Hindus River, it is considered to be
thefirstempirethatrespectedtheculturaldiversityof
itsdifferentpeoples.
Pasargadae stands as an exceptional witness to the
Achaemenid civilization. The vast Achaemenid
Empire, which extended from the eastern
Mediterranean and Egypt to the Hindus River in
India, is considered the first empire to be
characterizedbyarespectfortheculturaldiversityof
its peoples. This respect was reflected in the royal
Achaemenid architecture, which became a
synthesized representation of the empire’s different
cultures. Pasargadae represents the first phase of this
development into a specifically Persian architecture,
which later found its full expression in the city of
Persepolis.
There is no doubt that Pasargadae represents the
ancientcapitaloftheAchaemenians,andisauthentic
in terms of its location and setting, materials and
substance,andformsanddesign.

PASARGADAE–MAUSOLEUMOFCYRUSII

YAZD
The City of Yazd is located in the middle of the
Iranian plateau, 270 km southeast of Isfahan, close
totheSpiceandSilkRoads.Itbearslivingtestimony
to the use of limited resources for survival in the
desert. The historic city, with a history of several
thousandyears,isthemostextensive,systematicand
original historical area of Iran and the second
largest residential adobe area of the world. The
name is derived from Yazdegerd I, a Sassanid ruler
of Persia and has been a center for Zoroastrianism
sincethe3rdc.AD.ThewordyazdmeansGod.After
the Arab conquest of Iran, many Zoroastrians
migratedtoYazdfromneighboringprovinces.
Because of its remote desert location and the
difficulty of access, Yazd remained largely immune
to large battles and the destruction and ravages of
war. For instance, it was a haven for those fleeing
from destruction in other parts of Persian Empire
duringtheMongolinvasion.In1272itwasvisitedby
Marco Polo, who remarked on the city's fine silkweavingindustry.
Yazd is an important center of Persian architecture.
Because of its climate, it has one of the largest
networksofqanatsintheworld.Theextent,integrity
andpreservationofthehistoricaloriginalityaspects
of the city, as well as the use of indigenous local
materialsandconsumptionoftheleastenergyinthe
construction of adobe buildings, is one of the most
distinctivefeaturesoftheYazduniquearchitecture,
compatible with the hot and dry climate of the
desert. The historical construction of this city,
windmills, Qanat system, traditional and adobe
alleysandhouses,minaretsanddomesarethemost
significant apparent characteristics. Vicinity to Silk
Road, historical buildings, reservoir, hammams,
baths, bazaars, mosques, Tekyehs, prisons,
Hussainiyas, temples, old gardens, Zoroastrian
temples, etc. are the other specific features of this
historicalcity.
YAZD FIRE TEMPLE - BAHRAM FIRE
TEMPLE (or Vararam fire temple) is one of the
premisesoftheZoroastrians,datedbacktoPahlaviI
era, while its architecture derived from the
Achaemenid art. Farvahar is manifested on the
frieze of the mansion that was built under the
supervision of Arbab Jamshid Amanat by
ZoroastriansandIndiaPersiansin1313SH.
There is a holy fire within a large firebox made of
Bronze which must always be on and someone who
is called Hirbod is responsible for keeping it in this
place; it dates back to 1500 years and is highly
respectablebyZoroastrians.
JAMEHMOSQUE,YAZD
The mosque is a fine specimen of Persian
architecture. The entrance is crowned by a pair of
minarets, the highest in Iran, dating back to the
Safavid era. The entrance is decorated from top to
bottom in exquisite tile work. Within is a long
arcaded courtyard where, behind a deep-set southeast
iwan, is the sanctuary chamber. This chamber,
under a squat tiled dome, is exquisitely decorated
with tile mosaic: its tall tiled Mihrab, dated 1365, is
oneofthefinestofitskindinexistence.

