Museum Travel Alliance -- Iran: Architecture, Gardens & Design

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MUSEUM TRAVEL ALLIANCE Dear Travelers and Friends, If you have always been intrigued by ancient cultures and great civilizations, then 2019 could be the year for a unique discovery and experience. The Museum Travel Alliance is pleased to offer a new Iran tour, "Architecture, Gardens & Design in Iran" (September 12–22, 2019). Travelers on this exclusive journey will discover the country’s most spectacular museums, ancient sites, mosques, palaces, and public centers. They will also enjoy Iran’s contemporary culture, with opportunities to attend a live performance of traditional Persian music, dine at local restaurants, see contemporary art, meet artists, and shop at lively bazaars. Begin in Shiraz to admire tombs of mystical Persian poets, elegant architecture, and fine handicrafts. In Persepolis, wander vast ruins that have remained nearly unchanged since the city was destroyed by Alexander the Great. Continue to Isfahan, the 17th-century capital of the Safavid Dynasty, to stroll the magnificent square (the Maidan-e-Naghsh-e-Jahan), and explore a sumptuous palace, a music museum, the city’s Armenian Quarter, and a historic bazaar known for its handicrafts and kilim rugs. Our journey concludes in the capital of Tehran. Explore collections of art, artifacts, and jewelry at several of the city’s finest museums, and admire extraordinary tilework at the UNESCO-listed Golestan Palace complex. There will also be opportunities to see some of Iran’s famous gardens in Shiraz, Isfahan, and Kashan. Arrangements Abroad, the tour operator for MTA, has taken travelers to Iran for many years. The local tour operator has been a trusted partner on all these trips, and we’ll have one of the top guides in the country. I had the opportunity to travel to Iran in 2017 with my wife Liz. We found the Iranian people to be extremely gracious and welcoming towards Americans and the sights inspiring—far beyond our expectations. From the haunting caravanserais along the old trade routes to the splendidly tiled city mosques, the country’s elegant 2,500-year-old heritage exists alongside a new creative energy. With the endless array of cultural splendors that awaits, this journey to Iran promises to be a trip of a lifetime. And you will enjoy traveling in the congenial company of members from a number of museums and cultural institutions. We hope you will join us. SPECIAL NOTE ON THE REQUIRED VISA: Due to strict guidelines imposed for necessary visas to travel to Iran, the deadline for enrollment in this September program is May 15, 2019. A passport-sized photo is required for enrollment. Please review the U.S. State Department’s Travel Advisory for Iran at travel.state.gov. Arrangements Abroad has safely operated a dozen trips to Iran over the last decade and welcomes your participation. Sincerely, Jim Friedlander President, Museum Travel Alliance HIGHLIGHTS DISCOVER UNESCO World Heritage Sites, from ancient ruins to medieval mosques to lush gardens. This includes visits to ten palaces and houses, eight museums and collections, seven mosques, six gardens, three ruins, two bazaars, and one vault filled with gems and jewels. BROWSE age-old bazaars in Shiraz and Isfahan. MARVEL at the 2,500-year-old ruins of Persepolis, once the center of the great Persian Empire and one of the most important sites of the Ancient World. MEET contemporary artists during private gallery visits, and learn about the creation of beautiful Persian carpets.
Iran: Architecture, Gardens & Design Shiraz, Persepolis, Isfahan, Kashan & Tehran September 12–22, 2019 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12: ISTANBUL AIRPORT Arrive independently to Istanbul Airport by late afternoon. We will meet there to connect to our late-night flight to Shiraz. Narenjestan Palace, Shiraz FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13: SHIRAZ Arrive in Shiraz in the early hours and transfer to the Homa Hotel for time to rest. Rooms have been reserved from the night before, so they will be ready for us. In the afternoon, depart to visit the Qajar-period Narenjestan Palace and Garden and the elegant Pars Museum. We will also see the tomb of the poet Saadi and the Masjid-i-Vakil, a mosque famed for its spacious prayer hall of vaulted bays, twisting columns, and stained-glass windows. This evening stop at a carpet merchant before dinner. B,L,D SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14: SHIRAZ After breakfast, depart for the pink-tiled 19th-century Nasir-al-Mulk (Pink Mosque) to see its beautiful stainedglass windows in the morning light. Continue to the Khan Madrasa (school) to see a restoration workshop, and stop at the Vakil Bazaar. This afternoon, visit the Stone Museum and see the tomb of Hafez (time permitting). In the evening, explore the Naranj Art Gallery before dinner, where we hope to be joined by some artists. B,L,D Abstract Calligraphy by Amin Ashrafian, Naranj Art Gallery, Shiraz Nasir-al-Mulk (Pink Mosque), Shiraz
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Museum Travel Alliance -- Iran: Architecture, Gardens & Design

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