Fars

Shiraz is the most pospular city of Fars province, the illustrious 1000-year-old city and the cradle of royal civilisation of the persian history crowned as the heartland of Persian culture is one of the oldest and most scenic cities of ancient Persia known as the city of poets, literature, flowers and tranquil gardens, lavish palaces.  Shiraz has a reputation as an enlightened city that has been at the centre of Persian culture for more than 2,000 years, and was at one time the country's capital. The crafts of Shiraz consist of inlaid mosaic work of triangular design; silver-ware; pile carpet-weaving and weaving of kilim, called gilim and jajim in the villages and among the tribes. In Shiraz industries such as cement production, sugar, fertilizers, textile products, wood products, metalwork and rugs dominate.

Pasargadae is aspectacular city and an archaeological site where we find the tomb of Cyrus the great and remains of Achaemenian palaces and edifices. There is plenty to see and learn at this important cultural attraction. Pasargadae a UNESCO World Heritage Site was the capital of the Achaemenid Empire under Cyrus the Great who had issued its construction (559–530 BC), and a city in ancient Persia, located near the city of Shiraz (in Pasargad County).Its palaces, gardens and the mausoleum of Cyrus are outstanding examples of the first phase of royal Achaemenid art and architecture and exceptional testimonies of Persian civilization. The centerpiece is a large hall with eight columns made of white stone. Particularly noteworthy vestiges in the 160-ha site include: the Mausoleum of Cyrus II; Tall-e Takht, a fortified terrace; and a royal ensemble of gatehouse, audience hall, residential palace and gardens. Another characteristic of Pasargadae are canals made of white stone, which were used for irrigation. Pasargadae was the capital of the first great multicultural empire in Western Asia. Spanning the Eastern Mediterranean and Egypt to the Hindus River, it is considered to be the first empire that respected the cultural diversity of its different peoples. This was reflected in Achaemenid architecture, a synthetic representation of different cultures. Read more

Naqsh-e Rustam is an ancient necropolis and a site believed by archaeologists to have been a cemetery for Persepolis, where Achaemenid, Parthian and Sassanid royalty were laid to rest. It is located about 12 km northwest of Persepolis, in Fars Province which provides seven bas-reliefs dating back to Elamite and Sassanid periods. These Spectacular cliff-face reliefs embellish the tombs of the Achaemenid kings, with Sassanid bas-reliefs and Zoroastrian monuments. The oldest relief at Naqsh-i Rustam dates to c. 1000 BC. Though it is severely damaged, it depicts a faint image of a man with unusual head-gear and is thought to be Elamite in origin. The depiction is part of a larger mural, most of which was removed at the command of Bahram II. The man with the unusual cap gives the site its name, Naqsh-e Rostam, "Rostam Inscription", because the relief was locally believed to be a depiction of the mythical hero Rostam. Read more

Persepolis also known as Takht-e Jamshid, the glorious monumental ruin of ancient civilization of Persia with total area of 125,000 square meters and a UNESCO world heritage site, was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire (ca. 550–330 BCE). Persepolis is situated 60 km northeast of city of Shiraz. The earliest remains of Persepolis date back to 515 BCE. It exemplifies the Achaemenid style of architecture.  It was built on an immense half-artificial, half-natural terrace, where the king of kings created an impressive palace complex inspired by Mesopotamian models. The importance and quality of the monumental ruins make it a unique archaeological site. The monumental staircase, exquisite reliefs, immense columns and imposing gateways leave you in no doubt that this was indeed the finest jewel in the empire’s crown. It seems that Darius planned this impressive complex of palaces not only as the seat of government but also, and primarily, as a showplace and a spectacular centre for the receptions and festivals of the Achaemenid kings and their empire such as Nowroz. Read More

Tomb of Hafez and its associated memorial hall, the Hāfezieh, are two memorial structures erected in the northern edge of Shiraz in memory of the celebrated Persian poet Hafez. The open pavilion structures are situated in the Musalla Gardens on the north bank of a seasonal river and house the marble tomb of Hafez. Several rectangular pools have been added amongst the gardens, and well-maintained orange trees, paths, streams, and flower beds create a pleasant environment for the tourism hub of Hafez's tomb and memorial hall. The dome over Hafez's grave is well lit at night, providing an attractive focal point. Read More

Arg of Karim Khan which is a mud-brick citadel from the 18th century sits adjacent to the Vakil Bazaar. It was built as part of a complex during the Zand dynasty named after Karim Khan, and served as his living quarters. In shape it resembles a medieval fortress.

