City Guide
Tehran
The metropolitan city of Tehran is situated on the slopes of the mountains of Shemiran and at foot of the magnificent Mount Damavand. It has been the Capital City for 200 years. In less than two centuries, Tehran has grown from a tiny village to the capital of the world's oldest empire. In the early 1920's, Tehran was still a sleepy town. Today it is a busy metropolis with some twelve million inhabitants, or about one-fifth of the Iran's population.
Tehran was selected as the center of Iran during the Ghajar period (1800 A.D.) because of its pleasant weather, beautiful nature and other rather favourable conditions.
Today Tehran is featuring a large collection of recent and ancient Persian antiquities, traditions and cultures.
It offers the visitors a great number of unique opportunities to enjoy marvelous beauty of the surrounding nature, visit the historical sites, including Palaces of the Shah and open-air museums.
Besides, one can spend terrific time skiing, mountain climbing, and hiking and indulge oneself with a world famous delicious Persian cuisine.
With an altitude of 1200 meters above sea level, Tehran is a city of all four seasons with hot summer, freezing winter, very colourful spring and autumn.
Mashad
Mashad, Iran's holiest city, is located 850 kilometers North East of Tehran. Back in the 9th century, Imam Reza (alayhis'salam) was poisoned and martyred in the city. Mashad means 'place of martyrdom'.
Millions of people pay pilgrimage to the holy shrine of Imam Reza (alayhis'salam), undoubtedly the largest and most magnificent of its kind, every year. There are plenty of priceless objects and unique manuscripts in the shrine's library.
Before the Imam (alayhis'salam) died, the city was known as Sanabad, a small village in the north of Persia. After his death, pilgrims came and ended up staying in Mashad The village grew into a small city because of his shrine. Sunni Muslim forces sacked the city, followed by the Mongols in the 13th century. The shrine was badly damaged and, after time, rebuilt.
In the 16th century, three Safavid dynasty rulers established Shi'ite Islam for the whole territory. The shrine was restored, enlarged, and a Ghoharshad mosque was built. These rulers made pilgrimages to the site and since then it has become the most holy Shi'ite pilgrimage in Iran.
The city's climatic condition is varied with very cold winters, pleasant springs, usually mild summers and beautiful autumns. The magnificent holy shrine of Imam Reza (alayhis'salam) and the historical and artistic complex attached to it including the courtyards, porticos and porches, the Goharshad Mosque (of Timurid period) as well as its rich museum and library are the most significant sights to be seen by any visitor and pilgrim.
There is a magnificent golden dome over the shrine's building; surrounded by several porches. The Grand Gohaharshad Mosque is located to the south of the shrine, the museum and the tomb of Sheikh Bahaee to the southeast and Parizad and Balasar Schools to the west.
Other than a number of large beautiful parks, the other sights tomb of Nader Shah, Kooh Sangi pool. There are also some sights outside the city. Tomb of Khajeh Morad kilometers from Mashad along the road to Tehran, the tomb of Khajeh Rabi' located 6 kilometers north of the city where there are some inscriptions by the renowned Safavid calligrapher Reza Abbasi, and the tomb of Khajeh Abasalt in a distance of 20 kilometers from Mashad along the road to Neishabur. The three personalities were the disciples of Imam Reza (alayhis'salam). Among the other sights are the tomb of the great poet Ferdowsi in Tus, 24 kilometers away from Mashad; and the Summer resorts at Torghabeh, Torogh, Akhlomod, Zoshk and Shandiz.
Qum
Qum is one of the oldest cities of Iran located in about 120km South West of Tehran at the edge of the desert. 543,000 people populate the city.
The city is a center for processing the cotton and grain grown in the area. It is also known for its pottery and textiles. However, the city is more famous as a center of pilgrimage.
This ancient city has a number of beautiful mosques, 14th-century towers and the golden dome of Shrine of Bibi Masuma (alayher'salam).
Isfahan
Isfahan or Esfahan is one of the oldest cities of Iran with the 1,001,000 population located 355 km (220 miles) south of Tehran. This 2 500 years old city served as Persia's capital from 1598 to 1722.
Isfahan was a crossroad of international trade and diplomacy, and therefore was a kaleidoscope of resident languages, religions, and customs. The city is known for its silver filigree and metal work.
The city's golden age took place under the reign of Shah Abbas I (1587-1629) who unified Persia. Once the capital of ancient dynasties, Isfahan reached height of prosperity and fame as the seat of the Safavid Kings in the seventeenth century. At that time, Isfahan, enjoyed the reputation of being one of the largest and most beautiful cities in the whole world.
This city is renowned not only for the abundance of great historical monuments, but also for its Life-Giving River, The Zayandeh-Rood, which has given the city an original beauty and a fertile land. Isfahan is filled with old gardens and some of the best sights in Iran.
References
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