JAMEHMOSQUE

ZOROASTRIANFIRETEMPLE

SahebAZamanZurkhanek

SARYAZDFORTRESS

TOWEROFSILENCE

ISFAHAN
Isfahan was once one of the largest and most
important cities in Central Asia, positioned as it is
onthecrossroadsofthemainnorth-southandeastwest
trade routes that cross Central Asia. The city
was the splendid capital of the Seljuq and Safavid
dynasties,andisrenownedforitsbeauty,whichhas
given rise to the Iranian saying that “Isfahan is half
theworld”.
Commercehasalwaysbeencentraltothegrowthof
Isfahan, to the extent that the Safavid Shah Abbas I
(1588-1629) effectively re-routed the Silk Road
throughIsfahanandmadethecityhiscapital,sothat
his empire would enjoy a trading monopoly. By the
17 th c. the city attracted not only European
merchantsbutalsomissionariesandmercenaries,as
it became a religiously tolerant center of mercantile
anddiplomaticactivity.
Isfahanfirstrosetointernationalprominenceasthe
capital of the great Seljuq Empire (1038-1194),
which stretched from Central Asia to Syria. The
Seljuqs had a huge impact on the cultural and
architectural development of the city, and the
consolidationoftheirempirewasalsosignificantin
unifying a territory that had been competed for by
diverse ethnic groups in central Asia for centuries;
mainly, Arabic, Turkish, and local Iranian peoples.
Under the Seljuqs, a new, uniquely Iranian, eastern
Islamic architecture emerged in the city, and in
particular, the traditional mosque layout (brought
to Iran in 749 by its first Islamic rulers, the
Abbasids) was replaced by a new design, based
around four iwans (vast halls, open at one end), as
representedintheGreatFridayMosque,theMasjidi
Jami. The Seljuq Turks excelled in the design of
very large vaulted spaces and in the decorative
articulation of buildings inside and out using
complexbrickpatterns,andpromotedthecustomof
organizing important urban buildings around an
open, a large rectangular town square, known as a
maidan.
The Safavid Empire (1502 - 1736) saw a further
development of Isfahan, although the city was not
chosen straight away as the imperial capital. Shah
Abbas I, who reigned from 1588 to 1629, made the
decisiontomovethecapitalfromQazvintoIsfahan
in 1590, motivated both by the city's enormous
economicpotentialandpositionatthecrossroadsof
trade, and by concerns for security, given its central
location at a safe distance from troubled
borderlands.
TheSafavidswerealocal,Iraniandynasty.Itwasnot
until the reign of Shah Abbas I that the city was
renovatedinastylethatbrokewithSeljuqtradition,
with the construction of many of the monuments
and buildings for which Isfahan is renowned today.
Wealth and labor were used to build bridges, roads
andcaravanseraistoencourageandfacilitatetrade.
At the center of the new city, a magnificent new
maidan (city square) was constructed, some 510 by
158 meters, named the "Design of the World"
Maidan(Maidan-iNaqsh-iJahan).Itsdesignunited
allofthefacetsoftheSafavidpolityintoonespatial
diagram: worship (the Shah Mosque),
commemoration (the Mosque of Sheikh Lotfallah),
sovereign administration (the Imperial Palace), and
trade(QaisariyaBazaar).

