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ATRIPTOIRAN<br />
InSeptember2019,Ireturnedfromalong,magnificenttriptoIran.<br />
Iran (known as Persia in the past) is one of the world's oldest<br />
civilizationsdatingbackto3,000years,andhasbeenamongtheworld's<br />
most thoughtful and complex civilizations from the very beginning.<br />
Some of history's biggest names - Cyrus and Darius, Alexander the<br />
Great, Genghis Khan - all left their mark here and the cities they<br />
conquered or over which they ruled are among the finest in a region<br />
rich with such storied ruins. There are aspects of Iranian civilization<br />
that,inonewayoranother,havetouchedalmosteveryhumanbeingon<br />
the planet. Iran ought to be one of the world's most treasured travel<br />
destinations, blessed as it is with extraordinary historical sites,<br />
exquisite landscapes and a fascinating culture that has influenced<br />
cultures and peoples in different parts of the world including Europe,<br />
East Asia, and South Asia. This culture encompasses many disciplines<br />
including literature, music, dance, architecture, painting, weaving,<br />
pottery,calligraphy,metalworkingandstonemasonry.<br />
Iran is a treasure house for some of the most beautiful architecture on<br />
the planet. Seemingly at every turn, Islam's historical commitment to<br />
aestheticbeautyandexquisitearchitecturereignssupreme.<br />
Iran'sgreatestattractioncouldjustbeitspeople.TheIranians,anation<br />
madeupofnumerousethnicgroupsandinfluencedoverthousandsof<br />
years by Greek, Arab, Turkic and Mongol occupiers, are endlessly<br />
welcoming,warmandfriendly.<br />
DIMITRASTASINOPOULOU
SHIRAZ<br />
ShirazisthecapitalofFarsprovince,oneofthemost<br />
beautiful, historical cities in the world. Farsi<br />
(Persian or Parsi) the language of Ancient Fars<br />
(Pars), has become the official language of Iran<br />
(Persia). The name of Shiraz has been found in the<br />
AchaemenidinscriptionsinPersepolis.Thiscityhas<br />
been known as the cultural capital of the country,<br />
the2 nd literarycityintheworld,the3 rd religiouscity,<br />
the3 rd holyshrineofIranandthecityofpoetry,wine<br />
and flower. The tombs of Hafez and Saadi, the<br />
country’s most famous poets, are also here.The city<br />
embracesamajorpartofIran’sancienthistory,with<br />
many historical, cultural, religious and natural<br />
attractions.<br />
ThefirsthistoricaldocumentsaboutShirazindicate<br />
its centrality and importance during the Sassanid<br />
period. And after that, we can see its continual<br />
presence in the literary and historical documents<br />
related to different Islamic periods. The name of<br />
Shirazhasalwaysbeenaccompaniedbytheconcepts<br />
of art, culture and peace. The same features made<br />
Shirazoneofthefewcitiesthatweresparedboththe<br />
MongolonslaughtandTimur’sattack.<br />
Choosing Shiraz as the capital of Iran and<br />
establishing the great cultural complexes, with<br />
support of a courtesy and righteous ruler, Zand<br />
dynasty,addedtothegloryandgrandeurofthecity.<br />
SHRINEOFSHAHCHERAGH<br />
ShāhChérāghisafunerarymonumentandmosque<br />
housing the tomb of the brothers Ahmad and<br />
Muhammad, sons of Mūsā al-Kādhim and brothers<br />
of ‘Alī ar-Ridhā. The two took refuge in the city<br />
duringtheAbbasidpersecutionofShiaMuslims.<br />
Shāh-é-Chérāgh is Persian for "King of the Light".<br />
Thisshrinewasbuiltinthe6 th c.Thedecorativework<br />
in a mosaic of mirror glass, the inscriptions in<br />
stucco, the ornamentation, the doors covered with<br />
panels of silver, the portico, and the wide courtyard<br />
aremostattractive.Itisthemostimportantplaceof<br />
pilgrimagewithinthecityofShiraz.<br />
TOMBOFSAADI<br />
Tomb and mausoleum dedicated to the iconic<br />
Persian poet Saadi. He was born in Shiraz around<br />
1200,andiswidelyrecognizedasoneofthegreatest<br />
poets of the classical literary tradition, earning the<br />
nickname "Master of Speech". In the 13 th c. a tomb<br />
was built for Saadi by Vizir Shams al-Din Juvayni.<br />
The current building was built between 1950 and<br />
1952.Aroundthetombonthewallsaresevenverses<br />
ofSaadi’spoems.<br />
Oneofhispoemsiswrittenontopoftheentranceof<br />
the United Nations: ‘Human beings are members of<br />
a whole, in creation of one essence and soul. If one<br />
member is afflicted with pain, other members<br />
uneasy will remain. If you’ve no sympathy for<br />
humanpain,thenameofhumanyoucannotretain’.<br />
Huge number of Iranians pay a visit to this burial<br />
placeandshowtheirrespecttoSaadiandinterestin<br />
hisworks,proseandpoems.<br />
TOMBOFHAFEZ<br />
In memory of the celebrated Persian poet Hafez,<br />
who was born in Shiraz in 1315 and died there in<br />
1390. A beloved figure of the Iranian people, who<br />
learnhisversesbyheart.Hafez’scollectedworks,the
Divān,isregardedasapinnacleofPersianliterature.<br />
Almost every home in the country contains this<br />
book, and it is regularly read and consulted for<br />
guidanceandinspiration.<br />
In his memory, a small, dome-like structure was<br />
erectedinShiraznearhisgraveatGolgast-eMosalla<br />
in 1452 at the order of Abul-Qasim Babur Mirza, a<br />
Timurid governor. The Golgast-e Mosalla were<br />
gardens (now known as Musalla Gardens) that<br />
featuredinHafiz'spoetry.<br />
NASIRAL-MULKMOSQUE<br />
Nasir al-Mulk Mosque was constructed between<br />
1876 and 1888, during the Qajar dynasty, which<br />
ruled Iran from 1785 to 1925. Also known as the<br />
“Pink Mosque” due to the plethora of pink-colored<br />
tiles blanketing the ceiling. With a spectacular<br />
rainbow of stained glass, thousands of painted tiles<br />
on the ceiling and Persian rugs covering the floor,<br />
