Located 60 km from Shiraz, is the awe-inspiring Persepolis, the capital of the Achaemenid Empire, founded by Darius I in 518 B.C. Darius I, the great Achaemenian king, created, reorganized, and unified an empire which eventually was larger and more efficiently ruled than any other the ancient world had yet seen. Darius conceived Persepolis, its unmatched splendor still evident today despite the ravages of foreign invaders and centuries of exposure, as the spiritual hub of the empire. The building program begun by Darius I (522-486 B.C.) and carried on by his two immediate successors, Xerxes (486-465 B.C.) and Artaxerxes (465-424 B.C.), remains a magnificent memorial to the achievements of the Achaemenid kings.
morePasargadae is located in the plain of Marvdasht, also known as the plain of the Mother of Solomon, near the city of Shiraz. It is an archaeological site which counts as one of the most important attractions in Iran. It was the first capital of the Achaemenid Empire under the rule of Cyrus the Great (559–530 B.C.) and houses the tomb of this great king. Since the beginning of Renaissance in Europe, European explorers and travelers such as the Venetian Giosafat Barbaro have visited Pasargadae and according to him, the tomb of Cyrus was then named the ‘Tomb of the Mother of Solomon’.
moreLocated in the southwest of Iran in the lower Zagros Mountains is Susa the site of one of the oldest civilizations in the Middle East dating back to 5,000 B.C. Susa encompasses a group of artificial archaeological mounds rising to the east of the Shavur River, including large excavated areas, and the remains of Artaxerxes’ palace. Archaeologists have worked at Susa for well over one hundred years, excavating the extensive remains which stretched from the 4th millennium B.C. to the early Islamic period. On the ruins of the Elamite capital that was destroyed by the Assyrians, Darius built his winter capital. The ruins of the Achaemenian palaces are still visible as are the remains of the Apadana, which lent its name to the famous Apadana audience hall at Persepolis.
moreLocated in the southwest of Iran in the lower Zagros Mountains is Susa the site of one of the oldest civilizations in the Middle East dating back to 5,000 B.C. Susa encompasses a group of artificial archaeological mounds rising to the east of the Shavur River, including large excavated areas, and the remains of Artaxerxes’ palace. Archaeologists have worked at Susa for well over one hundred years, excavating the extensive remains which stretched from the 4th millennium B.C. to the early Islamic period. On the ruins of the Elamite capital that was destroyed by the Assyrians, Darius built his winter capital. The ruins of the Achaemenian palaces are still visible as are the remains of the Apadana, which lent its name to the famous Apadana audience hall at Persepolis.
moreThe enigmatic archaeological ensemble called Takht-e Soleyman (‘Throne of Solomon’) is located 45 kilometers northeast of Takab in West Azarbaijan province and includes significant remains from Sassanian and IlKhanid periods. The strong symbolic and spiritual significance of this site acknowledges the continuation of a culture that revered fire and water over a period of some 2,500 years. Takht-e Soleyman is situated on a valley 2,500 meters above sea level, surrounded by mountains, a location most likely chosen for its natural distinctions. At the center of the site is a fortified oval platform 60 meters above the surrounding plains that measures about 350 meters by 550 meters.
moreThe enigmatic archaeological ensemble called Takht-e Soleyman (‘Throne of Solomon’) is located 45 kilometers northeast of Takab in West Azarbaijan province and includes significant remains from Sassanian and IlKhanid periods. The strong symbolic and spiritual significance of this site acknowledges the continuation of a culture that revered fire and water over a period of some 2,500 years. Takht-e Soleyman is situated on a valley 2,500 meters above sea level, surrounded by mountains, a location most likely chosen for its natural distinctions. At the center of the site is a fortified oval platform 60 meters above the surrounding plains that measures about 350 meters by 550 meters.
moreChogha Zanbil is located 40 kilometers southwest of Susa in Khuzestan province on an expansive arid plateau. This fascinating complex which includes the remains of the sacred city the Elamite king Untash-Napirisha (1275-1240 BCE) built for his residence. It was likely his intention to establish a temple-city on a pristine plain, where, from its summit the capital Susa would be visible and reached within a day’s walk. Untash-Napirsha’s aspiration was to consolidate the religions and rituals of the Elamite states in one place, thereby, creating profound solidarity between state and religion.
moreThe Persian Garden comprises nine gardens selected from different locations, climates, and eras in Iran, the majority of which have been cultivated with all the creativity associated and required for them to survive and thrive in the arid conditions of the Iranian Plateau. The origins of the Persian Garden may date back as far as 4000 BC; the decorated pottery of that period showcases the archetypal scheme of the Persian Garden.