A number of major religious buildings were also
constructed in Isfahan in this period; including the
MosqueofSheikhLotfollah(1603-1619),conflating
the style of a mausoleum and a mosque, and the
Shah Mosque (1611-1666) which has a towering
170-foot high domed chamber. Unprecedented use
of color dominates the decoration of the entrance
gateways,domes,minarets,andsomeinteriorspaces
ofthesebuildings.Theuseofpolychromatictileasa
surface ornament was known in other periods of
Iranian history, but it was the Safavids who
established colorful tiling as the most salient
characteristic of Iranian architecture, and this
decorativestylereacheditszenithinIsfahan.
MEIDANEMAMSQUARE
HistoricalsquareofNaqsh-eJahan,currentlyknown
asMeidanEmamisoneofthelargest,mostbeautiful
andmagnificentsquaresintheworld,establishedin
a garden named Naqsh-e Jahan in a rectangleshaped
place commissioned by Shah Abbas I. It is
listed under UNESCO’s heritage sites. Four
remarkable architectural monuments are placed
here: Emam historical mosque in the south, Sheikh
Lotfollahmosqueintheeast,ĀliQāpupalaceinthe
westandQeysariegateinthenorth.
The square has had different functions over time:
establishing a Royal Palace and holding
ceremonies, military marches, ritual punishment
of convicts etc. refers to the political implications;
the existence of two important mosques on two
sides, holding ceremonies and rituals as well as
congregational prayers in the square in cases of the
lack of space in Emam Mosque, indicates the
religious functions and the commercial functions
are as well apparent in positioning the square at the
heartofbazaar.
SHEIKHLOTFOLLAHMOSQUE
Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque is one of the architectural
masterpieces of Iranian architecture, built during
the Safavid Empire. Construction started in 1603
andfinishedin1619,duringthereignofShahAbbas
I. Of the four monuments that dominated the
perimeter of the square, this one was the first to be
built.
The purpose was for it to be private to the royal
court, and that is why it does not have
any minarets and is smaller. Shah Abbas had put
great effort into making this a sacred place for the
ladiesofhisharem,andtheexquisitetile-workisfar
superiortothatcoveringtheShahMosque.Toavoid
having to walk across the Square to the mosque, he
hadthearchitectbuildatunnelspanningthepiazza
fromtheAliQapuPalace.
MASJED-EJĀMÉMOSQUE
TheMasjed-eJāmé(‘Fridaymosque’)canbeseenas
a stunning illustration of the evolution of mosque
architecture over 12 centuries, starting in ad 841. It
istheoldestpreservededificeofitstypeinIranand
a prototype for later mosque designs throughout
Central Asia. The complex, covering more than
20,000 m 2 , is also the first Islamic building that
adapted the four-courtyard layout of Sassanid
palaces to Islamic religious architecture. Its doubleshelled
ribbed domes represent an architectural
innovation that inspired builders throughout the
region. The site also features remarkable decorative
details representative of stylistic developments over
morethanathousandyearsofIslamicart.
ALIQAPUPALACE
TheRoyalPalaceofAliQapudominatesthewestern
side of Naqsh-e Iahan Square. The palace was
founded in 1597, during the 11 th year of Shah
Abbas’s reign, to serve as his place of residence. On
its completion, the building soared to the height of
38m,thusbeingthefirstIraniansky-scraper.Itwas
definitely “the largest ever built in any capital’: as
testified by Chardin, the famous French traveler to
theSafavidcourtinthe17 th century.Initsfinalform
thepalaceoccupiesthetotalareaof1,476sq.mand
consists of 52 rooms arranged on a very elaborate
planonsixfloors. AliQapumeans“TheHighGate”:
By the time Ali Qapu was created, a palace with the
samenamealreadyexistedinIstanbul,thecapitalof
the Ottomans who were the bitterest rivals of the
Safavids. By this act, Shah Abbas, who strived to
integrate his country into European markets and
force out the Turks from there, sought admiration
andapprovalfromhisEuropeanguestsandbusiness
partners.
CHEHELSOTOUNPALACE
ChehelSotounwasbuiltbyShahAbbasIItobeused
forhisentertainmentandreceptions.Inthispalace,
Shah Abbas II and his successors would receive
dignitariesandambassadors.
As with Ali Qapu, the palace contains many
exquisitefrescoesandpaintingsonceramic.Manyof
theceramicpanelshavebeendispersedandarenow
inthepossessionofmajormuseumsinthewest. All
these elements are representative of the proficiency
of the skillful Iranian masters and architectures.
Thereisapool,veranda,andseveralhalls.
KHAJU BRIDGE (BABA ROKNEDIN
BRIDGE)
Pole Khaju or Kahju Bridge is the finest bridge in
Isfahan.ThisbridgewasbuiltinorderofShahAbbas
II,thePersianSafavidKing,in1650.Ithas23arches
with a length of 133 meters and width of 12 meters.
Thebridgepasswayis7.5meterswideandthistwostorey
bridge is made of bricks and stones. Besides
functioning as a bridge and a weir, it also functions
as a building and a place for public meetings. This
bridge is decorated with artistic tilework and
fabulous paintings. There is a pavilion in the center
of the structure that Shah Abbas (King Abbas) has
oncesatonandadmiredtheview.
VANK–ARMENIANCATHEDRAL
Vank cathedral or Amena Pergic, the largest and
mostbeautifulcathedralinIsfahan’sJulfa,oneofthe
historical Armenian cathedrals, was established in
the Shah Abbas II in 1605. It was, built by the
hundreds of thousands of Armenians that were
forciblyresettledbyShahAbbasI,inhisnewcapital
as part of his scorched-earth policy in Armenia
duringtheOttomanWarof1603-1618.Theinterior
is covered with fine frescos and gilded carvings and
includes a wainscot of rich tile work. The delicately
blue and gold painted central dome depicts the
Biblicalstoryofthecreationoftheworldandman's
expulsionfromEden.Theceilingabovetheentrance
is painted with delicate floral motifs in the style
ofPersianminiature.

