Tehran, Landscape of Contrast

Niavaran Palace Tehran Iran

Tehran the city of contrasts. The densely populated capital of Iran, a city that is struggling with modernity and its consequences in its outer layers and inside, it is full of amazing and unique attractions that are almost unknown. Tehran is usually the first city that tourists visit in Iran, and by exploring it and identifying its beauties, the city can appear more than expectation.

Tehran is the city of skyscrapers and modern buildings. As if every night a new building is born. Highways and bridges are scattered across the city and connect distant and close areas. Tehran and its people are adjusted with the high pace of current life and continue to move forward. The city’s modernity generates traffic, crowded streets, and air pollution, but it has also granted the people, Milad Tower which is now the sixth tallest tower in the world and Tabiat Bridge a mesmerizing three-story bridge. Two attractions are meriting a lot to visit and enjoy.

Tehran has footprints of history behind its modern face. Splendid palaces and historic mansions that have stories to tell about kingdoms changes and old houses of famous artists, scientists and prominent people in this city are numerous. Golestan Palace, White Palace, Niavaran Palace, Green Palace, Ahmad Shahi Pavilion, Masoudieh Palace, Sahebgharanieh Palace, and Ferdows Garden are among the historical places of Tehran. By entering into any of these sites, you cannot avoid thinking and imagining past and the people who had lived and walked among those halls and rooms.

Tehran’s museums also have great value and are recognized to be the treasures of the country. Sa’d Abad Museum Complex, Iran Holy Defense Museum, Treasury of National Jewels, Qasr Garden Museum, Iran National Museum, Reza Abbasi Museum, Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, Carpet Museum, Royal Costume Museum, Automobile Museum, Omidvar Brothers Museum, Professor Hesabi Museum, and several other Museums which display symbols of the history, culture and art of this land. In the following, exploring the maze of old Bazaar of Tehran and old alleyways of Adyan intersection with its church, mosque, fire temple, and synagogue must be entertaining.

The impressive nature of Tehran, the old trees of Valiasr Street, the lush scenery around the highways and mesmerizing landscapes in the parks have intensified the attractiveness of the city. As well as, there are some areas such as Darband and Darakeh in the north of Tehran and near the mountains which provide opportunities for people to breathe and disport. Interestingly they are full of small cafes and restaurants with delicious and mouthwatering snacks and foods.

Therefore, it can be said that Tehran with all mentioned and not mentioned attractions is a fascinating city that would fascinate tourists with different tastes.

By S. Chakerreza

Afif-Abad Garden: an Emblematic of Persian Horticulture

Afif-Abad Garden in Shiraz

Located in the Afif-Abad Street of the city of Shiraz –known as the City of Roses and Nightingales–, the Afif-Abad Garden is a favorite place for both locals and international travelers to visit. Initially called the “Golshan Garden,” the Afif-Abad Garden is among the top tourist destinations in Shiraz which is the host to thousands of guest each year.

Like any other Persian gardens, it is composed of a royal mansion and pools surrounded by hundreds of towering trees and colorful flowers. On the other hand, the museums in the two-story palace, the bathhouse, and a traditional tea house confirm the history of the place and the city more than other features. The building of the garden dates back to the Safavid era, and its architecture is a mixture of the elements of the Achaemenid, Sassanid, and Qajar eras. The tile works and the stone columns similar to the Persepolis’s style have ornamented the royal mansion. Being embellished by the eye-catching colorful flowers and the vases in all parts, this garden is the shining example of the Iranian floriculture. If you are a follower of art, architecture, history, and beauty do not miss this alluring garden.

After passing through a wooden gate which is the entrance to the garden, you reach a corridor around a small pool which is decorated with the vases full of roses and is surrounded by the towering cypress trees. In front of the pool, the royal mansion in two floors, and with several stone columns, is beautifully decorated with blue tile works and exhilarates anyone to delve into the palace to find new exciting things in it.

The first floor of the palace is the museum of weapons including the cold and warm arms and is called the military museum. Among the weapons being showcased in the museum, the extravagant personal guns belonged to Qajar and Pahlavi kings are the standouts. This floor leads to the second floor through the stairs. The second floor is called the Ebrat museum which is composed of several chambers and is furnished with stunning pieces of furniture.

The Iranian carpets, the private piano of Queen Farah Pahlavi are the other impressive things that make the museum more noteworthy. At the center of this floor, a hall decorated with a chandelier and marble fireplaces is located. Being ornamented with paintings of flowers and plants, the wooden ceiling captivates any visitor. Along both sides of the hall, the luxury rooms such as a sitting room, a study room, a conference room, and a casino are located. However, visitors cannot enter the rooms.

