Shiraz Shiraz is the capital city of Fars province and a treasure trove of Persian culture. It is also the former capital of Iran,during the Zand dynasty's era (1747-79). Shiraz is the largest academic,cultural and industrial center in south Iran,known as the Dar-ol-Elm (House of Learning). It is regarded as one of the oldest cities of ancient Persia and contains outstanding examples of Persian art and architecture. Shiraz is known as the City of Poets,City of Literature,City of Roses,City of Love and City of Gardens. and also the celebrated birthplace of the great Persian poets Hafiz and Saadi. It is also considered by many Iranians to be the city of gardens and orchards. This city is situated in the south east of Iran with a popullation of about 1 700 000. Shiraz is one of Irans five largest cities. The city is at an altitude of 1486 meter above the sea level and enjoys a temperate climate. Shiraz has a moderate climate and offers a wealth of attractions,sights and events,e.g. Persepolis,Eram Garden,Hafiz and Saadi Tombs and Shahchergh among others. The main handicraft of Shiraz is the inlaid mosaic work of triangular design. Shiraz also has a major oil refinery and is also a major center for Irans electronic industries. Afif-Abad Garden Located in the affluent Afif-Abad district of Shiraz, the complex was constructed in 1863. It contains a former royal mansion, a historical weapons museum, and a Persian garden, all open to the public. The Golshan Garden is one of the oldest gardens in Shiraz. During the Safavid dynasty, it was used as a palace by the Safavid Kings. The current main building was constructed by Mirza Ali Mohammad Khan Qawam II in 1863. He bought a nearby qanat to water his garden. After his death, the garden was eventually inherited by Afife, thus being called "Afif-Abad". In 1962, it was restored by the army. It now functions as a weapons museum. The Shrine of Shah-e-Cheragh Sayyed Mir Ahmad,one of Imam Rezas 17 brothers,was hunted down and killed by the caliphate on this site in AD 835. His remains are housed at the glittering Aramgah-e Shah-e Cheragh. A mausoleum was first erected over the grave during the 12th century but most of what you see dates from the late-Qajar period and the Islamic Republic; expansion is ongoing Persepolis Persepolis (Old Persian: Pārsa,Takht-e Jamshid or Chehel Minar) was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire (ca. 550-330 BCE). Persepolis is situated 70 km northeast of the modern city of Shiraz in the Fars Province of modern Iran. In contemporary Persian,the site is known as Takht-e Jamshid (Throne of Jamshid). The earliest remains of Persepolis date from around 515 BCE. To the ancient Persians,the city was known as Pārsa,which means "The City of Persians". Persepolis is a transliteration of the Greek Πέρσης πόλις (Persēs polis: "Persian city"). Saadi Tomb The Aramgah-e Saadi and its generous surrounding gardens are appropriate for a man who wrote so extensively about gardens and roses. It s a tranquil place,with the tombstone housed in an open-sided stone colonnade,inscribed with various verses from Saadi and supporting a tiled dome. Hafez Tomb Iranians have a saying that every home must have two things: first the Quran,then Hafez. Hafez is an influential Iranian poet. Almost every Iranian can quote his work,bending it to whichever social or personal persuasion they subscribe to. And there is no better place to try to understand Hafezs eternal hold on Iran than at Aramgah-e Hafez,his tomb. Set at the back of the ground of Hafezs tomb is a teahouse which is a great place to chill out with some live traditional music and a cup of chay. Arg of Karim Khan Arg of Karim Khan is now an architectural wonder on exhibit. The design of the citadel combines military and residential architecture,for it was the home of Karim Khan and the military centre of the dynasty. Tile works depicting legendary tales were added at the entrance gate of the citadel during the Qajar period. Vakil Bazaar Shirazs ancient trading district is comprised of several bazaars dating from different periods. The finest and most famous is theBazar-e Vakil,a cruciform structure commissioned by Karim Khan as part of his plan to make Shiraz into a great trading centre. The wide vaulted brick avenues are masterpieces of Zand architecture,with the design ensuring the interior remains cool in summer and warm in winter. Today,it s home to almost 200 stores selling carpets,handicrafts,spices and clothes and is one of the most atmospheric bazaars in