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    Tourist Attractions in Iran

    The most interesting and beautiful tourist attractions in Iran. Photos and a brief description.

    About Iran

    Iran is the heir of the once great Persian Empire, one of the cradles of world civilization and a country with a history of more than 5,000 thousand years. The tourism industry in Iran is booming, infrastructure deficiencies are gradually being eliminated, new hotels are being built. The country has a huge potential for development, as travelers from all over the world have a great interest in its architecture, history and well-preserved historical monuments.

    A trip to Iran is an immersion into the unique atmosphere of ancient cities, where followers of Zarathustra preached hundreds of years ago and the shahs ruled. This is a walk through the luxurious oriental bazaars of Isfahan and Shiraz, saturated with the aroma of saffron and cardamom. Finally, this is an introduction to the heritage of the great Omar Khayyam, Firdousi and Ibn Sina.

    In addition to sightseeing and exploring history, there are good ski resorts in Iran – Dizin, Shamshak and Ab-e Ali. The slopes of a picturesque mountain Elburs is attractive for climbers and rock climbers, and the coast of the Caspian Sea is for nature lovers and fishing.

    Top Tourist Attractions in Iran

    Imam Square

    It is located in the historical center of the city of Isfahan, listed in the UNESCO Heritage List. The square was laid by the Shah By Abbas I the Great in the XVII century . and before the victory of the Islamic Revolution, it was called the Shah's. The monumental architecture of the buildings surrounding the square is a testament to the power of the dynasty The Safavids, who ruled Iran for hundreds of years.

    Imam Square
    Golestan Palace

    Golestan Palace

    One of the oldest monuments of Tehran, formerly part of the Citadel of Tehran. Previously, the palace was the residence of one of the noble Iranian families, now there is a museum with many rare exhibits and a library where valuable manuscripts are stored. The name of the structure translates as "rose palace". It was erected in the XVI century . during the reign Tahmasp I and has been rebuilt many times since then.

    Behistun inscription

    An image with cuneiform script characteristic of the times Two rivers, carved on a rock Behistun. The inscription was created by order of the tsar Darius I in the VI century BC. It depicts the triumph of the ruler over the rebellious princes. The writings are written in three languages: Akkadian, Ancient Persian and Elamite.

    Behistun inscription
    Pasargades

    Pasargades

    Ancient city, once the capital of Persia times Cyrus II. Now only ruins remain of it. Translated from ancient Persian means "Persian gardens". On the territory of the city there is the tomb of the king, the ruins of royal palaces, the fortress of Toll-e-takht. Pasargades are recognized as the most valuable cultural monument of the dynasty period Achaemenids.

    Nakshe-Rustam

    The area is not far from the ancient capital of Persepolis, where four royal tombs are located. Here they rest Xerxes I, Darius I, Artaxerxes I, Darius II. During the campaign of Alexander the Great, the tombs were looted and destroyed, in this form they have reached our times. The name "Nakshe-Rustam" refers already to the Islamic period of Iran's history.

    Nakshe-Rustam
    Azadi Tower in Tehran

    Azadi Tower in Tehran

    The structure was erected in 1971 in honor of the 2500 anniversary of the Persian Empire. The construction took more than $6 million and 8000 blocks of white marble. In 1979, after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, the monument was named "Freedom Tower". It came to symbolize the freedom of Iranians from the shah's rule. The picturesque Azadi is often called the "Eiffel Tower of Tehran".

    Haju Bridge in Isfahan

    The bridge, built in the XVII century. under the shah Abbas II, the Great Silk Road passed through it. The structure consists of two rows of arches connected together, made in a typical Iranian architectural style. In the evenings, beautiful lighting turns on, locals and tourists like to walk along the bridge at this time and admire the surrounding landscapes.

    Haju Bridge in Isfahan
    Iranian National Museum

    Iranian National Museum

    The largest museum in the country, where priceless monuments of the period of ancient Persia are kept. The museum is divided into two buildings. The first presents expositions of the pre–Islamic period, the second - collections of the Islamic historical era. The museum was built in 1937, it became the first scientific museum of Iran.