JamehMosque,Yazd
MASJED-EJĀMÉMOSQUE

SheikhLotfollahMosque

NAQSH-EJAHANSQUARE

ALIQAPUPALACE

CHEHELSOTOUNPALACE

MASJED-EJĀMÉMOSQUE

VANK–ARMENIANCATHEDRAL

KHAJUBRIDGE

ABYANEHVILLAGE
Abyaneh, also known as the Red Village, because
of its red soil and houses, is an ancient Iranian
village located at the foot of Karkas Mountain, 70
kilometers southeast of Kashan in Isfahan
province. It is a place of living traditions,
architectural styles (all in red clay) and probably
one of the most interesting examples of human
adaptation to nature. Compact, with narrow and
sloped lanes, and houses located on the slope as if
placed on a stairway, with houses that bear an
ancient architectural style, featured by the use of
clay as the construction material and latticed
windowsandwoodendoors.Itisbelievedthatthe
remote location of the village and its isolation
throughout history has led to preserving the most
traditional local ceremonies and feasts, as well as
the language and other aspects of people’s culture.
OneoftheloveliestvillagesinIran.Inaworldthat
traditions are losing the battle to globalization,
seeing an intact authentic community is truly
blessed.
The village has a long history which dates back to
more than 2,000 years ago and been registered on
Iran’s National Heritage List since 1975. The word
Abyaneh, has been derived from the word “viona”
meaning a willow grove. It’s been known an
entrancetoIranianhistoryasthelocalsaredeeply
committed to honoring their traditions. The
languagespokenbytheliteratepeopleofAbyaneh
isParthianPahlavi.
Abyaneh people have their unique culture,
completely different from any other place nearby.
They have their own accent, clothes, house, and
traditions. Beside the architectural differences,
clothing is another cultural element. It is
commonlythoughtthattheyareolderpeoplewho
preserve the traditions, but not in Abyaneh case.
People in Abyaneh, from all age ranges, wear the
village traditional clothes; even little children.
Womenclothingincludesdress,Shaliteh(akindof
skirt), scarf, headband, socks, footwear or Giveh
(is a kind of soft, comfortable, durable and handwoven-top
shoe common in several parts of Iran).
The dress is loose and long. They also use square
shape scarfs and they fold and put on the triangle
shapedscarf.Menhavetheirspecialclothesaswell.
Theywearlonglooseblacktrousers.
Oneofthemostinterestingthingsthatyoucansee
in the village, is the beautifully carved wooden
doors of most of the houses, and their doorknockers.
If you pay close attention to some of
thesespectaculardoors,you’llnoticethatthereare
a pair of door-knockers on them. One with a long
shape, and one with a circular shape, each with a
distinct sound. One for male users and one for
femaleusers.
Initial archaeological excavations resulted in the
discovery of a residential area belonging to the
Sassanid era. According to a report released
followingthevisitofUNESCOrepresentativesand
expertsofworldheritage,thehistoricalVillagehas
been recognized appropriate for being registered
inlistofUNESCO’sWorldHeritageSites.

TEHRAN
Tehran, the Capital of Iran, a bustling metropolis of
14millionpeople,islocatedonthesouthhillsideof
theAlborzmountainrange.Tehranconsistsofthree
parts as “Kan” , ”Markazi”, and “Aftab”; three cities
named “Tehran”, “Bomehen”, ”Pardis”; and four
rural districts. Demonstrating the traditional and
modern architecture, Azadi square symbolized
TehraninthepastandMiladtowerplaysthisrole,at
present. As the capital of Iran, Tehran is a populous
cityandoneofthemostsignificanturbancentersin
the world experienced the modernity before the
othercitiesofIran.
Placed in a large area, Tehran is one of the biggest,
most significant metropolis in the world. It is the
center of all affairs, government, politics, economy,
culture, work, commerce, history, science, industry
and production and it is why people are mostly
inclined to immigrate to here and the population is
continuouslyincreased.
Tehran is Iran’s gateway to the outside world and its
imageabroadwasstronglyinfluencedbytheIranian
Revolution of the late 1970s. In the last two decades
of the 20th c. television screens and newspaper
articles around the world portrayed Tehran as a
deeply religious city steeped in tradition, fighting
against modernization and westernization. While
the Iranian self-image is that of an ancient people
with a long history and a rich heritage, Tehran
challenges these images, as the corporeal city is
relatively young. Most buildings were built after the
mid-1960s, and the population’s mean age is about
31 years; many of the city’s institutions are even
younger.
Exploring this fascinating metropolis will transport
you on a journey through more than 250 years of
Iranianhistory–fromtheglitteringGolestanPalace
and the adjacent Grand Bazaar to the beautiful
Azadi Tower and the notorious former US embassy.
Then there are the city's seventy excellent museums
and serene gardens. Many of these museums has
objectstoofferwhichyoucouldonlydreamtoseein
Louvre or Metropolitan, with thousands of years of
history.
Especially in the National and Jewelry museum
where you can find pre-history pieces, Abbasi
museum with its mesmerizing craftsmanship,
Moghaddam museum, Ceramic and glassware,
Music and Carpet museum, Time Museum and
ContemporaryArtmuseum.
GOLESTANPALACE
The lavish Golestan Palace is a masterpiece of the
Qajar era, embodying the successful integration of
earlier Persian crafts and architecture with Western
influences. The walled Palace, one of the oldest
groups of buildings in Teheran, became the seat of
government of the Qajar family, which came into
power in 1779 and made Teheran the capital of the
country. Built around a garden featuring pools as
wellasplantedareas,thePalace’smostcharacteristic
features and rich ornaments date from the 19th
century. It became a center of Qajari arts and
architecture of which it is an outstanding example
andhasremainedasourceofinspirationforIranian
artists and architects to this day. It represents a new
style incorporating traditional Persian arts and
craftsandelementsof18thcenturyarchitectureand
technology.