Moreover, when the sun shines through the colorful glass windows of the hall, the beauty of the mansion is boosted. The porches on both sides of the palace are majestically decorated with the paintings of the hunting preserves and the battles between groups of people. In front of the royal mansion, there is a big pool laden with crystal clear water which reflects the façade of the palace. Ducks and geese inside the pool have given another life to the garden.

The attractions of the Afif-Abad Garden is not limited to a mansion, pools and green plants, but preferably there are a traditional tea house and a bathhouse in other parts of the complex. The tea house contains six chambers decorated with fabulous illustrations from Shahnameh including the battle between Rostam and Sohrab, and Rostam and Esfandiar. The Bathhouse of the complex is located next to the tea house which is well worth visiting.

The beautiful singing of the nightingales gratifies any visitor when walking around the garden. If you are interested in taking pictures, do not forget to rent the traditional Qajari costumes, wear them, and then record your memories in the garden. On the whole, pay a visit to this fabulous garden to get more familiar with the history of Shiraz and the beauty of Iranian garden.

Address: Afif Abad Street, 71364 Shiraz, Iran

Opening Hours: Every day from 08:00 to 12:00 and from 15:30 to 17:00

Closed: Official Holidays

Ticket Price: 20,000 Toman

Eram Garden; an Earthy Slice of Heaven in Shiraz

Eram Garden WHS Shiraz

Shiraz is mostly known for its poets, literature, and flowers, where also a lovely blend of classical and modern architecture is conspicuous. When you wander around the city, from north to south, and from east to west, you can find various attractions that are worth dedicating all your free time to watch them.

Among the beautiful attractions, gardens are the standouts, and one of the genuinely glorious gardens is the UNESCO World Heritage Listed of Eram Garden. The name refers to Heaven. When you go into the garden, all you can see is the tall trees and the delightful flowers. The Eram Garden is located in Eram Street which has been known as the “love street” in Shiraz. The lovers and the beloved are an integral part of the Eram Street and Garden. So, the moment that you walk into this place, you sense the love, peace and the tranquility. During the spring, the aroma of fresh air and the green color of the whole garden exhilarate anyone. During the autumn, the harmonious mixture of colors thrills the visitors as well.

The Eram Garden is a piece of heaven in Shiraz which is almost beautified with lush plants and verdant fields. The botanical garden of Eram is the home to a variety of unique plants, and it is one of the best examples of the Iranian gardens. As you go into the garden, the first feature that catches the eye is the towering trees that surround a sumptuous palace which is the masterpiece of Qajar dynasty. The outer wall of the palace is ornamented with the poems of Hafez, the Great Iranian poet, which signifies how important the poets are to the Iranians.

On the ground floor of the building, there is a stone museum where you would find various precious marbles and decorative stones. The porch is stunningly decorated with the colorful alluring paintings of the animals, the people, and the flowers. In front of the palace, there is a pool with three amazing fountains and dancing fishes. When you look into the light blue pool across from the palace, you will see the picture of the building and the trees in it.

The Eram Graden is the Sarv-e-Naz’s host, the oldest cypress tree in the garden, which is the most famous tree of the place and the city of Shiraz. The garden is abundant with the various kind of trees including sour orange, palm, and cypress. By walking into the garden during the spring, the aroma of the sour orange tree and the pure atmosphere enrapture any visitor. Among the green plants, there exist vivid flowerbeds that break the monotony of the garden.

As you keep walking in the garden, you would see various groups of people painting, photographing, singing and playing any musical instruments. The place has the potential to satisfy different people of particular interests. The traditional music which is always playing in the whole garden makes the visit more gratifying. Moreover, the pleasant sound of the birds boosts the beauty of the garden.

Another surprising part of the garden is the small lake in which numerous dancing fishes and turtles live. The lake emanates positive energy and vitality. It is surrounded by small and large rocks, green trees and plants. The mixture of these things together makes the lake a cozy place to spend your time sitting and enjoy the tranquility of it. After being employed walking around the garden and watching the attractions, it is time to help yourself. You can taste the local food especially “Faloode” at the small space near the palace and add a sweet taste to your visit as well. Nature aligns with the history is an excellent combination for taking pictures. You can rent the traditional clothes, put them on and record both the aesthetic and historical value of the

garden. Therefore, if you go to Shiraz, visit the Eram Garden. Otherwise, you will regret it later.

Shiraz, the capital of the largest empire the world has ever seen

Persepolis

The Iranian that hears the name of Shiraz gets an excellent feeling of calm and romance, because of it being the city of poems such as Hafez and Saadi. City of culture and Gardens, Shiraz is indeed a city that should never be missed from one’s Iran trip itinerary.