moreThe Dome of Sultaniyeh is located some 42 km from the city of Zanjan in the plains of Sultaniyeh and it is the biggest brick dome in the world. The construction of dome was commissioned by the Ilkhan ruler, Sultan Mohammad Khodabaneh (Oljaitu) in Soltaniyeh city the capital of Ilkhanid dynasty from 1302 to 1312. The dome which was erected in 1312 A.D. is an octagonal building and has the oldest double-shell dome. The outer shell is covered by turquoise blue tiles.
moreThe Dome of Sultaniyeh is located some 42 km from the city of Zanjan in the plains of Sultaniyeh and it is the biggest brick dome in the world. The construction of dome was commissioned by the Ilkhan ruler, Sultan Mohammad Khodabaneh (Oljaitu) in Soltaniyeh city the capital of Ilkhanid dynasty from 1302 to 1312. The dome which was erected in 1312 A.D. is an octagonal building and has the oldest double-shell dome. The outer shell is covered by turquoise blue tiles.
moreIn Islamic cities, the bazaar was more than just an economic place for purchase, sale, and exchange of goods; it has been a place for cultural and social exchange since antiquity. The Grand Bazaar of Tabriz is a historic complex located in the city of Tabriz, the center of East Azarbaijan Province in northwestern Iran. The Bazaar of Tabriz was one of the key commercial centers on the Silk Road; the network of trade routes that connected the East and West, and was central to the economic, cultural, political, and religious interactions between these regions from the 2nd century BCE to the 18th century. This bazaar which is the oldest and largest covered bazaar in the world is still active.
moreLocated in Khuzestan Province in Iran, the Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System (the watermills and waterfalls) is a complex irrigation system. The watermills and the waterfalls are located near Gargar River which is a branch of Karun River, Iran’s longest (950 km) and only navigable river. It has many tributaries and passes through Ahvaz, the capital of the Khuzestan Province
moreLocated in Khuzestan Province in Iran, the Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System (the watermills and waterfalls) is a complex irrigation system. The watermills and the waterfalls are located near Gargar River which is a branch of Karun River, Iran’s longest (950 km) and only navigable river. It has many tributaries and passes through Ahvaz, the capital of the Khuzestan Province
moreThis spectacular complex, located in the city of Ardabil in Ardabil Province, houses the sanctuary of the prominent Iranian Sufi Master, Sheikh Safi al-din Ardabili. The 16th-century complex was built by the Ilkhanid Mongols and Timurids, influenced by Sufi philosophy. Amongst the stunning architectural structures in the complex is the tomb of Sheikh Safi (Allah Allah Dome), the tomb-chamber of Shah Ismail I (founder of the Safavid dynasty), the Prayer room, Porcelain room, the Dar al-Hefaze Hall, the Shahidgah Cemetery, the Haram – Ladies Quarters, and the main courtyard.
moreThis spectacular complex, located in the city of Ardabil in Ardabil Province, houses the sanctuary of the prominent Iranian Sufi Master, Sheikh Safi al-din Ardabili. The 16th-century complex was built by the Ilkhanid Mongols and Timurids, influenced by Sufi philosophy. Amongst the stunning architectural structures in the complex is the tomb of Sheikh Safi (Allah Allah Dome), the tomb-chamber of Shah Ismail I (founder of the Safavid dynasty), the Prayer room, Porcelain room, the Dar al-Hefaze Hall, the Shahidgah Cemetery, the Haram – Ladies Quarters, and the main courtyard.
moreShahr-i Sokhta (Burnt City) is an archaeological site and an urban settlement of the Bronze Age which is located at a distance of 60 km from the city of Zabol in Sistan and Baluchestan province in southeastern Iran. This ancient city was one of the world’s largest cities at the dawn of the urban era and dates back to the 4th and 3rd millennium B.C. It covers an area of 151 hectares with a vast graveyard measuring 25 hectares in the western part of the site. The graveyard contains between 25,000 and 40,000 ancient graves.
moreThe Sassanian Empire succeeded the Parthians and came to power in Fars province in Persia in the year 224 AD. Their period witnessed the most stellar achievements of Persian civilization and constituted the last great Iranian Empire before the infiltration of Islam. Sassanian arts which survived in architecture, reliefs, metal work, stucco and standing sculptures in caves were mostly found in the Fars region, the original province of the ruling empire of Sassanians in Iran
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moreMeidan Emam is located in the heart of Isfahan, a city situated at the nexus of routes crossing central Iran. This is one of the largest urban squares in the world (160 meters wide by 560 meters long), popularly known as Meidan Naghsh-e-Jahan and formerly known as Meidan Shah (Abbas). It was built by Shah Abbas I in the early 17th century based on the concept of his ideal city, where the three pillars of power, religion, and economy were realized around the square with Ali Qapu Palace, the Sheikh Lotfollah and Emam Mosques, and the Qeisarieh Bazaar. These four exquisite structures are exemplar of superlative Persian and Islamic architecture built during the Safavid period.
moreMaymand village is situated 36 kilometers northeast of Shahr-e Babak in Kerman province. A valley located at an elevation of 2240 meters at the southern end of Iran’s central mountains, it has no perennial rivers and is a semi-arid area. The agro-pastoralist villagers who live here move in seasonal cycles to three (formerly four) specific settlements in this self-contained area.