GOLESTANPALACE

CarpetMuseum

KASHAN
Kashan is an oasis sitting just outside Dasht-e Kavir
(also known as the Great Salt Desert) between
TehranandIsfahan.It’ssaidthatthethreewisemen
who came to Bethlehem bearing gifts for baby Jesus
hailed from Kashan. Nowadays, it’s the wealth of
architectural and historical beauties that are the
starsbrighteningthisdesertcity.
AGHA BOZORG MOSQUE AND SCHOOL
BUILDING, established during 1250, is one of the
most magnificent Islamic-Iranian monuments in
Kashan, a historic building with magnificent domes
and excellent design, two upper and lower
courtyards, massive brick dome and a porch with
twominarets.
BAZAAR OF KASHAN is thought to have been
built in the Seljuk era with renovations during the
Safavid period. The bazaar has a famous
architecture, especially at its Timche-ye Amin od-
Dowlehsection,whereagrandlightwellwasbuiltin
the19thcentury.Thesitehasbeenthecenteroftrade
in Kashan for almost 800 years. It has been an
importantplacealongtheSilkRoad.
SULTANAMIRAHMADBATHHOUSE,built
in the 16th c. and registered as a national heritage
site. The objective of the bathhouse was not only to
promote cleanliness, but also to be a place for
relaxation, discussions and praying. It is decorated
with amazing ornamental tiles, some of which are
turquoiseandgold.
TRADITIONALHOUSES
Kashan is perhaps best known for its traditional
houses: Borujerdi, Abbasi, Manouchehri,
Tabatabaei, and Ameriha. Besides their exquisite
architecture, it’s the stained glass, mirror work,
reliefs,andimposingdomesthatdazzlevisitors.
BORUJERDIS' HISTORICAL HOUSE, is an
exampleofawealthyKashanfamilyresidenceofthe
19th century. Built in 1857 by Seyyed Mehdi
Borujerdi, a merchant from Kashan who fell in love
with a girl from the affluent Tabatabaei family. To
impress her family, he dedicated this house to the
girl,whobecamehiswife.Theconstructiontook18
yearsand150craftsmen.Thehouseisnominatedby
UNESCO as the most beautiful historical house in
Asia. The architect is Ustad Ali Maryam, who built
Tabatabaei House several years later. The shape of
the exterior of Borujerdi House was once compared
withbuildings,designedbyGaudiinBarcelona.The
interior of the house is decorated with Sani ol molk
paintings and sophisticated carvings of multiple
plots.
TABATABAEI HISTORICAL HOUSE was
built in 1835 for the affluent Tabatabaei family. The
head of the family, a carpet merchant, built this
house in the name of his wife. The architect of the
houseisUstadAliMaryam.
FIN GARDEN OF KASHAN is one of the most
important structures of its kind that has been built
according to the architecture principals of Persian
gardens - registered as one of the nine prominent
IranianGardensbyUNESCOin2011.Builtin1590
undertheSafaviddynasty,whatremainsofitisfrom
the Qajar dynasty two centuries later. The main
pavilion is adorned with vibrant frescos while the
bathhouse is the site where Qajar chancellor Amir
Kabirwasmurderedbyanassassin.