the "Pink Mosque" is one of the most beautiful in<br />
Iran.The tiling is spectacular and unique. Nowhere<br />
else in the whole world can you find similar tiling,<br />
which are full of pink flowers, pink borders and<br />
gorgeous small pictures of European buildings.<br />
Another unique point is that pink color is not used<br />
inanyothermosqueinIran.<br />
ARG-EKARIMKHANCITADEL<br />
The 18 th century Karim Khan citadel stands in the<br />
center of Shiraz. Above the entrance gate, you will<br />
notice a sizable tile-worked scene of Rostam’s battle<br />
against a demon. Rostam is the protagonist<br />
character of Shahnameh, the epic poem book of<br />
Ferdowsy, the most well-known Iranian poet<br />
of10 th c.<br />
Inside there are residential quarters, baths and a<br />
courtyardfilledwithcitrustrees. Itisrectangularin<br />
shapeandresemblesamedievalfortress.<br />
VAKILMOSQUE<br />
The entire structure is extravagantly built. There’s a<br />
vast courtyard with a relatively long pool in the<br />
middleofit.Vakilmeansregent,whichwasthetitle<br />
used by Karim Khan, the founder of Zand Dynasty.<br />
ShirazwastheseatofKarimKhan'sgovernmentand<br />
heendowedmanybuildings,includingthismosque.<br />
Builtbetween1751and1773,wasrestoredinthe19 th<br />
c.Itsnightprayerhall,withanareaofapproximately<br />
2,700 square meters, contains 48 monolithic pillars<br />
carved in spirals, each with a capital of acanthus<br />
leaves.ThemosqueisconnectedtoVakilBazaarand<br />
almost attached to Vakil Bathhouse with a lane in<br />
between.Althoughitwascommontobuildmosques<br />
with domes, the Vakil Mosque doesn’t have any<br />
dome.<br />
VAKILBATH<br />
Vakil Bath is built based on a standard and highlydeveloped<br />
architecture. A distinguishing fact about<br />
VakilBathisthatitslightisprovidedbythegoblets<br />
that are designed in the ceiling. The admiring<br />
paintings on the walls have interesting themes of<br />
Persian mythology, epic, and religious narratives<br />
that have strong roots in the beliefs of the people.<br />
Onespecialfactaboutancientbathsisthattheywere<br />
not just normal baths for cleansing the body. The<br />
otherfunctiontheyusedtohavewastobeaplacefor<br />
particular ceremonies like baby shower, marriage<br />
proposals,andotheroldmarriagetraditions.<br />
VAKILBAZAAR<br />
VakilBazaarisShiraz’smainmarketplaceandhome<br />
to hundreds of shops and stalls. Satisfyingly<br />
labyrinthine,thebazaaristheplaceforbuyingrugs,<br />
spices, jewelry, and household goods, with<br />
teahouses, courtyards, caravanserais, and the<br />
traditional bathhouse are here. The vaulted arched<br />
ceilings are a fine example of 18 th century Zand<br />
architecture.Itisthoughtthatthemarketoriginally<br />
was established by the Buwayhids in the 11 th c, was<br />
completed mainly by the Atabaks of Fars, and was<br />
renamedafterKarimKhanZandonlyinthe18 th c.<br />
PERSIAN GARDENS – GARDENS OF<br />
PARADISE<br />
The Persian garden was conceived to symbolize<br />
Eden and the four Zoroastrian elements of sky,<br />
earth, water and plants. The notion of the Persian<br />
Garden permeates Iranian life and its artistic<br />
expressions: references to the garden may be found<br />
in literature, poetry, music, calligraphy and carpet<br />
design. The tradition and style of garden design<br />
represented by Persian gardens, has influenced the<br />
design of gardens from Andalusia to India and<br />
beyond. From the time of the Achaemenid Empire,<br />
the idea of an earthly paradise spread through<br />
Persian literature and example to other cultures,<br />
both the Hellenistic gardens of the Seleucid Empire<br />
and the Ptolemies in Alexandria. The Avestan word<br />
pairidaēza was borrowed into Akkadian, and then<br />
into Greek Ancient Greek: παράδεισος,<br />
Romanized: parádeisos, then rendered into the<br />
Latin paradīsus, and from there entered into<br />
European languages, e.g., French paradis, German<br />
Paradies, and English paradise.<br />
As the word expresses, such gardens would have<br />
been enclosed. The garden's purpose was, and is, to<br />
provide a place for protected relaxation in a variety<br />
of manners: spiritual, and leisurely (such as<br />
meetings with friends), essentially a paradise on<br />
earth.<br />
NARENJESTANGARDEN(QAVAM)<br />
The majestic mansion was built between 1879 and<br />
1886 by the wealthy merchant, Mohammad Ali<br />
Khan Qavam al-Molk. The building has been<br />
rehabilitatedoncebyEbrahimQavamandhasbeen<br />
decorated with mirrors, paintings, tilework, plaster<br />
work, and inlay. It is an architectural feast of Qajar<br />
period. Due to abundance of sour orange trees it is<br />
called Narenjestan. The Qavam "Naranjestan"<br />
preserves the elegance and refinement enjoyed by<br />
the upper-class families during the 19 th c. The<br />
paintings on the low ceilings of the house are<br />
inspired by Victorian era Europe. The greenish<br />
surroundings epitomize the genuine concept of<br />
PersianGarden,aUNESCO-inscribedelementthat<br />
interweaves natural elements with manmade<br />
components to embody the Paradise on Earth<br />
through a patchwork of artistic, philosophical,<br />
figurative,andreligiousnotions.<br />
ERAMGARDENS,BAGH-ÉERAM<br />
One of the most famous historical gardens in Iran,<br />
these grounds and the building within them were<br />
built in the mid-13 th century, but renovated 600<br />
years later. Eram owes its fame and importance to<br />
the botanical gardens that are home to a variety of<br />
unique and rare plants. Most of the restoration was<br />
done by Karim Khan Zand, whereas the charming<br />
edificeinthecenterofthegardenwasconstructedby<br />
Qajarkingdom.
