Shiraz Travel Guide — What to see in Shiraz? — IranAmaze

Ehsan
9 min readMay 29, 2022

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Shiraz Travel Guide — What to see in Shiraz? — IranAmaze

Located on a plain surrounded by two mountain ranges, giving this city a mild climate and magnificent gardens, Shiraz is one of the oldest cities in Iran and the fourth largest city in the country. This city was the capital of Iran during the prisoner dynasty and has some interesting historical sites.
Known as the cultural capital of Iran, the capital of Fars province is the heart of Iranian history and the center of rich Persian literary heritage. Shiraz has been the cradle of civilization and art for centuries. Some famous philosophers, thinkers and poets produced their masterpieces in this beautiful city. Shiraz is known as the city of flowers and nightingales, the city of roses and poets, due to its beautiful Persian gardens and two very famous poets. There are many beautiful mosques and other historical artifacts displaying the extraordinary architecture, tiles and mirrors of the Saadi and Hafiz Zand and Qajar periods.

What to see in Shiraz?

Shiraz is a city of poetry and perfume. Persepolis, one of the largest and most famous monuments in the world, is nearby, as well as the city’s beautiful gardens and monuments. With all its urban and historical features, this city is a frequent destination for local and foreign tourists, especially in May, when Shiraz becomes a paradise on earth with its spring flowers. Along with all the attractions of this city, Shirazis are among the factors that make tourists travel to this quaint, happy and hospitable place.
Learn more about Shiraz’s sights and attractions before traveling to this city.

Eram garden

Although the exact date of its construction is unknown, many stories have been written about the Eram Garden of Shiraz in the travel books of Western tourists who passed through Shiraz in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. According to reliable historical documents, this garden was built by the order of Sultan Sencer during the Seljuk period, but this work did not come to an end and in the following centuries the rulers of Shiraz restored different parts of the garden.
During the Qajar era (H. 19), during the reign of Nasir al-Din Shah, this garden became part of the royal estate and was given to the rulers of Shiraz, so a new mansion was designed and installed by Hussein Ali Khan Nasir al-. mold. .
Two unique features of the Shiraz Eram Garden are the vegetation and architectural diversity used in the construction of the mansion, which follows a number of different styles such as Achaemenid capitals, Zandieh architecture, and Qajar exterior tile decorations.

Nasser Al-Mulk Mosque

It is one of the most colorful mosques in Iran, with the most beautiful tiles and architecture of the Qajar period, and large colored glass in its decorations. This mosque was built in 1888 by the famous Qajar prince Nasir al-Molk.
Nasir Al-Molk Mosque is one of the most beautiful mosques in Iran in terms of tiles and Mogharnas. The mosque has a large courtyard on its northern façade. The entrance has a wide arched facade decorated with colorful tiles. The mosque has two naves, east and west.
The use of colored glass in the interior design and windows of Iranian architecture has become widespread. However, the use of this unique beauty in the construction of the mosque adds to its beauty.

Hafez’s tomb

Hafiz is a famous poet (fourteenth century) buried in Shiraz. The tomb of Hafez or Hafeziyeh, consisting of an open pavilion and a colonnaded hall, is located on the north bank of the seasonal river in the garden of the Mosalla and houses the marble tomb of Hafez. Constructed in 1935 and designed by French architect and archaeologist Andre Godard, the current buildings replace previous structures built in the 18th century. The mausoleum, gardens and other monuments of the elderly in the vicinity are among the touristic centers of Shiraz.

Saadi’s tomb

The tomb of the famous poet Saadi (Saadi, Sadi). The marble tomb, which belongs to the 1860s, is an octagonal structure on the walls of which Saadi’s tile poems are written. A thirteenth-century poet and mystic, Saadi is known not only for the quality of his writings, but also for the depth of his social thought. Saadi’s poem was written at the entrance to the United Nations Hall in New York:
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An essence is the human race,
Thus, Creation laid the foundation.
One hidden limb is enough,
To make everyone feel the wand.
Regardless of the suffering of others,
They are cruel to human faces.

orange orchard

Narenjestan Ghavam, Shiraz, Iran. Built in 1879–1886, it was the administrative residence of Fars province during the Qajar period (nineteenth century). It shows the architecture of Iran in the Qajar period to a great extent. This complex has been used by the Faculty of Arts and Architecture of the University of Shiraz since 1998.