BAZAAROFKASHAN

SultanAmirAhmadBathhouse

BORUJERDIS'HISTORICALHOUSE

AGHABOZORGMOSQUE

TABATABAEIHISTORICALHOUSE

FINGARDEN

HAMEDAN-ANCIENT
HEGMATANEHOREKBATANACITY
Itisamongtheworld’soldestcontinuouslyinhabited
cities.ThesituationofHamedanintermsofclimatic
andnaturalstatushaslongbeencausedtheregionto
be the place of establishment and development of
ancient civilizations, with people living in the
province 6,000 years ago. Archaeological
excavations have revealed parts of the culture and
the life of the Medes people. After the overthrow of
thatgovernment,itwasregardedasoneofthethree
Achaemenidcapital.In330BC,thecityofHamedan
was destroyed by Alexander the Great, but because
of its strategic position, it became his military
headquarter.
Late in the Seleucid period, the city was the place of
numerous encounters with Parthians until, in 155
BC, Mehrdad Ashkani seized the city. The Arab
armies entered Hamedan by 645 AD. Since the
middle of the 3rd century, the city was ruled by
Alevism. The famous mystic and poet, Baba Taher,
lived in Hamedan during this period. In the years
from 387 to 412 AD, Shams al-Dawlah Abu Taher
Shah Khosrow Dilami ruled in Hamedan, and
Avicenna,thegreatIraniandoctorandscientist,was
hisministerinthecity.TheMongolsinvasionin618
ADdestroyedHamedanandmanyofitspeopledied
in the heroic defense. During the period Ilkhanis,
the city almost regained its former importance. In
theSafavidperiodthecity,again,wasdeveloped.
The original name of the city was Hang Matana or
Hakamatana which means place of gathering and is
close to the word, association. It is believed that the
nameofthecitywasHamadan,inwhichHammeans
together and Dan means capacity, which means
AlliedAssembly.
Hamadan has always been well known for its
amazing handicrafts like carpet, leather and
ceramic. The Cultural Heritage Organization Iran
lists 207 sites of historical and cultural significance
inthecityofHamadanalone.
AVICENNA(ABUALISINA)IBNSINA
MAUSOLEUM
Built in 1952, exactly 915 years after his death, it’s a
greatconicaltowerwithtwelvesupportingcolumns.
It’s dedicated not to a warrior or a king but to a
philosopher and physician. His name is Ali Al
Husayn Ibn-Sina, but he is also known as Avicenna
and he is arguably the most important doctor and
philosopherinthehistoryofIslam.Avicennaproved
the existence of god, amalgamated all known
medical knowledge into one big book and
established a mind body dualism 600 years before
Descartes and still found time to overindulge in
wineandsex.
GANJNAMEHINSCRIPTIONS
DariusI(522-486BC)carvedhisinscriptionforthe
posterity on the rocks of the Holy Al-Wondwokh.
After him, his son Xerxes I (486-446 CE), inscribed
the same inscription. They are written in 3 columns
of 20 lines in the languages of "ancient Persian",
"Elamite"and"Babylonian”.
SHRINEOFESTHERAND
MORDECHAI
Believed to house the remains of the biblical Queen
Esther and her uncle Mordechai, it is the most
importantpilgrimagesiteforJewsinthecountry.

