TOUR 22 September - 4 October 2016 Decorative Arts of Iran in association with MAR TIN R ANDALL TRAVEL LEADING EXPERTS IN CULTURAL TOURS ‘I have such good memories; HALI’s calm and enthusiastic leadership, plus the local guides contributed to a super experience.’ HALI Tour Armenia 2015 participant ‘Everyday I learned something and found myself looking at unbelievable treasure. Great trips are memorable and this was.’ Welcome HALI Tour Iberia 2015 participant I am delighted to announce our second Sheikh Lutfallah Mosque, Esfahan HALI Tour in association with Martin Randall Travel, an opportunity to gain exclusive access to the iconic carpets and Successive Persian civilisations inhabiting the land of This HALI Tour offers a unique encounter with wonderful textiles of Iran. Iran have been responsible for producing some of the most rugs, fragments and textiles in a country integral to these refined artistic achievements in the world. It is impossible objects and the narratives they carry at a pivotal time in to overstate the importance of the region in terms of carpet the country’s history. Ben Evans history—indeed the very idea of a Persian carpet holds a Visit Shiraz, Kashan and Esfahan—cities whose very Editor, Hali Publications Limited special place in the global consciousness for good reason. names conjure up romantic images of bustling bazaars, Carpets produced in court workshops during the Safavid glorious gardens, great poets and Islamic art. Get a taste of dynasty remain at the pinnacle of what it is possible to rural life in the Zagros Mountains with a visit to traditional achieve when you marry elegant design with technical Qashqa’i pastures, and drink in the ambient history of ability. Nomadic groups, who have moved around the region Persia in the form of incredible Islamic architecture and the for generations have their own tribal weaving traditions impressive ruins of ancient empires, before encountering with an entirely different, but no less beautiful, aesthetic. world-class collections in the capital, Tehran. Tabriz CASPIAN SEA MAZANDARAN Mashaad Tehran Espinas Hotel Hamadam 9 10 11 12 QOM ARAK Kashan Esfahan Z A Abbassi Hotel G R 5 6 7 8 O BAKHTIARI S I M O U N T A FARS I N Iranian landscape by Amin Abadini, www.instagram.com/aminabedini Pasargarde Kerman Persepolis Shiraz Hotel Zandiyeh 1 2 3 4 PERSIAN GULF © Amin Abedini Itinerary Iran Nasir al-Mulk ‘Pink’ Mosque, Shiraz Khorjin front (detail), southwest Persia, Reza Zollanvari Collection Assyrians present sheep to Darius I in a frieze at Persepolis HALI Tours represent the distillation DAY 1 Thursday 22 September DAY 2 Friday 23 September DAY 3 Saturday 24 September of more than thirty-five years of HALI articles and the experience gathered SHIRAZ SHIRAZ PERSEPOLIS through their preparation. We guarantee ACCOMMODATION: Hotel Zandiyeh, Shiraz ACCOMMODATION: Hotel Zandiyeh, Shiraz ACCOMMODATION: Hotel Zandiyeh, Shiraz special access to material not normally on Arrive independently in Shiraz Nasir al-Mulk Mosque Persepolis public view in the company of experts. Meet at midday in the city of gardens and poets. Kaleidoscopic stained glass illuminates ornamental One of the great wonders of the ancient world, this architecture within the ‘pink mosque’. dramatic Achaemenid ceremonial city was built by City walking tour Darius I and Xerxes in the 5th and 4th centuries BCE. Once one of the most influential cities in the medieval Madrassa Khan Spectacular stone reliefs depict mythological beasts Islamic world and the capital of Iran during the Zand Towering palm trees surround fountains in the lush and scenes from the First Persian Empire. dynasty (1750-1794), Shiraz is home to magnificent gardens within the Safavid-era theological school architecture from many historic periods as is evident in which remains in use today. Naqsh-e Rustam The Zandiyeh Ensemble of Fars Province, a prospective Ancient necropolis with rock reliefs of Sasanian UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the Shah-é- Zollanvari monarchs and Achaemenid royal tombs cut into Chéragh shrine and the Karim Khan citadel, once The Iranian carpet brand is synonymous with the the cliffs. the living quarters of the founder of the Zand Dynasty, region’s quality materials and natural dyes, the sixth with imposing walls that dominate the city centre. generation of the Zollanvari family now runs the global business. A visit to the Shiraz factory throws Dinner at the famous Haft Khan restaurant. light on the process of making textiles, followed by a presentation of antique and vintage material belonging to the family and other local private collections. DA Tours DA Tours Co. & Kamyar Sheissi Friedli credit Gerald photo International. Zollanvari © © Gracetheglobe Contemporary gabbeh by