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| Iran
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The capital of Iran
is significantly a modern city while the best of the old has been
conserved. The Shahid Motahari Mosque has 8 minarets overlooking
the city. The Bazaar, which is open every day except
Friday and religious holidays, is 1 of the world’s largest,
another bazaar, catering principally for local communities, are
found in a suburb of Tajrish.
The Tajrish suburb is situated in the north of
Tehran, Iran's capital. There are a number of vaulted alleys, everything
from fine carpets to silver, and copperware to exotic aromatic spices
available here. There is a separate section for each trade practiced
and craftsmen can be seen at their work.
Tehran
has numerous good museums which include the Abgineh
Museum of Iranian Pottery, the Rea Abbasi Museum (which houses a
rare collection of Iranian paintings and calligraphy), the National
Museum of Iran (or Iran Bastan Museum, displaying mainly archaeological
and anthropological exhibits), the Rassam Cultural and Art Foundation
of Carpet, which includes a carpet museum and carpet weaving school,
the Carpet Museum, whose oldest carpet is 450 years old, and the
Anthropological Museums in Golestan Place and Saad Abad. Tehran,
the capital of Iran also has several cultural centres which include
Azadi, Bahman and Khavaran as well as a City Theatre, a National
Library, a Zoo and a University.
The Alborz mountain chain is a well known place
for excursions from Tehran. There are various mountain resorts providing
ski slopes and cable car facilities (available from January to March).
Varamin, Rey, Qazvin and Shemshak Towns, which have conserved much
of their original style, are easily access by car from Tehran.
Northwestern Iran
Tabriz, Iran’s 2nd largest city, has a ruined
but restored fine blue mosque constructed in 1465. The covered Qaisariyeh
Bazaar dates back to the 15th century. About 22 kilometres or 14
miles from the salt lake lies Uromieh Town, which claims to be the
birthplace of Zoroaster. Other towns worth visiting include Astara,
Ardabil, Bandar-e Anzali and Rasht.
The Golden Triangle
The Golden Triangle is the name popularly given to the region surrounded
by the historic cities of Kermanshah, Hamadan,
and Khorramabad. This region of Iran is predominantly rich in historical
associations, for many centuries the Silk Road passed through the
nice rolling countryside of the region, and there are many indications
of settlements dating back over 6,000 years.
Hamadan
was the summer capital of the Persian Emperors, even though 1 of
the few easily visible signs of the city’s antiquity is the
Stone Lion, dating back to the time of Alexander the Great. Kermanshah
is a suitable place for visiting the Taghe Bostan Grottoes, where
there are numerous great bas relief carvings. In Kangavar, the sight
of the Seleucid Temple of Artemis has massive fallen columns and
is now being rebuilt.
Esfahan
The previous capital of Persia, Esfahan has been
designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The city’s
most significant feature is its stunning central square which is
about 7 times larger than San Marco in Venice. The palaces, mosques,
bridges and gardens also deserve a visit. The Friday Mosque (Masjid-e
Jomeh) is 1 of Iran’s finest buildings. The Shaikh Lotfullah
Mosque is well known for the stalactite effect of its northern entrance.
There are also numerous pleasant bazaars.
Elsewhere
The capital of the Fars Province, Shiraz is 1 of
Iran’s historic cities with many buildings dating back to
the 9th century, great parks and gardens. Persepolis,
about 50 kilometres or 30 miles away, is also on
the UNESCO World Heritage list, and renowned for the Ceremonial
Seat of Darius, constructed on a very large platform carved out
of the Kuhe Rahmat. Another UNESCO listed archaeological site can
be found at Changha Zanbil, 40 kilometres or 25 miles southeast
of Susa.
Khorasan is a large province
in the east where a great stimulation of learning occurred in the
early Middle Ages. Mashhad, a previous trading post on the Silk
Road, is the capital of the region.
Kerman City in the southern desert region has numerous striking mosques and
a ruined citadel, even though travellers are advised to exercise
caution and only travel on tours organised through Iranian licensed
tourist organisations. |
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