Vakil Complex, in which you will find the interesting architectural features of Zand Era including Bazaar, Mosque and Hammam.

Vakil Bazaar which has been described as the most architecturally impressive in the country is the main bazaar of Shiraz located in the historical center of the city and has beautiful courtyards, caravansarais, bath houses, and old shops which are deemed among the best places in Shiraz to buy all kinds of Persian rugs, spices, copper handicrafts and antiques. It was constructed by Karim Khan as part of a plan to make Shiraz into a great trading center. 

Hammam-e vakil (Vakil Bath) with a unique structure, located a few meters to the west of Vakil Mosque is an old public bath with historical importance in Shiraz. It was a part of the royal district constructed during Karim Khan Zand's reign which includes Arg of Karim Khan, Vakil Bazaar, Vakil Mosque and many administrative buildings. The monument is inscribed with the number 917 on the list of national works of Iran. Today it is a museum Accompanied with realistic models depicting typical bathing activities.

Vakil Mosque which covers an area of 8,660 square meters is situated to the west of the Vakil Bazaar next to its entrance. On the two sides of the entrance gate there are magnificent tile-works and arches. This mosque was built between 1751 and 1773, during the Zand period; Most of the tiling, with its predominantly floral motifs, was added in the early Qajar era. The left and right corridors of the entrance gate are connected to the main room. Alongside the altar there is a 14-step tall platform made of green marbles where the speaker has to climb a number of stairs to reach the top to address the audience. On the inscription of the entrance gate there are Quranic verses engraved in Sols and Nosakh scripts. Vakil means regent, which was the title used by Karim Khan, the founder of Zand Dynasty. Shiraz was the seat of Karim Khan’s government and he endowed many buildings, including this mosque.

Narenjestan-e Ghavam (Qavam House) is a traditional and historical house in Shiraz, which preserves the elegance and refinement enjoyed by the upper-class families during the 19th century. The paintings on the low ceilings of the house are inspired by Victorian era Europe. The mirrored porch was a focal point of the house, overlooking a small garden that was designed with fountains, date palms, and flowering plants.

The 19th-century Nasir Ol Molk Mosque also known as the Pink Mosque, which is a traditional mosque and includes extensive colored glass in its facade, displays other traditional elements such as the Panj Kāse ("five concaved") design. It is named in popular culture as the Pink Mosque, due to the usage of considerable pink color tiles for its interior design. There is some particularly fine stalactite molding in the smallish outer portal and in the northern iwan, but it is the stunning stained glass and exquisitely carved pillars of the winter prayer hall that are most eye-catching.

Qur'an Gate is a historic gate in the north of Shiraz which consists of three arches. The gateway is where two copies of the holy Qurans known as the "Hefdah-man Quran" were kept. A copy of Islam's holy book, Quran is laid in a small chamber over the main arch to protect travelers passing under it as a sign of good omen. The gates were believed to receive the blessing of the Holy Book as they began their trip or journey from Shiraz.

Delgosha Garden is one of the historical gardens in Shiraz near Tomb of Sa’di and it belongs to the pre-Islamic era of the Sassanian Empire. In Safavid dynasty, Delgosha Garden was one of most famous gardens in Shiraz. Some of the buildings in this garden were constructed in Qajar dynasty. Most of the trees in this 7.5 hectare garden are citrus such as Orange and sour orange. The main building which has three stories with two entrances in two sides and a porch in the middle floor with a view of pool is a sign of glorious days. The Sa’di’s Tomb Canal is passing through this garden. Read more