Zollanvari. Photo reproduced by kind Tomb of Cyrus the Great at Pasargarde Tiles in the Sheikh Lutfallah Mosque, Esfahan permission of Zollanvari AG from the 2016 Collections catalogue DAY 4 Sunday 25 September DAY 5 Monday 26 September DAY 6 Tuesday 27 September NOMADIC WEAVERS SHIRAZ TO ESFAHAN ESFAHAN ACCOMMODATION: Hotel Zandiyeh, Shiraz ACCOMMODATION: Abbasi Hotel, Esfahan ACCOMMODATION: Abbasi Hotel, Esfahan Drive in four wheel drive vehicles to the traditional Pasargarde Take in the vast Maidan-e-Naghsh-e-Jahan Imam summer pastures of Qashqa’i nomads, renowned for The ruined first Persian capital built by Cyrus the Great Square and monuments nearby including the six- producing beautiful tribal rugs and trappings. Visit a (6th century BCE), whose tomb is situated on the storey Ali-Qapu Palace, Sheikh Lutfallah Mosque remote weaving village where lunch will be provided windswept plain surrounding the city. with its delicate understated dome and the Masjed-e and weavings shown. Shah—a classic work of Persian art with a profusion Esfahan of turquoise tiles. Free time to relax or visit the Shiraz bazaar. Arrive at the monumental royal city, capital of Safavid Persia (17th and 18th century), with many examples Visit a number of local shops that specialise in antiques or take time to relax in a tea house. of beautiful Islamic architecture. © Arad © Arad Mojtahedi need to replace image ‘Para Mamluk’ prayer rug (detail), east Mediterranean region, Syria or Meidan-e-Naghsh-e-Jahan Imam Square, Esfahan The murquanas roof decoration of Jameh mosque, Natanz southeast Anatolia, 15th century, Chihil Sultun, Esfahan DAY 7 Wednesday 28 September DAY 8 Thursday 29 September DAY 9 Friday 30 September ESFAHAN ESFAHAN KASHAN ACCOMMODATION: Abbasi Hotel, Esfahan ACCOMMODATION: Abbasi Hotel, Esfahan ACCOMMODATION: Espinas Hotel, Tehran Masjed-e Jameh Free time in the bazaars Natanz The biggest and one of the oldest mosques in Iran, The Jameh Mosque is one of the best preserved located beside the Grand Bazaar, is a veritable Serraphian house and archive Ilkhanid-era buildings in an important early Islamic museum of Islamic architecture, incorporating most Visit the Qajar period home of Esfahan’s most famous complex. periods and styles, as well as a busy place of worship. weaving family, the Seirafians. Private viewing of pieces from the collection and original designs, with Kashan Tomb of Arthur Upham Pope members of the family. The attractive oasis town on the edge of the Dasht-e The American expert on Persian art and pioneer of Kavir desert where Shah Abbas I is buried was carpet studies (1881-1969) is buried close by the renowned for textiles and ceramics in the Seljuk dramatic arched bridges over the Zayandeh River Period (1051 – 1220 CE) and is still a major centre for commissioned in the Safavid era. rugs and rose water. Vank Cathedral and Museum Bagh-e Fin In the Armenian quarter of New Julfa, an array of Built under Shah Abbas I, these lush gardens in an Christian murals of varying styles and ages can be seen arid landscape are a living example of the Persian along with several carpet fragments and an 18th- Garden Carpet. Turquoise waterways crisscross the century Indian chintz made for the Armenian Church. area, lined with cedar and orange trees. Chihil Sutan Pleasure Palace Surrounded by a classical Persian garden, frescos, miniatures and painted ceramic tiles are all housed in the pavilion built by Shah Abbas II to entertain visiting ambassadors and dignitaries. Rug (detail), Iran, 16th century, Carpet Museum, Tehran Bakhtiari rug (detail), circa 1900, Nishaburi Collection Silk and gold thread lampas, circa 15th century, Central Asia or Iran, National Museum, Tehran DAY 10 Saturday 1 October DAY 11 Sunday 2 October DAY 12 Monday 3 October TEHRAN TEHRAN TEHRAN ACCOMMODATION: Espinas Hotel, Tehran ACCOMMODATION: Espinas Hotel, Tehran ACCOMMODATION: Espinas Hotel, Tehran The Carpet Museum Golestan Palace and stores National Museum Many fine carpets and fragments are kept in the A jewel of Qajar-period architecture with several A museum full of artefacts relating to Iran’s rich recently reopened museum and archives, including buildings containing fine carpets and fragments history and its place in the Islamic world. ‘Salting’-group pieces and other 17th-century court positioned around a manicured garden. Access to the workshop carpets that represent the best of Persian carpets currently housed in the palace stores. Parviz Tanavoli Collection weaving. Spend a full day here with exclusive access View the personal collection of textiles and rugs to the stores. Nishaburi weaving workshops amassed by the leading Iranian artist during decades Lunch is hosted by an established brand at the centre of enthusiastic research for his many published of