    Shah-Cherah Mausoleum

    It was erected in the XIV century . in the time of the queen Tashi Khatun. The mausoleum contains the graves of the brothers Ahmed and Mohammed, revered by local residents, who were persecuted by the Shahs for their Muslim faith. The interior decoration of the building is made of mirror mosaic, for which the Iranians nicknamed Shah-Cherah "mirror mosque".

    Shah-Cherah Mausoleum
    Jamkaran Mosque

    Jamkaran Mosque

    One of the centers of Islamic science in Iran, a holy place associated with the name of the revered imam Mahdi (it is believed that he prayed here). The mosque is a beautiful monumental building with "flying" minarets, a blue central dome and high gate arches. Jamkaran is visited annually by many Muslim pilgrims belonging to the Shiite branch of Islam.

    Vank Cathedral

    Christian church in Isfahan. Belongs to the Armenian Apostolic Church. It was recognized by the Iranian authorities as a valuable cultural monument. The architectural style of the cathedral is a mixture of Muslim and Christian traditions. Despite the simplicity of the exterior decoration, the interior of the temple is rich and magnificent.

    Vank Cathedral
    Ardashir Palace

    Ardashir Palace

    Another name of the structure is Atesh-Kadeh. Ruins of the residence of the first tsar of the state The Sassanids. It is one of the few surviving architectural monuments of Iran of the II-III centuries AD. The palace is listed as a UNESCO Heritage site by the Iranian authorities. In ancient times there was an artificial pond in front of the palace.

    Saadabad Palace

    The palace complex of the early XX century, which includes various museums, pavilions, palaces. Initially Saadabad was used as the residence of the shah, now high-ranking guests from foreign countries are settled there. Not far from the armory museum (part of a large museum complex) there are guns cast in St. Petersburg.

    Saadabad Palace
    Niavaran Palace

    Niavaran Palace

    Previously it was part of the Saadabad complex, but in 2000 it was allocated as an independent attraction. The main buildings were erected in the XX century under the last Iranian Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. Initially, Niavaran was planned to be used as a residence for foreign delegations, but later it became the residence of the shah's family.

    Arg-e Bam Fortress

    An invaluable example of a Persian adobe building located on the Great Silk Road. The fortress is located in the town of Bam, it is a layering of styles of different eras — the fortress has mausoleums of the XII century, a mosque of the XVIII century, watchtowers. After the earthquake of 2003, the structure was under threat of extinction.

    Arg-e Bam Fortress
    Tash-Kuh Mountain

    Tash-Kuh Mountain

    Flaming Mountain in Khuzestan province. This is a unique phenomenon from the point of view of geology – thanks to natural gas and sulfur rising from the depths, an "eternal" fire burns on the surface. This sight attracts many tourists who gather in the evenings and admire the amazing natural phenomenon.

    Lake Urmia

    Once this reservoir was one of the largest salt lakes in the world, but over time it began to dry up. Over the past few decades, the amount of water has decreased by 90%, and the area has decreased to 2000 km2. The saline shores of the lake are very picturesque, in the southern part there are many small islands, some of them have pistachio groves.

    Lake Urmia
    Kish Island

    Kish Island

    Coral Island, the main and most visited resort in Iran. Here travelers will find magnificent sandy beaches, calm waters of the Persian Gulf and a rich underwater world. In the west of the island you can admire a giant ship stranded, and in the north the ruins of the ancient city of Harire.

    Tabriz Bazaar

    The largest open market in the world and the oldest bazaar in the region. The territory of the bazaar is a full–fledged architectural complex with mosques, residential buildings, baths, galleries, caravanserais. Famous Iranian carpets, fragrant spices, jewelry, antiques are sold here. This market has been known since the dynasty The Safavids.

    Tabriz Bazaar
    The Garden of Eram

    The Garden of Eram

    An outstanding example of Iranian garden art in Shiraz. Because of its beauty, this place attracts streams of foreigners who like to walk along its picturesque alleys and relax in the shade of trees from the unbearable heat. "Eram" means "paradise", locals call it "garden of Eden".