Iran,especially in the early evening when it is fantastically photogenic. As usual,it s best explored by wandering without concern for time or direction,soaking up the atmosphere in the maze of lanes leading off the main thoroughfares. Vakil Mosque: The beautiful Masjed-e Vakil was begun by Karim Khan and is the only major mosque surviving from the late Zand period. Beside the entrance to the bazaar,it has two vast iwans to the north and south,a magnificent inner courtyard surrounded by beautifully tiled alcoves and porches,and a pleasingly proportioned 75m-by-36m vaulted prayer hall supported by 48 carved columns. Inside the prayer hall are an impressive mihrab and 14-step marble minbar, carved from a monolith carried all the way from Azerbaijan. Much of the tiling,with its predominantly floral motifs and arabesques,was added in the early Qajar era. Eram Garden Famous for its tall cypress trees,the delightful Bagh-e Eram will impress visitors of all ages with its stunning sceneries and various flowers and trees. The gardens are managed by Shiraz University. The gardens are easy enough to reach by taking any shuttle taxi going along Zand towards the university. Saray-e-Moshir: A caravansary at the south entrance of Bazaar Vakil,which now functions as exhibition space for Iranian handicrafts. Nasir al-Mulk Mosque It was built during the Qājār era,the mosque has extensively colored glass in its facade,and other traditional elements such as panj kāseh-i (five concaves) in its design. Afif abad Garden (Bagh-e-afifabad) Afif abad Garden (Bagh-e-afifabad) is a garden and houses owned by the Ghavami family. Highly recommended. It contains a former royal mansion,a historical weapons museum,and a Persian garden that is one of the oldest gardens in Shiraz. Naranjestan Garden Bagh-e Naranjestan is Shirazs smallest garden and is famous as the setting for the opulently decorated Naranjestan-e Ghavampavilion,built between 1879 and 1886,as part of a complex owned by one of Shirazs wealthiest Qajar-era families. The pavilios mirrored entrance hall opens onto rooms covered in a breathtaking combination of intricate tiles,inlaid wooden panels and stained-glass windows. Ceilings in the upstairs rooms are particularly interesting,with the beams painted with European-style motifs,including Alpine churches and busty German frauleins. House of Zinat ol-Molk Down a small lane beside the garden is the Khan-e Zinat ol-Molk,which was originally the private,andaruni area of the complex and is named after its last owner,the daughter of the builder Qavam. Today most of the finely decorated rooms are stuffed with exhibits in the Fars History Museum,while others serve as galleries for young Shirazi artists. The gardens are in a walled compound 400m south of the Nasir ol-Molk Mosq. Qor'an Gate (Dar vazeh Quran) Qor'an Gate (Dar vazeh Quran) is the city's main entrance. The original gate was built as an ornamental decoration by the Buwwayhids (Buwayhid dynasty) about 1000 years ago,but this was replaced 60 years ago by new gate,which is considered one of the finest architectural designs in Iran and has won numerous awards. From the the gate walk up the stone stairways to enjoy picturesque and panoramic views of Shiraz. The tomb of Khajooyeh Kermanee,a famous poet is also located here. Jameh-ye Atigh Mosque Walking through the southeastern (back) entrance to the Shah-e Cheragh courtyard and turning right after about 50m leads to the ancient Jameh-ye Atigh Mosque. Dating from 894 this is Shirazs oldest Islamic structure,though most of what you see is from the late Safavid period onwards. While the dome of the north iwan and the hypostyle columns in the ancient prayer hall in the southeast corner are impressive,the highlight is the rare turreted Khodakhaneh. It was built in the mid-14th century (or perhaps earlier) to preserve valuable Qurans; poet Hafez is believed to have worked here. The Khodakhaneh (House of God) bears an uncanny likeness to the Kaaba at Mecca,and bears a unique Sassanid- style Tholth inscription in raised stone characters on a tiled background. Naqsh-e Rustam Naqsh-e Rustam also referred to as Necropolis is an archaeological site located about 12 km northwest of Persepolis,in Fars province, Iran. Naqsh-e Rustam lies a few hundred meters from Naqsh-e Rajab. The oldest relief at Naqsh-i Rustam is severely damaged and dates to c. 1000 BC. 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,"Picture of Rostam",because the relief was locally believed to be a depiction of the mythical hero Rostam.