NASIRAL-MULKMOSQUE
NARENJESTANGARDEN(QAVAM)
TOMBOFSAADI
ARG-EKARIMKHANCITADEL
VAKILMOSQUE
VAKILBATH
MADRASAKHAN
ERAMGARDENS,BAGH-ÉERAM
TOMBOFHAFEZ
SHRINEOFSHAHCHERAGH
PERSEPOLIS<br />
Founded by Darius I in 518 B.C., Persepolis was the<br />
capital of the Achaemenid Empire, built on an<br />
immense half-artificial, half-natural terrace, where<br />
the King of Kings created an impressive palace<br />
complex inspired by Mesopotamian models.<br />
Renowned as the gem of Achaemenid (Persian)<br />
ensembles in the fields of architecture, urban<br />
planning,constructiontechnology,andart,theroyal<br />
city of Persepolis ranks among the archaeological<br />
siteswhichhavenoequivalentandwhichbearunique<br />
witnesstoamostancientcivilization.<br />
The Achaemenid kings Darius I (522-486 BCE), his<br />
son Xerxes I (486-465 BCE), and his grandson<br />
Artaxerxes I (465-424 BCE) built a splendid palatial<br />
complex. This 13-ha ensemble of majestic<br />
approaches, monumental stairways, throne rooms<br />
(Apadana), reception rooms, and dependencies is<br />
classified among the world’s greatest archaeological<br />
sites.Theterraceisagrandiosearchitecturalcreation,<br />
withitsdoubleflightofaccessstairs,wallscoveredby<br />
sculpted friezes at various levels, contingent<br />
Assyrianesque propylaea (monumental gateway),<br />
gigantic sculpted winged bulls, and remains of large<br />
halls.Bycarefullyengineeringlighterroofsandusing<br />
wooden lintels, the Achaemenid architects were able<br />
to use a minimal number of astonishingly slender<br />
columns to support open area roofs. Columns were<br />
topped with elaborate capitals; typical was the<br />
double-bull capital where, resting on double volutes,<br />
the forequarters of two kneeling bulls, placed backto-back,<br />
extend their coupled necks and their twin<br />
headsdirectlyundertheintersectionsofthebeamsof<br />
the ceiling. The terrace of Persepolis continues to be,<br />
asitsfounderDariuswouldhavewished,theimageof<br />
the Achaemenid monarchy itself, the summit where<br />
likenesses of the king reappear unceasingly, here as<br />
the conqueror of a monster, there carried on his<br />
throne by the downtrodden enemy, and where<br />
lengthy cohorts of sculpted warriors and guards,<br />
dignitaries,andtributebearersparadeendlessly.<br />
Persepolis was the seat of government of the<br />
Achaemenid Empire, though it was designed<br />
primarilytobeashowplaceandspectacularcenterfor<br />
the receptions and festivals of the kings and their<br />
empire.<br />
PASARGADAE–MAUSOLEUMOF<br />
CYRUSII<br />
Pasargadae was the first dynastic capital of the<br />
Achaemenid Empire, founded by Cyrus II the Great,<br />
inthe6thc.BC.SpanningtheEasternMediterranean<br />
and Egypt to the Hindus River, it is considered to be<br />
thefirstempirethatrespectedtheculturaldiversityof<br />
itsdifferentpeoples.<br />
Pasargadae stands as an exceptional witness to the<br />
Achaemenid civilization. The vast Achaemenid<br />
Empire, which extended from the eastern<br />
Mediterranean and Egypt to the Hindus River in<br />
India, is considered the first empire to be<br />
characterizedbyarespectfortheculturaldiversityof<br />
its peoples. This respect was reflected in the royal<br />
Achaemenid architecture, which became a<br />
synthesized representation of the empire’s different<br />
cultures. Pasargadae represents the first phase of this<br />
development into a specifically Persian architecture,<br />
which later found its full expression in the city of<br />
Persepolis.<br />
There is no doubt that Pasargadae represents the<br />
ancientcapitaloftheAchaemenians,andisauthentic<br />
in terms of its location and setting, materials and<br />
substance,andformsanddesign.
PASARGADAE–MAUSOLEUMOFCYRUSII
YAZD<br />
The City of Yazd is located in the middle of the<br />
Iranian plateau, 270 km southeast of Isfahan, close<br />
totheSpiceandSilkRoads.Itbearslivingtestimony<br />
to the use of limited resources for survival in the<br />
desert. The historic city, with a history of several<br />
thousandyears,isthemostextensive,systematicand<br />
original historical area of Iran and the second<br />
largest residential adobe area of the world. The<br />
name is derived from Yazdegerd I, a Sassanid ruler<br />
of Persia and has been a center for Zoroastrianism<br />
sincethe3rdc.AD.ThewordyazdmeansGod.After<br />
the Arab conquest of Iran, many Zoroastrians<br />
migratedtoYazdfromneighboringprovinces.<br />
Because of its remote desert location and the<br />
difficulty of access, Yazd remained largely immune<br />
to large battles and the destruction and ravages of<br />
war. For instance, it was a haven for those fleeing<br />
from destruction in other parts of Persian Empire<br />
duringtheMongolinvasion.In1272itwasvisitedby<br />
Marco Polo, who remarked on the city's fine silkweavingindustry.<br />
Yazd is an important center of Persian architecture.<br />
Because of its climate, it has one of the largest<br />
networksofqanatsintheworld.Theextent,integrity<br />
andpreservationofthehistoricaloriginalityaspects<br />
of the city, as well as the use of indigenous local<br />
materialsandconsumptionoftheleastenergyinthe<br />
construction of adobe buildings, is one of the most<br />
distinctivefeaturesoftheYazduniquearchitecture,<br />
compatible with the hot and dry climate of the<br />
desert. The historical construction of this city,<br />
windmills, Qanat system, traditional and adobe<br />
alleysandhouses,minaretsanddomesarethemost<br />
significant apparent characteristics. Vicinity to Silk<br />
Road, historical buildings, reservoir, hammams,<br />
baths, bazaars, mosques, Tekyehs, prisons,<br />
Hussainiyas, temples, old gardens, Zoroastrian<br />
temples, etc. are the other specific features of this<br />
historicalcity.<br />
YAZD FIRE TEMPLE - BAHRAM FIRE<br />
TEMPLE (or Vararam fire temple) is one of the<br />
premisesoftheZoroastrians,datedbacktoPahlaviI<br />
era, while its architecture derived from the<br />
Achaemenid art. Farvahar is manifested on the<br />
frieze of the mansion that was built under the<br />
supervision of Arbab Jamshid Amanat by<br />
ZoroastriansandIndiaPersiansin1313SH.<br />
There is a holy fire within a large firebox made of<br />
Bronze which must always be on and someone who<br />
is called Hirbod is responsible for keeping it in this<br />
place; it dates back to 1500 years and is highly<br />
respectablebyZoroastrians.<br />
JAMEHMOSQUE,YAZD<br />
The mosque is a fine specimen of Persian<br />
architecture. The entrance is crowned by a pair of<br />
minarets, the highest in Iran, dating back to the<br />
Safavid era. The entrance is decorated from top to<br />
bottom in exquisite tile work. Within is a long<br />
arcaded courtyard where, behind a deep-set southeast<br />
iwan, is the sanctuary chamber. This chamber,<br />
under a squat tiled dome, is exquisitely decorated<br />
with tile mosaic: its tall tiled Mihrab, dated 1365, is<br />
oneofthefinestofitskindinexistence.