AVICENNAMAUSOLEUM

SHRINEOFESTHERANDMORDECHAI

GANJNAMEHINSCRIPTIONS

ZANJAN
Zanjan city was a major city in pre-historic
Azerbaijan. The name of Azerbaijan derives from
Atropates an Iranian satrap of Media under the
Achaemenidempire,wholaterwasreinstatedasthe
satrapofMediaunderAlexandertheGreat.
The original etymology of this name is thought to
haveitsrootsintheancientZoroastrianism,namely,
inAvestanFrawardinYasht("HymntotheGuardian
Angels").InPtolemy'sGeography,thecityisreferred
to as Aganzana. It is said that the Sassanid king
Ardashir I of Persia, reconstructed the city and
called it Shahin, but later it was renamed Zangan:
thepresentnameistheArabicizedform.
Hamdollah Mostowfi, the Iranian traveler and
historian,inhisbookclaimsthatZanjanwasbuiltby
ArdashirI,thefirstkingoftheSassanidEmpireand
namedas"Shahin".
SOLTANIYEHDOMEINZANJAN
TheSoltaniyehDomeisthetombofAlJaytothatwas
built in 1302-1131 in the city of Soltanieh (the
capital of the Ilkhanis), and is one of the important
works of Iranian and Islamic architecture of the
Azeri architecture. Soltaniyeh Dome is listed in the
UNESCO’s World Heritage List. It’s said that the
dome has been modeled in the dome of Florence.
Thisdomeisthethirdlargestdomeintheworldafter
the domes of Santamaria, Del Fiore and Hagia
Sophiadome.
ZANJAANBAZAAR
TheconstructionofZanjanBazaarwascompletedin
1213andin1324,mosquesandbathswereaddedtoit.
The old market collection is divided into two parts,
Eastern and Western. The geographic extent of the
bazaar and the diversity of ways in the subordinate
sections has caused each part to be dedicated to a
particular activity and the existence of mosques is
indicativeofthedynamismofthiscomplexoverthe
past times. This bazaar, which is the longest and
largest traditional market in Iran, has been
expandedfromthewesternandeasternpart.
It is located in the ancient network of the city and
consistsoftwoportionssuchastheBazaar-e-Balaor
upper section and the 'Bazaar-e-Paieen' or 'lower'
section. The Bazaar of Zanjan, was inaugurated
during the reign of Aqa Mohammad Khan Qajar in
the year 1205 AD and was completed during the
reign of Fathali Shah,1213 AH. The Russian prince
Alixis Soltikov visited this Bazaar in the year 1216
AD. Zanjan Bazaar, with 940 shops, is an
architecturally well-designed complex. The bazaar
includes market-places, inns, caravanserais,
storehouses, mosques and Turkish baths. This
enormous commercial complex is a blend of beauty
and usefulness, enclosing porticos, porches, arches
and columns. Restoration projects are underway to
prepare Zanjan historical bazaar for registration on
theWorldHeritageListofUNESCO.
Rakhtshurkhaneh - Zanjan's Museum of
Anthropology. This place was used for washing
clothesbywomenaroundthecity.Itwasconstructed
bybrothersMashadAkbarandMashadiEsmail.
COLORFULALADAGLARMOUNTAINS
One of the most amazing nature phenomenon in
Iran.Thecolorsofred,brown,green,orange,yellow
andwhitestareatthehumaneye.

ALADAGLARMOUNTAINS

SoltaniyehDome-TombofAlJayto

MOLAHASANKASHIMAUSOLEUM

ZanjanMosque

RAKHTSHURKHANEH-MUSEUMOFANTHROPOLOGY

TABRIZ
Tabriz metropolis, the capital of East-Azerbaijan
Province has played an important role in Iranian
history. Located in the NW of the country, it has
been the most important trading city of its region
anditwaschosenasthecapitalofIranseveraltimes
in history. It is now the 6th major city, with around
one and a half million residents who talk mainly
AzeriTurkishlanguage.Azeripeoplearewellknown
forbeingdiligentincommerce,industry,agriculture
andart.
Among all the handicrafts of Tabriz, this city is
mostly known for its handmade carpets and since
2015 it was included in WIPO as Carpet Weaving
City. Carpet weaving was flourished since Safavid
Dynastyandhasbeenexportedtowesterncountries
especiallysinceQajarDynasty,whichwascontinued
duringPahlavi.
TABRIZHISTORICBAZAARCOMPLEX
Tabriz has been a place of cultural exchange since
antiquity and its historic bazaar complex is one of
the most important commercial centers on the Silk
Road,prosperousandfamousinthe13thc.whenthe
town,intheprovinceofEasternAzerbaijan,became
thecapitalcityoftheSafavidKingdom.Thecitylost
its status as capital in the 16th c. but remained
important as a commercial hub until the end of the
18th c., with the expansion of Ottoman power. It is
oneofthemostcompleteexamplesofthetraditional
commercialandculturalsystemofIran.
TheBazaar,locatedalongoneofthemostfrequented
east-west trade routes, consists of a series of
interconnected, covered brick structures, buildings,
and enclosed spaces for a variety of functions -
commercial and trade-related activities, social
gatherings, and educational and religious practices.
It has been one of the most important international
places for commercial and cultural interchange,
thanks to the centuries-old east-west trading
connections and routes and to a wise policy of
endowmentsandtaxexemptions.
It has developed over the centuries into an
exceptionalphysical,economic,social,political,and
religiouscomplex,inwhichspecializedarchitectural
structures, functions, professions, and people from
different cultures are integrated in a unique living
environment.
The rich historical sources bear credible witness to
theimportanceoftheTabrizBazaaroverhistoryand
to the permanence of its layout. The fabric of the
Bazaar still exhibits the design, workmanship, and
materialsoftheperiodwhenitwasconstructedafter
the1780earthquake.
THEBLUEMOSQUE
TheBluemosqueofTabrizwasbuiltupontheorder
of Jahan Shah the ruler of Kara Koyunlu dynasty
whichmadeTabrizthecapitalofhisKingdom.
When it was constructed in 1465, the Blue Mosque
was among the most glorious buildings of its era, a
masterpiece of Iranian decorative tile work. It
survivedoneofthehistory'sworst-everearthquakes
in 1727. However, it collapsed in a later quake in
1773,andtherefore,todayonlyafewpillars,partsof
theouterwallandthemaingate,andsectionsofthe
vaultedceilingandadomeremain.

