Shiraz is the center of Fars province. It is located in the southern part of the Zagros Mountains on an agricultural lowland at an elevation of 1,486 meters. Its climate has distinct seasons and is overall classed as a hot semi-arid climate.

Celebrated as the heartland of Persian culture for more than 2500 years, Shiraz has become synonymous with education, nightingales and poetry.

The cradle of royal civilization of the world and of Persian History, it holds splendor and the magnificent ruins of Persepolis and Pasargadae.

It is also home to splendid gardens, exquisite mosques and whispered echoes of ancient sophistication that reward those who linger longer than it takes to visit nearby Persepolis, the area’s major tourism drawcard

Hafez Mausoleum

Mausoleum of Hafez (1324-1391), the greatest master of Persian lyric poetry and 14th century literary giant of West and Central Asia, born in Shiraz, lived here all his life, singing the words praised him in wonderful verses and was buried in a garden named after him Hafezieh, in the northeast of the city. The extraordinary popularity and widespread appeal of this great poet to all Persian-speaking peoples made his mausoleum a beloved, visited place by all. This mausoleum was also rebuilt in the early 1950s. A stone staircase leads to the mausoleum under a tiled dome resembling a dervish hat. The tombstone is beautifully engraved with two poems by Hafez or Ghazals. Visitors to the tomb can still, as they have for centuries, retrieve omens, or omens, by randomly drawing a page from a volume of Hafez, preserved for this purpose.

Saadi Mausoleum

Saadi’s tomb is located northeast of Shiraz. Set in a pleasant garden, the current tomb was built in 1952 and replaces a much simpler earlier construction. Unlike Hafez, Saadi traveled extensively in Iraq and Syria, where he was even taken prisoner by the Crusaders. Upon his return to Shiraz, Saadi wrote his most famous works, Bustan (Orchard) and Golestan (Rose Garden), which were moral stories written in verse form or a combination of prose and poetry. Saadi will die in 1290 at the age of 101.

Persepolis

Persepolis (Old Persian: Pārśa, New Persian: Takhte Jamshid or Pārseh), literally “city of the Persians”, was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire (c. AD). Persepolis is located 70 km northeast of the city of Shiraz in Fars Province of Iran. The earliest ruins of Persepolis date to around 515 BC. It illustrates the Achaemenid architectural style. UNESCO declared the Citadel of Persepolis a World Heritage Site in 1979.

Takhte Jamshid (Persepolis) The center of the great Persian Empire, the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenids and the locomotive of Achaemenid art, Persepolis (the capital of Persia in Greek) is a historical monument in Fars province, 60 km northeast of Shiraz. The Iranians call it Takhte Jamshid (The Throne of Jamshid), Jamshid was the first ruler of Iran, possibly mythical. This beautiful courtyard was the summer residence of the Achaemenid emperors and their official reception. It must have been a strange historical coincidence that Persepolis is never mentioned in foreign records, for it was here that representatives of all the diverse peoples of the empire gathered to present the pay homage and pay tribute to the king of kings, probably every spring. , at the time of the ancient Now Ruz festival. Although burned down and destroyed by Alexander in a gesture symbolizing the annihilation of Persian imperial power, it’s still impressive ruins allow for a fairly complete reconstruction of its original appearance.

Karim Khan Citadel

Arg de Karim Khan was once a prison, but is now an architectural wonder on display. The design of the citadel combines military and residential architecture, as it was the home of Karim Khan and the military center of the dynasty. Bricks depicting mythical stories were added to the city gates during the Qajar period.

Arg of Karim Khan (or Arge Karim Khan) is a citadel built in the Zand dynasty of Persia around 1800 AD. Named after Karim Khan, the king of the dynasty. Karim Khan also used it as his residence. There are four round towers on the corner. There are various buildings inside the Arg, the north building was used in winter, the south building was used in summer, and the west building was used in all seasons. The exterior of the building is a simple expression, but on the contrary, it is beautifully decorated, which is characteristic of the Karim Khan period building.

Afif Abad Garden

Afif Abad Garden (Bagheafifabad) a garden and houses belonging to the Ghavami family. It includes a former royal castle, a museum of historic weapons and a Persian garden that is one of the oldest in Shiraz, all open to the public.

Eram Garden (Baghe Eram)

This beautiful resort features an extensive network of gardens, as well as colorful palaces and a small man-made river system that flows throughout the region. Tourists can admire the amazing flora or follow the intricate system of small canals. Make sure the weather is sunny before you come here!

Naranjestan Qavam (Baghe Naranjestan)

Naranjestan Qavam (Baghe Naranjestan) is a house that is both traditional and historic. It was built in the mid-19th century by Mirza Ibrahim Khan. Qavam “Naranjestan” retains the elegance and sophistication enjoyed by bourgeois families of the 19th century. The mirrored porch is the focal point of the home, overlooking gardens surrounded by date palms and flowers. The house is now a museum open to the public.

Delgosha Garden (Baghe Delgosha)

Nasir AL Mulk Mosque

It was built during the Qajar era; the mosque has multicolored glass in the façade and other traditional elements such as panj kāsehi (five mosques) in its design.

Shah Cheragh recommends. Sayed Amir Ahmad, known as Shahe Cheragh, brother of Imam Reza, arrived in Shiraz in the second half of the 8th century. He died in the city and today his grave is a revered pilgrimage site. . The structure, tiles and dome of the mausoleum have been reconstructed many times over the centuries. The tomb, its beautiful silver doors and exquisite mirror work are the artisanship of Shiraz’s contemporary artisans and artisans.