JAMEHMOSQUE
ZOROASTRIANFIRETEMPLE
SahebAZamanZurkhanek
SARYAZDFORTRESS
TOWEROFSILENCE
ISFAHAN<br />
Isfahan was once one of the largest and most<br />
important cities in Central Asia, positioned as it is<br />
onthecrossroadsofthemainnorth-southandeastwest<br />
trade routes that cross Central Asia. The city<br />
was the splendid capital of the Seljuq and Safavid<br />
dynasties,andisrenownedforitsbeauty,whichhas<br />
given rise to the Iranian saying that “Isfahan is half<br />
theworld”.<br />
Commercehasalwaysbeencentraltothegrowthof<br />
Isfahan, to the extent that the Safavid Shah Abbas I<br />
(1588-1629) effectively re-routed the Silk Road<br />
throughIsfahanandmadethecityhiscapital,sothat<br />
his empire would enjoy a trading monopoly. By the<br />
17 th c. the city attracted not only European<br />
merchantsbutalsomissionariesandmercenaries,as<br />
it became a religiously tolerant center of mercantile<br />
anddiplomaticactivity.<br />
Isfahanfirstrosetointernationalprominenceasthe<br />
capital of the great Seljuq Empire (1038-1194),<br />
which stretched from Central Asia to Syria. The<br />
Seljuqs had a huge impact on the cultural and<br />
architectural development of the city, and the<br />
consolidationoftheirempirewasalsosignificantin<br />
unifying a territory that had been competed for by<br />
diverse ethnic groups in central Asia for centuries;<br />
mainly, Arabic, Turkish, and local Iranian peoples.<br />
Under the Seljuqs, a new, uniquely Iranian, eastern<br />
Islamic architecture emerged in the city, and in<br />
particular, the traditional mosque layout (brought<br />
to Iran in 749 by its first Islamic rulers, the<br />
Abbasids) was replaced by a new design, based<br />
around four iwans (vast halls, open at one end), as<br />
representedintheGreatFridayMosque,theMasjidi<br />
Jami. The Seljuq Turks excelled in the design of<br />
very large vaulted spaces and in the decorative<br />
articulation of buildings inside and out using<br />
complexbrickpatterns,andpromotedthecustomof<br />
organizing important urban buildings around an<br />
open, a large rectangular town square, known as a<br />
maidan.<br />
The Safavid Empire (1502 - 1736) saw a further<br />
development of Isfahan, although the city was not<br />
chosen straight away as the imperial capital. Shah<br />
Abbas I, who reigned from 1588 to 1629, made the<br />
decisiontomovethecapitalfromQazvintoIsfahan<br />
in 1590, motivated both by the city's enormous<br />
economicpotentialandpositionatthecrossroadsof<br />
trade, and by concerns for security, given its central<br />
location at a safe distance from troubled<br />
borderlands.<br />
TheSafavidswerealocal,Iraniandynasty.Itwasnot<br />
until the reign of Shah Abbas I that the city was<br />
renovatedinastylethatbrokewithSeljuqtradition,<br />
with the construction of many of the monuments<br />
and buildings for which Isfahan is renowned today.<br />
Wealth and labor were used to build bridges, roads<br />
andcaravanseraistoencourageandfacilitatetrade.<br />
At the center of the new city, a magnificent new<br />
maidan (city square) was constructed, some 510 by<br />
158 meters, named the "Design of the World"<br />
Maidan(Maidan-iNaqsh-iJahan).Itsdesignunited<br />
allofthefacetsoftheSafavidpolityintoonespatial<br />
diagram: worship (the Shah Mosque),<br />
commemoration (the Mosque of Sheikh Lotfallah),<br />
sovereign administration (the Imperial Palace), and<br />
trade(QaisariyaBazaar).
A number of major religious buildings were also<br />
constructed in Isfahan in this period; including the<br />
MosqueofSheikhLotfollah(1603-1619),conflating<br />
the style of a mausoleum and a mosque, and the<br />
Shah Mosque (1611-1666) which has a towering<br />
170-foot high domed chamber. Unprecedented use<br />
of color dominates the decoration of the entrance<br />
gateways,domes,minarets,andsomeinteriorspaces<br />
ofthesebuildings.Theuseofpolychromatictileasa<br />
surface ornament was known in other periods of<br />
Iranian history, but it was the Safavids who<br />
established colorful tiling as the most salient<br />
characteristic of Iranian architecture, and this<br />
decorativestylereacheditszenithinIsfahan.<br />
MEIDANEMAMSQUARE<br />
HistoricalsquareofNaqsh-eJahan,currentlyknown<br />
asMeidanEmamisoneofthelargest,mostbeautiful<br />
andmagnificentsquaresintheworld,establishedin<br />
a garden named Naqsh-e Jahan in a rectangleshaped<br />
place commissioned by Shah Abbas I. It is<br />
listed under UNESCO’s heritage sites. Four<br />
remarkable architectural monuments are placed<br />
here: Emam historical mosque in the south, Sheikh<br />
Lotfollahmosqueintheeast,ĀliQāpupalaceinthe<br />
westandQeysariegateinthenorth.<br />
The square has had different functions over time:<br />
establishing a Royal Palace and holding<br />
ceremonies, military marches, ritual punishment<br />
of convicts etc. refers to the political implications;<br />
the existence of two important mosques on two<br />
sides, holding ceremonies and rituals as well as<br />
congregational prayers in the square in cases of the<br />
lack of space in Emam Mosque, indicates the<br />
religious functions and the commercial functions<br />
are as well apparent in positioning the square at the<br />
heartofbazaar.<br />
SHEIKHLOTFOLLAHMOSQUE<br />
Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque is one of the architectural<br />
masterpieces of Iranian architecture, built during<br />
the Safavid Empire. Construction started in 1603<br />
andfinishedin1619,duringthereignofShahAbbas<br />
I. Of the four monuments that dominated the<br />
perimeter of the square, this one was the first to be<br />
built.<br />
The purpose was for it to be private to the royal<br />
court, and that is why it does not have<br />
any minarets and is smaller. Shah Abbas had put<br />
great effort into making this a sacred place for the<br />
ladiesofhisharem,andtheexquisitetile-workisfar<br />
superiortothatcoveringtheShahMosque.Toavoid<br />
having to walk across the Square to the mosque, he<br />
hadthearchitectbuildatunnelspanningthepiazza<br />
fromtheAliQapuPalace.<br />
MASJED-EJĀMÉMOSQUE<br />
TheMasjed-eJāmé(‘Fridaymosque’)canbeseenas<br />
a stunning illustration of the evolution of mosque<br />
architecture over 12 centuries, starting in ad 841. It<br />
istheoldestpreservededificeofitstypeinIranand<br />
a prototype for later mosque designs throughout<br />
Central Asia. The complex, covering more than<br />
20,000 m 2 , is also the first Islamic building that<br />
adapted the four-courtyard layout of Sassanid<br />
palaces to Islamic religious architecture. Its doubleshelled<br />
ribbed domes represent an architectural<br />
