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Meybod

Meybod is one of the main desert cities in Yazd province, Iran. It is an ancient city dating back to pre-Islamic times, so it is home to many ancient landmarks. The historic town of Meybod is on the provisional list to be declared on the World Heritage List.

Meybod was the capital of Iran during the Mozarabic period. The Mozaffari dynasty originates from Meybod, where the first king of this dynasty that bears the same name was born. One of the oldest castles in Iran is Narin Qaleh, in Meybod.

Mashhad

Mashhad, the second most populous city in Iran and capital of the Khorasan Razaví province, is the most important pilgrimage destination in the country, welcoming more than 30 million Iranian and foreign visitors each year by hosting the tomb of Imam Reza, eighth imam of Shiism. The sound of Naqareh, a percussion instrument similar to timpani, thrills pilgrims and is played in a tower called Naqare Khaneh. Historically, Mashhad has stood out as a center of art and scholarship and is the birthplace of many great Iranian poets such as Ferdowsi. Nader Shah Afshar moved his capital to this city and led the reconquest of the Safavid territories, where it was the center of power until the conquest of Khorasan by Aqa Mohammad Jan Qajar.

Due to successive victories in wars, Nader Shah ordered the construction of the golden dome of the Imam Reza shrine. In the past, many Jews and Armenians used to live in this city and Jewish houses had high and strong walls, interconnected with each other. In 1941, the Armenians of Mashhad built the Church of Saint Mozart, as well as other monumental works such as: the tombs of Nader Shah, Attar, Ferdowsi and the dome of Harunieh. The making of carpets and handicrafts in Mashhad date back to 5 centuries ago. The oldest Mashad carpet belongs to the time of the Shah Tahmasb.

Maraghe

Maraghe is a charming city in the East Azerbaijan province that is located on the bank of the Safi Chay river. The population is mainly composed of Azerbaijani-speaking Iranian Azeris. Maraghe is the thriving center of a vast fruit growing area and exports a lot of dried fruit and its modern development has accelerated in recent decades. In the Middle Ages, Maraghe played a prominent role under various Turkish princes of the Middle Ages and the Mongol chieftain Hulagu Kan (1256-65), who chose this city as his capital. The city was destroyed by the Mongols in 1221. Among the notable monuments of Maraghé are a few funerary towers: Gonbad-e Sorkh, Gonbad-e Kabud (or Gok-Giinbez) and Gonbad-e Sharaffiya.

Kish

Pearl of the Persian Gulf and a beautiful and spectacular island with an area of ​​90 square kilometers south of Iran whose coral reefs and crystal clear waters attract more than 2 million tourists annually. This island, like others in the Persian Gulf, especially those located in the Strait of Hormuz, has a semi-equatorial climate with tropical vegetation. On this island is the underground city of Kariz, which covers an area of ​​10,000 square meters and is 2,500 years old. Sixteen meters below the ground, this city has an 8 meter ceiling and corals and oysters with a 500 million year old birth certificate. The Iranian government has struggled to develop it by launching massive construction projects to make Kish a rival to Doha and Dubai. In fact, Kish is one of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s standard free trade zones. Recreational facilities on this island include coral beaches, sandy beaches, parks, gardens, zoo, bird garden, pleasure boats and the Greek ship.

Khaf

Capital of the county of Khaf, in the province of Khorasan Razaví, in Iran. Khaf houses a rich ancestral tradition linked to the first universities of the 12th-13th centuries, which offered the opportunity to study a wide variety of sciences, such as: mathematics, astronomy, medicine or music. From an anthropological point of view, Khaf is an incredibly interesting destination because Iranian culture is tinged with Afghani, which gives a special touch to both the somatic features and the way of life of the people. The local people speak a Persian dialect, similar to Dari, and have almond-shaped eyes, typical of the region and similar to those of Turkmen and Afghans.

Karaj

Karaj is the capital of the Alborz province in Iran. The city developed during the reign of the Safavid and Qajar dynasties and is home to historical monuments. Until the second half of the 20th century it was known mainly as a seaside resort. Today it is an industrial city, with factories for sugar, textiles, wool and cotton yarns, cement, fruits, vegetables and noodles, and dairy products. In recent years, this area has developed into an industrial estate, covering a fairly wide area from Tehran to the first perimeter of downtown Karaj.

Khorramabad

The city of Khorramabad is located in the center of Lorestan province, in western Iran. Surrounded by mountains that are excellent reservoirs of water, the city has many natural springs that are exceptionally cool, even during the hot season. Its unique climate has allowed different peoples to settle in this place throughout history. The abundance of water springs, the beautiful Lake Kio that promotes trade between the west and the south, make Khorramabad one of the most tourist cities in Iran. The city’s population is mainly made up of Lur, an Iranian people who speak the Lori language. During the summer, nomadic tribes migrate to the city to sell their wares in the city’s many bazaars.

The Lorestan region is best known for its bronze objects, made with the technique known as “lost wax”, and especially for its finely crafted pieces decorated with images and figures of horses or legendary animals.

The art of bronze making testifies to several centuries of culture of a peasant and warrior people at the same time. In the fourth millennium BC., this art reached its apogee. Bronze work is a traditional Iranian art that is passed down from generation to generation and that served as a means of communication between the tribes of the time. The objects, tools and other artifacts of this type, the remains of which have been discovered, are mainly swords, scimitars, sticks and other weapons of the time. Some luxury items are also discovered from this period, such as jewelry or other table and decoration objects, which are exhibited in various museums in Iran, mainly those in Tehran.

Jahrom

Jahrom is one of the cities of Fars province in southern Iran, located 170 kilometers southeast of Shiraz, the capital of Fars province. Many tropical and subtropical plants are grown in Jahrom including citrus, date, palm and wheat. The name Jahrom can be literally translated as “hot place”, expressing the climate of the area, but etymologically it is interpreted as “green place”. The history of Jahrom dates back to about 2,500 years ago, when the Achaemenids founded the Persian Empire.

Isfahan

The splendor of Isfahan came during its reconstruction by the Safavid monarch Shah Abbas I, who moved his capital here at the end of the 16th century. Monuments from the Safavid era include palaces, mosques, minarets, churches, gardens, bridges, and caravanserais, many of which are considered masterpieces of Islamic art today. Naqsh-e Yahán (Mirror of the World) square, as well as the Aljama Mosque of Isfahan have been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The city of Isfahan, called “the Middle of the World”, is the third most populous city in Iran, located in the heart of the country. Among the Christian churches dating back to the 17th century, Vank Cathedral and St. Mary’s Church are dazzling. Also, Ali Qapu Mansion, Menar Jonban, Khaju Bridge and Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque are other historical works of this city.

Isfahan has a long tradition of making high-quality carpets and silver jewelry.

Ilam

Ilam is the capital of the province of the same name. The city is bordered to the east by the Kabir Kuh mountain range and to the west by Iraq. The city is populated mainly by Kurds. Like many other parts of Iran, the history and architecture of Ilam spans various historical and contemporary periods.

Ilam’s Vali Castle, Falahati Mansion, and Mirqolam Castle are examples of some of the buildings that have survived to this day. The house with a patio is the main type of building of this period. And brick is the main construction material for these buildings. Passive thermal techniques indicated for traditional Iranian buildings are commonly used. The castle has a central courtyard surrounded by trees that together create shade and moisture, providing a green landscape to the courtyard. Here you can see a classic Iranian courtyard.