Vakil Bath

Vakil Bath is an old public bath in Shiraz, Iran. It is part of the royal district built during the reign of Karim Khan Zand, and includes Karim Khan’s Arg, Vakil  Bazaar, Vakil  Mosque, and many administration buildings. During the construction of the 18th century, private baths in the house were rare, and visiting this bath was considered a royal treatment.   The historic bath was known not only for its uniqueness and variety of visitors, but also for its beautiful architecture with traditional Persian domed ceilings. Above all, the turquoise tiles that decorate the interior and exterior walls of the building are also a historically renowned trend in Persian architecture. What you see as concrete today is the glittering colorful tiles that once covered the floor and ceiling. There was a special room where you could sit, socialize and work while waiting for the bath. You can feel the bathing process as you step into other rooms through the low arched corridor. One of the last rooms has a place to wait for massages, scrubs and even tooth extractions. Currently, the building is used as a museum.

Vakil Bazaar

Shiraz Vakil Bazaar was built during the Zandieh period at the behest of Karim Khan Zand (17581779) and is located in downtown Shiraz.   Vakil-Bazaar is made of brick, limestone and chalk. The base of the bazaar is made of huge stones and hard rocks. In Iran, there are few traditional bazaars built with such beauty and precision on such a solid foundation. The roof of the bazaar is very high and is covered with beautiful tiles, pottery and bricks. The various parts of the bazaar have their own special names, depending on the type of trade and the type of goods sold at that part of the bazaar. The Bazaar has a beautiful courtyard, caravanserai, baths and old shops and is considered one of the best places in Shiraz to buy all kinds of Persian rugs, spices, copper crafts and antiques. Like other bazaars in the Middle East, there are many mosques and imamzadehs built next to or behind the bazaar.

Vakil Mosque

One of the most important artistic and historical buildings, which have remained from the Zand period, is Vakil Mosque, also known as soltani Mosque and Jami Vakil, Mosque. This Mosque was built by order of Karim Khan Zand near the royal palace and in the Zandieh complex. Now after about two centuries this building is still standing. It was used as a place for Friday prayer a few years ago. The tile works in this building is one of the best that shows the art of Iranian tile workers and the painters in the 12th century A.H. This mosque was built between 1751 and 1773, during the Zand period; however, it was restored in the 19th century during the Qajar period.  Vakil means regent, the title of the founder of the Zand dynasty, Karim Khan. Shiraz is the home of the Karim Khan administration, and he donated many buildings, including this mosque. The Vakil Mosque covers an area of ​​8,660 square meters. On the north and south sides of the large courtyard, there are only two Ibans instead of the usual four Ibans. The Ivan and courtyards are decorated with typical Shiraz-Haft-Langi tiles that are characteristic of Shiraz’s art and industry in the late 18th century. Shabestan (night prayer hall) with its nocturnal area or an area of ​​2700 square meters. With 48 stone pillars of the same height, beautiful ceilings and a marble altar, it is considered one of the masterpieces of the Zand era. Masjede Vakil is especially famous for its large chapel (75 meters long and 36 meters wide) covered with a small dome on 48 twisted pillars cut from a single stone block. The entrance gate to the Vakil Mosque is very ornately decorated, with left and right corridors lined up on both sides. From here you can go to the main room with the altar. A high pulpit (member) embedded in a green marble catches your eye and the speaker must climb to the top to meet the people of the mosque. The atmosphere of the mosque is very calm and tends to dream of a large gathering of people who must have gathered there in the past to pray. Being aware of the Quranic verses of the Sol and Nosaf scriptures at the entrance enhances the artistic reputation. The art of sculpture and the dedication of master builders to their skills will surprise you with the complexity of their work. Every surface that can be shaped with a hammer and chisel looks like it has been treated and the overall effect is impressive. The craftsmanship was so strong and solid that the mosque survived the devastation of the earthquake in the area. It proves the talent of craftsmen in the Zand era. Recently, a lot of renovations have been done to preserve the old Vakil Mosque. Tiles, lighting systems, plastering, courtyard floors, and all other aspects of the mosque have been improved to keep the mosque in good condition. You have to stop to admire it on your trip to Iran and Shiraz. Therefore, be sure to plan your Iranian itinerary to cover this mosque. The historic building was registered as a national cultural heritage about 76 years ago. According to the Fars Heritage, Crafts and Tourism Department, the stone and tile work on the floor has been updated, the interior lighting has been improved, the exterior of the night prayer room has been refurbished and the stucco work has been modernized. Not surprisingly, this place is a popular tourist destination and the surrounding area offers much more to visitors. If you like to visit cathedrals and churches with a rich history and incredible beauty in every corner, the Vakil Mosque should be at the top of the list of things to see before you die. A truly unforgettable experience.

Holy Shrine of Shah-e Cheraq

It is the magnificent domed shrine and a major place of pilgrimmage. In Persian ‘The king of light’ is an important pilgrimage site, originally built in the 14th century in the honour of Ahmed ibn Mosa, brother of Imam Reza, who was killed

Ali Ibn-e Hamze Holey Shrine

This holy shrine belongs to the nephew of Imam Reza (the eighth Shiite Imam).

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Jahan Nama Garden

It is one of the oldest gardens of Shiraz, situated near the tomb of beloved Iranian poet, Hafez.

The garden was important during Safavid dynasty.

Karim khan Zand (The king of Zand Dynasty) renovated this garden.

Qur’an Gate

Qur’an Gate is a historical gate in the north of Shiraz. It is located at the northeastern entrance of the city. In the past time, a hand-written Qur’an was kept in a room at the top of the gate.