innovation that inspired builders throughout the<br />
region. The site also features remarkable decorative<br />
details representative of stylistic developments over<br />
morethanathousandyearsofIslamicart.<br />
ALIQAPUPALACE<br />
TheRoyalPalaceofAliQapudominatesthewestern<br />
side of Naqsh-e Iahan Square. The palace was<br />
founded in 1597, during the 11 th year of Shah<br />
Abbas’s reign, to serve as his place of residence. On<br />
its completion, the building soared to the height of<br />
38m,thusbeingthefirstIraniansky-scraper.Itwas<br />
definitely “the largest ever built in any capital’: as<br />
testified by Chardin, the famous French traveler to<br />
theSafavidcourtinthe17 th century.Initsfinalform<br />
thepalaceoccupiesthetotalareaof1,476sq.mand<br />
consists of 52 rooms arranged on a very elaborate<br />
planonsixfloors. AliQapumeans“TheHighGate”:<br />
By the time Ali Qapu was created, a palace with the<br />
samenamealreadyexistedinIstanbul,thecapitalof<br />
the Ottomans who were the bitterest rivals of the<br />
Safavids. By this act, Shah Abbas, who strived to<br />
integrate his country into European markets and<br />
force out the Turks from there, sought admiration<br />
andapprovalfromhisEuropeanguestsandbusiness<br />
partners.<br />
CHEHELSOTOUNPALACE<br />
ChehelSotounwasbuiltbyShahAbbasIItobeused<br />
forhisentertainmentandreceptions.Inthispalace,<br />
Shah Abbas II and his successors would receive<br />
dignitariesandambassadors.<br />
As with Ali Qapu, the palace contains many<br />
exquisitefrescoesandpaintingsonceramic.Manyof<br />
theceramicpanelshavebeendispersedandarenow<br />
inthepossessionofmajormuseumsinthewest. All<br />
these elements are representative of the proficiency<br />
of the skillful Iranian masters and architectures.<br />
Thereisapool,veranda,andseveralhalls.<br />
KHAJU BRIDGE (BABA ROKNEDIN<br />
BRIDGE)<br />
Pole Khaju or Kahju Bridge is the finest bridge in<br />
Isfahan.ThisbridgewasbuiltinorderofShahAbbas<br />
II,thePersianSafavidKing,in1650.Ithas23arches<br />
with a length of 133 meters and width of 12 meters.<br />
Thebridgepasswayis7.5meterswideandthistwostorey<br />
bridge is made of bricks and stones. Besides<br />
functioning as a bridge and a weir, it also functions<br />
as a building and a place for public meetings. This<br />
bridge is decorated with artistic tilework and<br />
fabulous paintings. There is a pavilion in the center<br />
of the structure that Shah Abbas (King Abbas) has<br />
oncesatonandadmiredtheview.<br />
VANK–ARMENIANCATHEDRAL<br />
Vank cathedral or Amena Pergic, the largest and<br />
mostbeautifulcathedralinIsfahan’sJulfa,oneofthe<br />
historical Armenian cathedrals, was established in<br />
the Shah Abbas II in 1605. It was, built by the<br />
hundreds of thousands of Armenians that were<br />
forciblyresettledbyShahAbbasI,inhisnewcapital<br />
as part of his scorched-earth policy in Armenia<br />
duringtheOttomanWarof1603-1618.Theinterior<br />
is covered with fine frescos and gilded carvings and<br />
includes a wainscot of rich tile work. The delicately<br />
blue and gold painted central dome depicts the<br />
Biblicalstoryofthecreationoftheworldandman's<br />
expulsionfromEden.Theceilingabovetheentrance<br />
is painted with delicate floral motifs in the style<br />
ofPersianminiature.
JamehMosque,Yazd<br />
MASJED-EJĀMÉMOSQUE
SheikhLotfollahMosque
NAQSH-EJAHANSQUARE
ALIQAPUPALACE
CHEHELSOTOUNPALACE
MASJED-EJĀMÉMOSQUE
VANK–ARMENIANCATHEDRAL
KHAJUBRIDGE
ABYANEHVILLAGE<br />
Abyaneh, also known as the Red Village, because<br />
of its red soil and houses, is an ancient Iranian<br />
village located at the foot of Karkas Mountain, 70<br />
kilometers southeast of Kashan in Isfahan<br />
province. It is a place of living traditions,<br />
architectural styles (all in red clay) and probably<br />
one of the most interesting examples of human<br />
adaptation to nature. Compact, with narrow and<br />
sloped lanes, and houses located on the slope as if<br />
placed on a stairway, with houses that bear an<br />
ancient architectural style, featured by the use of<br />
clay as the construction material and latticed<br />
windowsandwoodendoors.Itisbelievedthatthe<br />
remote location of the village and its isolation<br />
throughout history has led to preserving the most<br />
traditional local ceremonies and feasts, as well as<br />
the language and other aspects of people’s culture.<br />
OneoftheloveliestvillagesinIran.Inaworldthat<br />
traditions are losing the battle to globalization,<br />
seeing an intact authentic community is truly<br />
blessed.<br />
The village has a long history which dates back to<br />
more than 2,000 years ago and been registered on<br />
Iran’s National Heritage List since 1975. The word<br />
Abyaneh, has been derived from the word “viona”<br />
meaning a willow grove. It’s been known an<br />
entrancetoIranianhistoryasthelocalsaredeeply<br />
committed to honoring their traditions. The<br />
languagespokenbytheliteratepeopleofAbyaneh<br />
isParthianPahlavi.<br />
Abyaneh people have their unique culture,<br />
completely different from any other place nearby.<br />
They have their own accent, clothes, house, and<br />
traditions. Beside the architectural differences,<br />
clothing is another cultural element. It is<br />
commonlythoughtthattheyareolderpeoplewho<br />
preserve the traditions, but not in Abyaneh case.<br />
People in Abyaneh, from all age ranges, wear the<br />
village traditional clothes; even little children.<br />
Womenclothingincludesdress,Shaliteh(akindof<br />
skirt), scarf, headband, socks, footwear or Giveh<br />
(is a kind of soft, comfortable, durable and handwoven-top<br />
shoe common in several parts of Iran).<br />
The dress is loose and long. They also use square<br />
shape scarfs and they fold and put on the triangle<br />
shapedscarf.Menhavetheirspecialclothesaswell.<br />
Theywearlonglooseblacktrousers.<br />
Oneofthemostinterestingthingsthatyoucansee<br />
in the village, is the beautifully carved wooden<br />
doors of most of the houses, and their doorknockers.<br />
If you pay close attention to some of<br />
thesespectaculardoors,you’llnoticethatthereare<br />
a pair of door-knockers on them. One with a long<br />
shape, and one with a circular shape, each with a<br />
distinct sound. One for male users and one for<br />
femaleusers.<br />
Initial archaeological excavations resulted in the<br />
discovery of a residential area belonging to the<br />
Sassanid era. According to a report released<br />
followingthevisitofUNESCOrepresentativesand<br />
expertsofworldheritage,thehistoricalVillagehas<br />
been recognized appropriate for being registered<br />
inlistofUNESCO’sWorldHeritageSites.