Persepolis the Capital of Persia

Located 60 kilometers to the north of Shiraz is the World Heritage Site of Persepolis (Takht-E-Jamshid), which used to be the glorious capital of many Persian dynasties. Persepolis was used as a place for gathering and celebrations of significant events like Nourooz. It is also known as Parse and Hezar Sotun (Tausend Pilar). There used to be several palaces at this complex. Apadana, which is amongst the oldest palaces, Tachar, which translates to winter house, can be seen as a museum of calligraphy. Hadish, the private palace of the king, was named after his wife, queen’s palace, used today as a museum and the center of administration for the complex, Sad-Sotun (hundred columns) and Shora which was probably used by the king as the place for meeting. Shiraz is the capital of the largest empire the world has ever seen.

Pasargadae, the tomb of Cyrus the Great

Pasargadae, another World Heritage Site, situated at the heart of Pars, the first ever capital of kings, has numerous palaces built in it by the king’s order. Gardens and fountains were made at the time too, after Darius the great, this place was used as a holy place and also for crowning the kings.

Shiraz; the city of Roses and love

Shiraz is called as the city of flowers and gardens by many Iranians; the Eram Garden as one of the Persian gardens inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage list is an ancient and historical garden in Shiraz, it comprises a royal villa set in the grounds. It used to be the king’s favorite relaxing place. There is a building in the garden and despite being small, is magnificent, and there a reflecting pool in front of the house. The garden makes good pavement for relaxation.

Traditional merchandise and handicrafts

The Vakil complex, which consists of a mosque, a bathing house, and a bazaar, was built by Karim Khan Zand’s order. This enormous bathing house has the most advanced architectural methods of its time. Vakil Bazaar is one of the most famous traditional and historical markets of Iran. It is most famous for carpets, but also handmade artifacts made by the locals can be bought from here too. At the site of the Vakil mosque, there is an inscription which has Fathali shah and Hossein Ali mirza’s name on it.

The land of poets 

Aramgah Hafez (Hafez mausoleum) is the resting place of the great poet Hafez. His marble tombstone has carvings of his poems; the site has eight stone columns beneath a tiled dome. What should be the fun activity of this place is performing the FaaleHafezz, which is seeing your future by opening a volume of Hafez.

ISFAHAN, Half of the World!

Isfahan

Being among the first and most visited tourist attraction of Iran, Isfahan has so much to offer that may need even a whole week to visit all those beauties. Located at the central heart of Iran, it used to be called Espadana; it is also known as the ”Half of the World”, being the grandeur that it is, the term ” half of the world” only seems suitable. Isfahan is truly a masterpiece of Iranian culture. The outstanding Islamic architecture, with its unique Persian texture, is what tourists are going to witness on a day in Isfahan.

Naghshe-Jahan square is a complex of fantastic monuments belonging to the Safavid period, such as Masjed Shah (Shah or Emam mosque), Ali-Ghapoo, Masjed Sheikh-lotfollah (Sheikh Lotf-o-llah mosque or Royal Mosque), and Gheysarieh Bazaar. Masjed Shah or Masjed Emam is the blue-tiled, mosaic designed mosque, located at Naghshe Jahan Square. It took around 20 years to be completed, but this amazing monument has not changed much since then. Every section of the mosque itself can be called a masterpiece, but overall the whole monument is what captures the eyes of the visitor. Beautiful deep blue and yellow tiled were used to frame the porches of the courtyard’s walls. The turquoise minarets of the mosque make you keep your head up and gaze.

Ali-Ghapoo is a massive structure built in 7 stories, as the entrance to the house of government. The royal family used its terraces to watch the polo games which took place in the square. Masjede Sheikh lotfollah is a mosque dedicated to Shah Abbas’s father in law. What is somehow amazing about this building is how the cream colored tiles at the dome change color to pink. Arabesques and floral designs are the usual’s of such monuments, beautifully designed to add to the glory of the building. What might sound surprising is that unlike other mosques, this one does not have a minaret or a courtyard, this can be related to the private nature of the mosque which was intended to be used only by the women of the Shah’s harem.

Gheysarieh Bazaar serves as a portal entrance to the big bazaar of Esfahan, where one can spend hours wandering around, looking for items from A to Z.  Masjede Jame (Jame mosque) may be a mosque, but it can also be seen as a veritable museum of Islamic architecture.  This UNESCO World Heritage site is the biggest mosque in Iran. The courtyard, the minarets, walls, the dome, and every other piece of this complex is a masterpiece in its right. Then there is the pleasure palace of Shah-Abbas, called the Chehel Sotun Palace, a lovely garden used as a relaxing place by the Shah.

It would not be a Complete day not to visit the Khaju-Bridge which serves as a dam too, along with this there is the Si-o-Se Pol (33-arches) bridge which is also a dam, illuminated at nights, a walk on this bridge is a pleasant way to pass the time in Esfahan.

By: M. Sadin