Eram Garden is a historic Persian garden in Shiraz with an impressive collection of cypress trees as well as a pond and a small 19th century palace. The garden and the building within it are located at the northern shore of the Khoshk River in the Fars province. Today, Eram Garden and building are within Shiraz Botanical Garden (established 1983) of Shiraz University. Both the building and the garden were built during the middle of thirteenth century by the Ilkhanate or a paramount chief of the Qashqai tribes of Pars. They are open to the public as a historic landscape garden. They are World Heritage Site, and protected by Iran's Cultural Heritage Organization. Read more

The Mausoleum of Saadi is set in a garden, beside a fishpond. Sheikh Saadi is one of the major Persian poets of the medieval period. He is recognized not only for the quality of his writing, but also for the depth of his social thought. He has been quoted in western sources as well. The Mausoleum of Saadi located in Shiraz, houses the tomb of Saadi. Read more

The magnificent domed shrine of Shah Cheragh is a funerary monument, and a major place of pilgrimage in Shiraz housing the tomb of the brothers Ahmad and Muhammad, sons of Mūsā al-Kādhim and brothers of ‘Alī ar-Ridhā. The two took refuge in the city during the Abbasid persecution of Shia Muslims. The site is the most important place of pilgrimage within the city of Shiraz. Read more

Lar is a city in and the capital of Larestan County, Fars Province, Iran. The city was originally called "Lad" after the person who had first established the city. "Lad" is the name of one of Shahnameh's famous heroes. Around 16th and 17th centuries, Lar was considered to be a major stop along the road to the Persian Gulf. The outstanding specification of Larestan County is the people's dialect. The vocabulary of the Lari (referred to as Achomi or Ajami) dialect holds many words in common with Persian, however the syntax is considerably different from the current Persian language.  Lar city is divided into two areas: new-city (called Shahre-jadid) and old-city (called Shahre-ghadim). New-city, which was constructed after the historical earthquake of 1960, now accommodates the main population and is considered to be modern in terms of civil and transport engineering (e.g. dead-ends are very rare). The Old city of Lar contains the Bazaar of Qaisariye, a pre-Safavid dynasty creation, that was proposed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on August 9, 2007. Qaisariye Bazaar with its cross-shaped architecture has been renovated through different dynasties.

Ejdeha Peykar Castle is built on a hill to the west of the Lar Township. The structure is composed of three sections: The stone wall, the upper tower and the middle tower. It dates back to the pre-Islamic period. It’s been inhabited until the 20th century and was bombarded at the time of Reza Shah.

Estahban is a city in Fars Province. The area about Estahban is very fertile, being the largest producer of saffron, grain, cotton, walnut, almond, grapes and other fruits in the Middle East. Estahban has been the most famous provider of figs to the world.

Evaz famous for its historical cisterns is a city in Fars Province which lies about 370 kilometers south east of Shiraz. Evaz is situated about 970 meters above sea level in a valley stretching approximately thirty kilometers in length and four kilometers in breadth with low mountains to the North and South. Since Evaz receives minimal rainfall, estimated to be approximately 7.5 cm (3 inches) on average per year, water reservoirs which are common landmarks in south Iran with traditional structures were made to gather rain water for consumption.

Jahrom is a city in Fars Province. Jahrom is located 170 kilometers (110 mi) southeast of Shiraz. The majority of people in Jahrom are Persians. Many tropical and sub-tropical plants are grown in Jahrom (i.e. palm date, citrus and wheat). Jahrom's history goes back some 5500 years when the Achaemenids established the Persian Empire. There are many holy shrines and historical monuments like the "Sangeshkan Cave, the biggest hand-made cave in the world located in the south of Jahrom. The economy of Jahrom is based mainly on agriculture, and carpet weaving. The principal crops are dates and citrus fruit, which are produced in high volume and exported. Other crops include cotton, cereals, and tobacco.The sub-province is also home to coal and white stone mines.

Zandie Jahrom bazaar a historical building is called and remembered as the twin sister of Vakil Bazaar in Shiraz. It also has several mosque, caravanserais and bath attached to it. It is one of the most valuable architectural examples of Zand period.