THEBLUEMOSQUE

An ancient settlement that is frequently compared to Cappadocia. With at
least 800 years existence, with homes carved inside rocks, it is partially
formedbyvolcanicremainsfromMountSahanderuptions.Therocksactas
an energy efficient materials, keeping the houses cool during summer and
warmduringwinter.

ARMENIAN MONASTIC ENSEMBLES
OFIRAN
TheWestAzerbaijanProvinceinnorthwestIranhas
a fairly sizable Christian Armenian population, so
the number of churches in this area is no surprise.
The three monastic ensembles, St. Thaddeus (the
oldest dating back to the 7th century), St. Stepanos,
and the Chapel of Dzordzor, were listed with
UNESCO in 2008. Their significance lies in their
architectural representation of the exchanges
between the regional cultures including Byzantine,
Orthodox, and Persian. The monasteries have
withstood numerous calamities, both human and
natural, throughout the centuries. St. Stepanos,
arguablythemostwell-knownofthethree,standsin
acanyonpastthetwistsandbendsoftheArasRiver
on the Azerbaijan border. These churches are still
placesofpilgrimagefortheArmeniancommunity.
MONASTERYOFSAINTTHADDEUS
(THEBLACKCHURCHORKARAKELISA)
Legendhasitthatachurchdedicatedtohimwasfirst
builtonthepresentsiteinAD68.Itwasextensively
rebuiltafteranearthquakedamageditin1319.Some
of the parts surrounding the altar date from the 7th
c. Much of the present structure dates from 1811,
when the Qajar prince Abbas Mirza aided
renovationsandrepairs.
According to Armenian Church tradition, the
Apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew traveled
through Armenia in AD 45 to preach the word of
God, where many people were converted and
numerous secret Christian communities were
established.
Armenians hold that Qara Kelisa is the world's first
church and was constructed in 68 BC by one of the
apostles of Jesus, Saint Thaddeus, who traveled to
Armenia,thenpartofthePersianEmpire,topreach
theteachingsofChrist.
The church consists of two parts: a black structure
(the original structure was black, and Qara means
black in Turkish), and a white structure, the main
church, which was added to the original building’s
westernwingin1810.
THECHAPELOFCHUPAN
A small, historic Armenian church building in a
mountainvalleywestofJolfa,neartheArasRiverin
East Azerbaijan province, built in the 16th century
andrebuiltin1836.
MONASTERYOFST.STEPANOS
Saint Stepanos Monastery is the second important
Armenian monastery in Iran after St Thaddeus
Monastery. The monastery was built in 9th century
AD,butitwasseriouslydamagedbyearthquake.So,
itwasrefurbishedinSafavidperiod.Thismonastery
is respected by all Christians and almost all other
religions. However, it actually belongs to Gregory
Christians (Followers of Gregory the Illuminator)
inhabitinginArmenia.
The church's architectural style is a mixture of
Urartan, Parthian, Greek, and Roman styles that
came to be known as Armenian subsequent to the
construction of the fantastic structures of
Echmiadzin, Thaddeus, Akhtmar, and indeed
Stephanos.Thischurch,whichhasfounditsplacein
theheartsofChristiansthroughouttheworldandis
visitedannuallybyhundredsofIranianandforeign
tourists, is located in the abandoned village of Dare
Sham,intheGechlartdistrict.

MONASTERYOFSAINTTHADDEUS

THECHAPELOFCHUPAN

MONASTERYOFST.STEPANOS

IRAN
September2019