TEHRAN<br />
Tehran, the Capital of Iran, a bustling metropolis of<br />
14millionpeople,islocatedonthesouthhillsideof<br />
theAlborzmountainrange.Tehranconsistsofthree<br />
parts as “Kan” , ”Markazi”, and “Aftab”; three cities<br />
named “Tehran”, “Bomehen”, ”Pardis”; and four<br />
rural districts. Demonstrating the traditional and<br />
modern architecture, Azadi square symbolized<br />
TehraninthepastandMiladtowerplaysthisrole,at<br />
present. As the capital of Iran, Tehran is a populous<br />
cityandoneofthemostsignificanturbancentersin<br />
the world experienced the modernity before the<br />
othercitiesofIran.<br />
Placed in a large area, Tehran is one of the biggest,<br />
most significant metropolis in the world. It is the<br />
center of all affairs, government, politics, economy,<br />
culture, work, commerce, history, science, industry<br />
and production and it is why people are mostly<br />
inclined to immigrate to here and the population is<br />
continuouslyincreased.<br />
Tehran is Iran’s gateway to the outside world and its<br />
imageabroadwasstronglyinfluencedbytheIranian<br />
Revolution of the late 1970s. In the last two decades<br />
of the 20th c. television screens and newspaper<br />
articles around the world portrayed Tehran as a<br />
deeply religious city steeped in tradition, fighting<br />
against modernization and westernization. While<br />
the Iranian self-image is that of an ancient people<br />
with a long history and a rich heritage, Tehran<br />
challenges these images, as the corporeal city is<br />
relatively young. Most buildings were built after the<br />
mid-1960s, and the population’s mean age is about<br />
31 years; many of the city’s institutions are even<br />
younger.<br />
Exploring this fascinating metropolis will transport<br />
you on a journey through more than 250 years of<br />
Iranianhistory–fromtheglitteringGolestanPalace<br />
and the adjacent Grand Bazaar to the beautiful<br />
Azadi Tower and the notorious former US embassy.<br />
Then there are the city's seventy excellent museums<br />
and serene gardens. Many of these museums has<br />
objectstoofferwhichyoucouldonlydreamtoseein<br />
Louvre or Metropolitan, with thousands of years of<br />
history.<br />
Especially in the National and Jewelry museum<br />
where you can find pre-history pieces, Abbasi<br />
museum with its mesmerizing craftsmanship,<br />
Moghaddam museum, Ceramic and glassware,<br />
Music and Carpet museum, Time Museum and<br />
ContemporaryArtmuseum.<br />
GOLESTANPALACE<br />
The lavish Golestan Palace is a masterpiece of the<br />
Qajar era, embodying the successful integration of<br />
earlier Persian crafts and architecture with Western<br />
influences. The walled Palace, one of the oldest<br />
groups of buildings in Teheran, became the seat of<br />
government of the Qajar family, which came into<br />
power in 1779 and made Teheran the capital of the<br />
country. Built around a garden featuring pools as<br />
wellasplantedareas,thePalace’smostcharacteristic<br />
features and rich ornaments date from the 19th<br />
century. It became a center of Qajari arts and<br />
architecture of which it is an outstanding example<br />
andhasremainedasourceofinspirationforIranian<br />
artists and architects to this day. It represents a new<br />
style incorporating traditional Persian arts and<br />
craftsandelementsof18thcenturyarchitectureand<br />
technology.
GOLESTANPALACE
CarpetMuseum
KASHAN<br />
Kashan is an oasis sitting just outside Dasht-e Kavir<br />
(also known as the Great Salt Desert) between<br />
TehranandIsfahan.It’ssaidthatthethreewisemen<br />
who came to Bethlehem bearing gifts for baby Jesus<br />
hailed from Kashan. Nowadays, it’s the wealth of<br />
architectural and historical beauties that are the<br />
starsbrighteningthisdesertcity.<br />
AGHA BOZORG MOSQUE AND SCHOOL<br />
BUILDING, established during 1250, is one of the<br />
most magnificent Islamic-Iranian monuments in<br />
Kashan, a historic building with magnificent domes<br />
and excellent design, two upper and lower<br />
courtyards, massive brick dome and a porch with<br />
twominarets.<br />
BAZAAR OF KASHAN is thought to have been<br />
built in the Seljuk era with renovations during the<br />
Safavid period. The bazaar has a famous<br />
architecture, especially at its Timche-ye Amin od-<br />
Dowlehsection,whereagrandlightwellwasbuiltin<br />
the19thcentury.Thesitehasbeenthecenteroftrade<br />
in Kashan for almost 800 years. It has been an<br />
importantplacealongtheSilkRoad.<br />
SULTANAMIRAHMADBATHHOUSE,built<br />
in the 16th c. and registered as a national heritage<br />
site. The objective of the bathhouse was not only to<br />
promote cleanliness, but also to be a place for<br />
relaxation, discussions and praying. It is decorated<br />
with amazing ornamental tiles, some of which are<br />
turquoiseandgold.<br />
TRADITIONALHOUSES<br />
Kashan is perhaps best known for its traditional<br />
houses: Borujerdi, Abbasi, Manouchehri,<br />
Tabatabaei, and Ameriha. Besides their exquisite<br />
architecture, it’s the stained glass, mirror work,<br />
reliefs,andimposingdomesthatdazzlevisitors.<br />
BORUJERDIS' HISTORICAL HOUSE, is an<br />
exampleofawealthyKashanfamilyresidenceofthe<br />
19th century. Built in 1857 by Seyyed Mehdi<br />
Borujerdi, a merchant from Kashan who fell in love<br />
with a girl from the affluent Tabatabaei family. To<br />
impress her family, he dedicated this house to the<br />
girl,whobecamehiswife.Theconstructiontook18<br />
yearsand150craftsmen.Thehouseisnominatedby<br />
UNESCO as the most beautiful historical house in<br />
Asia. The architect is Ustad Ali Maryam, who built<br />
Tabatabaei House several years later. The shape of<br />
the exterior of Borujerdi House was once compared<br />
withbuildings,designedbyGaudiinBarcelona.The<br />
interior of the house is decorated with Sani ol molk<br />
paintings and sophisticated carvings of multiple<br />
plots.<br />
TABATABAEI HISTORICAL HOUSE was<br />
built in 1835 for the affluent Tabatabaei family. The<br />
head of the family, a carpet merchant, built this<br />
house in the name of his wife. The architect of the<br />
houseisUstadAliMaryam.<br />
FIN GARDEN OF KASHAN is one of the most<br />
important structures of its kind that has been built<br />
according to the architecture principals of Persian<br />
gardens - registered as one of the nine prominent<br />
IranianGardensbyUNESCOin2011.Builtin1590<br />
undertheSafaviddynasty,whatremainsofitisfrom<br />
the Qajar dynasty two centuries later. The main<br />
pavilion is adorned with vibrant frescos while the<br />
bathhouse is the site where Qajar chancellor Amir<br />
Kabirwasmurderedbyanassassin.