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moreThe grandest mosques in Islamic cities were usually named Friday (congregational) mosques and they were under the aegis of the Moslem rulers. Located northeast of the historic Meidan-e Emam and next to Atique Square, is Masjed-e Jame of Isfahan, Iran’s oldest Friday mosque. Archeological findings indicate that the prayer niche and its domed chamber on the south side of the mosque were built on the site of an earlier Zoroastrian fire temple. Covering an area of more than 20,000 square meters, Masjed-e Jame of Isfahan is where the four-iwan courtyard-centered layout of Sassanid palaces was first applied to Islamic religious architecture. Its design served as a blueprint for later mosques in Central Asia.
moreThe serene and enrapturing Lut Desert is a vast salt desert spread over 3 provinces of Kerman, South Khorasan, and Sistan and Baluchestan. Iran is located on plateau surrounded by mountains that divide into drainage basins, and the Lut Desert is one of the largest desert basins with an area of over 51,000 square kilometers of fascinating and diverse desert landforms. The Lut Desert is also known as Dasht-e Lut which refers to land without water or vegetation; due to its location in a rain shadow, coupled with high temperatures, the climate is hyper-arid. The region often endures the Earth’s highest land surface temperatures: a temperature of 70.7°C has been recorded within this desert. Over 51 animal species have been discovered here, many of which are endemic to Lut Desert.
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moreHyrcanian forests form a distinct forested compact group of mountains that extend 850 km along the southern coast of the Caspian Sea, from south-eastern Azerbaijan eastwards to the Golestan province in Iran. The origins of these broad-leaved forests date back 25 to 50 million years, when they covered most of this Northern Temperate region
moreThe marvelous Golestan Palace is in the historic center of Tehran and includes one of the oldest groups of buildings in Tehran. This complex was originally built in 16th century during the reign of Shah Tahmasp I of the Safavid dynasty and located within the walls of Tehran’s Arg (citadel). It was later rebuilt and completed with new buildings in the 18th and 19th century. Agha Mohammad Khan of the Qajar dynasty chose Tehran (in 1786) as his capital and Golestan Place became the royal residence.
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moreBam and its Cultural Landscape property is located in Kerman province on the southern edge of the Iranian high plateau at an altitude of 1100 meters. Arg-e Bam (Bam Citadel) is the largest adobe building in the world and exemplar of a fortified medieval town constructed utilizing locally available resources and traditions, which included using mud layers (chineh), sun-dried mud bricks (khesht), along with vaulted and domed structures.
moreThe capital of Yazd province, the Historic City of Yazd is located in the center of Iran, near the famous Spice and Silk Roads. A center of Zoroastrian religion, Yazd is one of the oldest cities in the world. It is architecturally unique, a city that developed and prospered by adapting to its desert surroundings. It is also famed in Iran for the high quality of its handicrafts, especially silk weaving, as well as for its sweet shops.
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moreThe existence of the ancient and still functioning interconnected chains of aqueducts, called qanats, in the heart of Iran’s desert areas is a testament to the innovation and resourcefulness of a people who seemed to have known the true meaning of ‘sustainable development’ thousands of years ago.
moreThis tomb tower was built by Shams Ol Ma’ali Qabus Ibn- e Voshmgir of the Ziarid dynasty. Despite his obligation to implement violent measures for the protection of his Gorgan rule, he was a knowledgeable man who highly valued science, poetry and literature. During his reign, the city of Gorgan was called “Dar Al Elm”, meaning ‘home of science’.
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moreChristianity in Iran dates back to its early times. In the third century although the Persians had gained success in their constant struggles against the Romans, an internal rebellion within the Persian Empire resulted in the overthrow of the Parthian dynasty by the Sassanian dynasty in 226 AD. The Sassanians ruled Persia for four centuries until the arrival of Islam. The policies of the Sassanians had considerable effect on the life of the Christian community in Persia but Christianity was always a minority religion compared to the state religion of Zoroastrianism.
moreLocated on ancient trade routes, near the city of Kermanshah in western Iran is Bisotun or Behistun, a site that includes remains from prehistoric times, as well as those from Median, Achaemenid, Sassanian, and Ilkhanid periods The main monument of this archaeological site is a large rock relief and cuneiform inscription authored by Darius I, The Great, when he took the reign of the Persian Empire in 521 BC. The rock relief (15 meters long by 25 meters wide, and 100 meters up a limestone cliff at Mount Behistun) shows Darius stepping on the chest of a figure who lies on his back before him. The inscription (about 1,200 lines) is written in three different cuneiform script languages: Old Persian, Elamite, and Babylonian (a variety of Akkadian).
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