BAZAAROFKASHAN
SultanAmirAhmadBathhouse
BORUJERDIS'HISTORICALHOUSE
AGHABOZORGMOSQUE
TABATABAEIHISTORICALHOUSE
FINGARDEN
HAMEDAN-ANCIENT<br />
HEGMATANEHOREKBATANACITY<br />
Itisamongtheworld’soldestcontinuouslyinhabited<br />
cities.ThesituationofHamedanintermsofclimatic<br />
andnaturalstatushaslongbeencausedtheregionto<br />
be the place of establishment and development of<br />
ancient civilizations, with people living in the<br />
province 6,000 years ago. Archaeological<br />
excavations have revealed parts of the culture and<br />
the life of the Medes people. After the overthrow of<br />
thatgovernment,itwasregardedasoneofthethree<br />
Achaemenidcapital.In330BC,thecityofHamedan<br />
was destroyed by Alexander the Great, but because<br />
of its strategic position, it became his military<br />
headquarter.<br />
Late in the Seleucid period, the city was the place of<br />
numerous encounters with Parthians until, in 155<br />
BC, Mehrdad Ashkani seized the city. The Arab<br />
armies entered Hamedan by 645 AD. Since the<br />
middle of the 3rd century, the city was ruled by<br />
Alevism. The famous mystic and poet, Baba Taher,<br />
lived in Hamedan during this period. In the years<br />
from 387 to 412 AD, Shams al-Dawlah Abu Taher<br />
Shah Khosrow Dilami ruled in Hamedan, and<br />
Avicenna,thegreatIraniandoctorandscientist,was<br />
hisministerinthecity.TheMongolsinvasionin618<br />
ADdestroyedHamedanandmanyofitspeopledied<br />
in the heroic defense. During the period Ilkhanis,<br />
the city almost regained its former importance. In<br />
theSafavidperiodthecity,again,wasdeveloped.<br />
The original name of the city was Hang Matana or<br />
Hakamatana which means place of gathering and is<br />
close to the word, association. It is believed that the<br />
nameofthecitywasHamadan,inwhichHammeans<br />
together and Dan means capacity, which means<br />
AlliedAssembly.<br />
Hamadan has always been well known for its<br />
amazing handicrafts like carpet, leather and<br />
ceramic. The Cultural Heritage Organization Iran<br />
lists 207 sites of historical and cultural significance<br />
inthecityofHamadanalone.<br />
AVICENNA(ABUALISINA)IBNSINA<br />
MAUSOLEUM<br />
Built in 1952, exactly 915 years after his death, it’s a<br />
greatconicaltowerwithtwelvesupportingcolumns.<br />
It’s dedicated not to a warrior or a king but to a<br />
philosopher and physician. His name is Ali Al<br />
Husayn Ibn-Sina, but he is also known as Avicenna<br />
and he is arguably the most important doctor and<br />
philosopherinthehistoryofIslam.Avicennaproved<br />
the existence of god, amalgamated all known<br />
medical knowledge into one big book and<br />
established a mind body dualism 600 years before<br />
Descartes and still found time to overindulge in<br />
wineandsex.<br />
GANJNAMEHINSCRIPTIONS<br />
DariusI(522-486BC)carvedhisinscriptionforthe<br />
posterity on the rocks of the Holy Al-Wondwokh.<br />
After him, his son Xerxes I (486-446 CE), inscribed<br />
the same inscription. They are written in 3 columns<br />
of 20 lines in the languages of "ancient Persian",<br />
"Elamite"and"Babylonian”.<br />
SHRINEOFESTHERAND<br />
MORDECHAI<br />
Believed to house the remains of the biblical Queen<br />
Esther and her uncle Mordechai, it is the most<br />
importantpilgrimagesiteforJewsinthecountry.
AVICENNAMAUSOLEUM
SHRINEOFESTHERANDMORDECHAI
GANJNAMEHINSCRIPTIONS
ZANJAN<br />
Zanjan city was a major city in pre-historic<br />
Azerbaijan. The name of Azerbaijan derives from<br />
Atropates an Iranian satrap of Media under the<br />
Achaemenidempire,wholaterwasreinstatedasthe<br />
satrapofMediaunderAlexandertheGreat.<br />
The original etymology of this name is thought to<br />
haveitsrootsintheancientZoroastrianism,namely,<br />
inAvestanFrawardinYasht("HymntotheGuardian<br />
Angels").InPtolemy'sGeography,thecityisreferred<br />
to as Aganzana. It is said that the Sassanid king<br />
Ardashir I of Persia, reconstructed the city and<br />
called it Shahin, but later it was renamed Zangan:<br />
thepresentnameistheArabicizedform.<br />
Hamdollah Mostowfi, the Iranian traveler and<br />
historian,inhisbookclaimsthatZanjanwasbuiltby<br />
ArdashirI,thefirstkingoftheSassanidEmpireand<br />
namedas"Shahin".<br />
SOLTANIYEHDOMEINZANJAN<br />
TheSoltaniyehDomeisthetombofAlJaytothatwas<br />
built in 1302-1131 in the city of Soltanieh (the<br />
capital of the Ilkhanis), and is one of the important<br />
works of Iranian and Islamic architecture of the<br />
Azeri architecture. Soltaniyeh Dome is listed in the<br />
UNESCO’s World Heritage List. It’s said that the<br />
dome has been modeled in the dome of Florence.<br />
Thisdomeisthethirdlargestdomeintheworldafter<br />
the domes of Santamaria, Del Fiore and Hagia<br />
Sophiadome.<br />
ZANJAANBAZAAR<br />
TheconstructionofZanjanBazaarwascompletedin<br />
1213andin1324,mosquesandbathswereaddedtoit.<br />
The old market collection is divided into two parts,<br />
Eastern and Western. The geographic extent of the<br />
bazaar and the diversity of ways in the subordinate<br />
sections has caused each part to be dedicated to a<br />
particular activity and the existence of mosques is<br />
indicativeofthedynamismofthiscomplexoverthe<br />
past times. This bazaar, which is the longest and<br />
largest traditional market in Iran, has been<br />
expandedfromthewesternandeasternpart.<br />
It is located in the ancient network of the city and<br />
consistsoftwoportionssuchastheBazaar-e-Balaor<br />
upper section and the 'Bazaar-e-Paieen' or 'lower'<br />
section. The Bazaar of Zanjan, was inaugurated<br />
during the reign of Aqa Mohammad Khan Qajar in<br />
the year 1205 AD and was completed during the<br />
reign of Fathali Shah,1213 AH. The Russian prince<br />
Alixis Soltikov visited this Bazaar in the year 1216<br />
AD. Zanjan Bazaar, with 940 shops, is an<br />
architecturally well-designed complex. The bazaar<br />
includes market-places, inns, caravanserais,<br />
storehouses, mosques and Turkish baths. This<br />
enormous commercial complex is a blend of beauty<br />
and usefulness, enclosing porticos, porches, arches<br />
and columns. Restoration projects are underway to<br />
prepare Zanjan historical bazaar for registration on<br />
theWorldHeritageListofUNESCO.<br />
Rakhtshurkhaneh - Zanjan's Museum of<br />
Anthropology. This place was used for washing<br />
clothesbywomenaroundthecity.Itwasconstructed<br />
bybrothersMashadAkbarandMashadiEsmail.<br />
COLORFULALADAGLARMOUNTAINS<br />
One of the most amazing nature phenomenon in<br />
Iran.Thecolorsofred,brown,green,orange,yellow<br />
andwhitestareatthehumaneye.
ALADAGLARMOUNTAINS
SoltaniyehDome-TombofAlJayto
MOLAHASANKASHIMAUSOLEUM
ZanjanMosque
RAKHTSHURKHANEH-MUSEUMOFANTHROPOLOGY
TABRIZ<br />
Tabriz metropolis, the capital of East-Azerbaijan<br />
Province has played an important role in Iranian<br />
history. Located in the NW of the country, it has<br />
been the most important trading city of its region<br />
anditwaschosenasthecapitalofIranseveraltimes<br />
in history. It is now the 6th major city, with around<br />
one and a half million residents who talk mainly<br />
AzeriTurkishlanguage.Azeripeoplearewellknown<br />
forbeingdiligentincommerce,industry,agriculture<br />
andart.<br />
Among all the handicrafts of Tabriz, this city is<br />
mostly known for its handmade carpets and since<br />
2015 it was included in WIPO as Carpet Weaving<br />
City. Carpet weaving was flourished since Safavid<br />
Dynastyandhasbeenexportedtowesterncountries<br />
especiallysinceQajarDynasty,whichwascontinued<br />
duringPahlavi.<br />
TABRIZHISTORICBAZAARCOMPLEX<br />
Tabriz has been a place of cultural exchange since<br />
antiquity and its historic bazaar complex is one of<br />
the most important commercial centers on the Silk<br />
Road,prosperousandfamousinthe13thc.whenthe<br />
town,intheprovinceofEasternAzerbaijan,became<br />
thecapitalcityoftheSafavidKingdom.Thecitylost<br />
its status as capital in the 16th c. but remained<br />
important as a commercial hub until the end of the<br />
18th c., with the expansion of Ottoman power. It is<br />
oneofthemostcompleteexamplesofthetraditional<br />
commercialandculturalsystemofIran.<br />
TheBazaar,locatedalongoneofthemostfrequented<br />
east-west trade routes, consists of a series of<br />
interconnected, covered brick structures, buildings,<br />
and enclosed spaces for a variety of functions -<br />
commercial and trade-related activities, social<br />
gatherings, and educational and religious practices.<br />
It has been one of the most important international<br />
places for commercial and cultural interchange,<br />
thanks to the centuries-old east-west trading<br />
connections and routes and to a wise policy of<br />
endowmentsandtaxexemptions.<br />
It has developed over the centuries into an<br />
exceptionalphysical,economic,social,political,and<br />
religiouscomplex,inwhichspecializedarchitectural<br />
structures, functions, professions, and people from<br />
different cultures are integrated in a unique living<br />
environment.<br />
The rich historical sources bear credible witness to<br />
theimportanceoftheTabrizBazaaroverhistoryand<br />
to the permanence of its layout. The fabric of the<br />
Bazaar still exhibits the design, workmanship, and<br />
materialsoftheperiodwhenitwasconstructedafter<br />
the1780earthquake.<br />
THEBLUEMOSQUE<br />
TheBluemosqueofTabrizwasbuiltupontheorder<br />
of Jahan Shah the ruler of Kara Koyunlu dynasty<br />
whichmadeTabrizthecapitalofhisKingdom.<br />
When it was constructed in 1465, the Blue Mosque<br />
was among the most glorious buildings of its era, a<br />
masterpiece of Iranian decorative tile work. It<br />
survivedoneofthehistory'sworst-everearthquakes<br />
in 1727. However, it collapsed in a later quake in<br />
1773,andtherefore,todayonlyafewpillars,partsof<br />
theouterwallandthemaingate,andsectionsofthe<br />
vaultedceilingandadomeremain.
THEBLUEMOSQUE
An ancient settlement that is frequently compared to Cappadocia. With at<br />
least 800 years existence, with homes carved inside rocks, it is partially<br />
formedbyvolcanicremainsfromMountSahanderuptions.Therocksactas<br />
an energy efficient materials, keeping the houses cool during summer and<br />
warmduringwinter.
ARMENIAN MONASTIC ENSEMBLES<br />
OFIRAN<br />
TheWestAzerbaijanProvinceinnorthwestIranhas<br />
a fairly sizable Christian Armenian population, so<br />
the number of churches in this area is no surprise.<br />
The three monastic ensembles, St. Thaddeus (the<br />
oldest dating back to the 7th century), St. Stepanos,<br />
and the Chapel of Dzordzor, were listed with<br />
UNESCO in 2008. Their significance lies in their<br />
architectural representation of the exchanges<br />
between the regional cultures including Byzantine,<br />
Orthodox, and Persian. The monasteries have<br />
withstood numerous calamities, both human and<br />
natural, throughout the centuries. St. Stepanos,<br />
arguablythemostwell-knownofthethree,standsin<br />
acanyonpastthetwistsandbendsoftheArasRiver<br />
on the Azerbaijan border. These churches are still<br />
placesofpilgrimagefortheArmeniancommunity.<br />
MONASTERYOFSAINTTHADDEUS<br />
(THEBLACKCHURCHORKARAKELISA)<br />
Legendhasitthatachurchdedicatedtohimwasfirst<br />
builtonthepresentsiteinAD68.Itwasextensively<br />
rebuiltafteranearthquakedamageditin1319.Some<br />
of the parts surrounding the altar date from the 7th<br />
c. Much of the present structure dates from 1811,<br />
when the Qajar prince Abbas Mirza aided<br />
renovationsandrepairs.<br />
According to Armenian Church tradition, the<br />
Apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew traveled<br />
through Armenia in AD 45 to preach the word of<br />
God, where many people were converted and<br />
numerous secret Christian communities were<br />
established.<br />
Armenians hold that Qara Kelisa is the world's first<br />
church and was constructed in 68 BC by one of the<br />
apostles of Jesus, Saint Thaddeus, who traveled to<br />
Armenia,thenpartofthePersianEmpire,topreach<br />
theteachingsofChrist.<br />
The church consists of two parts: a black structure<br />
(the original structure was black, and Qara means<br />
black in Turkish), and a white structure, the main<br />
church, which was added to the original building’s<br />
westernwingin1810.<br />
THECHAPELOFCHUPAN<br />
A small, historic Armenian church building in a<br />
mountainvalleywestofJolfa,neartheArasRiverin<br />
East Azerbaijan province, built in the 16th century<br />
andrebuiltin1836.<br />
MONASTERYOFST.STEPANOS<br />
Saint Stepanos Monastery is the second important<br />
Armenian monastery in Iran after St Thaddeus<br />
Monastery. The monastery was built in 9th century<br />
AD,butitwasseriouslydamagedbyearthquake.So,<br />
itwasrefurbishedinSafavidperiod.Thismonastery<br />
is respected by all Christians and almost all other<br />
religions. However, it actually belongs to Gregory<br />
Christians (Followers of Gregory the Illuminator)<br />
inhabitinginArmenia.<br />
The church's architectural style is a mixture of<br />
Urartan, Parthian, Greek, and Roman styles that<br />
came to be known as Armenian subsequent to the<br />
construction of the fantastic structures of<br />
Echmiadzin, Thaddeus, Akhtmar, and indeed<br />
Stephanos.Thischurch,whichhasfounditsplacein<br />
theheartsofChristiansthroughouttheworldandis<br />
visitedannuallybyhundredsofIranianandforeign<br />
tourists, is located in the abandoned village of Dare<br />
Sham,intheGechlartdistrict.
MONASTERYOFSAINTTHADDEUS
THECHAPELOFCHUPAN
MONASTERYOFST.STEPANOS
IRAN<br />
September2019