Karim Khan Castle (Castle)

Karim Khan Fort (or Karim Khani Fort) is a rectangular fort built in the center of Shiraz in the 18th century during the reign of Karim Khan Zand, who used it as his main residence. It has four circular watchtowers at its corners. There are various structures inside the castle, including the northern building for winter months, the southern building for summer use, and the western building for four seasons. The exterior of the building is simple, but on the contrary, the interior of the rooms is beautifully decorated, which mainly took place after the fire in the twentieth century.

Karim Khan Zand

According to historians, Karim Khan Zand is considered one of the most intelligent kings of Iran. He called himself an astute lawyer and subject, meaning “the people’s lawyer,” and took important steps to preserve the unity of feudal societies and the tribal system of the Iranian army. A brief glance at the battles he fought and the military victories he achieved during his reign came from the vigilance of a man who never allowed his military commanders to abuse his victories. He ruled most of Iran for about 30 years (1751–1779), but his illness and death eventually allowed rebels and insurgents to make the entire country unsafe with intense bloodshed.

Vakil Bazaar and Mosque

A traditional market built in the eighteenth century. It consists of arched arches with wide platforms in the middle and seventy-four high and proportional arches supporting the roof, and there is a high domed passage separating the east and west bazaars from the main bazaar. The lawyer market is one of the most colorful markets in the Middle East.

Vakil Bath

Beautiful artifacts and artifacts have remained in Shiraz since the time of lawyer Kerim Khan Zand. Vakil Bath (Vakil Bath), which has an area of ​​11000 square meters, an infrastructure of 8660 meters, a length of 120 meters and a width of 80 meters, is one of these masterpieces. It was built by Karim Khan Zand in the Darb-e-Shahzadeh district of present-day Taleghani Street. The bathroom is in the shape of a cube and its entrance is on the north side. The northern façade of the bath overlooks the playground, which was later demolished and replaced with a short street. Vakil Bath, which is known to be very valuable in terms of architecture and aesthetics, has been transformed into Iran’s carpet museum by the Fars Province Cultural Heritage Organization.

Afifabad Garden and Weapons Museum

It is a former palace built in 1863 and now houses the Weapons Museum. The Golshan Garden was first built about two hundred years ago by order of Mohammad Khan Ghavam-ol-Molk. The current main building was built in 1863 by Mirza Ali Mohammad Khan Ghavam II. After his death, the garden was finally inherited by a lady named Afifa, hence the name Afifabad.

Quran Gate

The Koran Gate, known locally as the Ghoran Gate, is the ancient entrance to Shiraz from the north. King Zand, Karim Khan added a room above the door to place the Quran for passengers leaving the city to pass under the Quran for a safe journey! The collection also includes the tomb of Hafez’s teacher and contemporary Saadi court poet, Khajavi Kermani. The view of Shiraz from this point is breathtaking!

Persepolis

Persepolis, also known as Parseh, is a mirror of Iran’s ancient history and culture, built in 518 BC by order of Darius the Great. With an area of ​​approximately 125,000 square meters, Persepolis, as one of the architectural masterpieces of the world, is the pinnacle of the elegance and creativity of Iranian art in utilizing the culture of various nations including the Egyptians, Babylonians, Greeks, Medes and Armenians. . Darius’ purpose in constructing this building was to build a unique capital city in his empire, and for this purpose he chose the vast Marvdasht plain with an ancient historical past.

Rostam role

Darius the Great decided that the tomb of the Achaemenid emperors should be a few miles from Persepolis and chose the Naqsh-i Rustam rock (also known as Naqsh-i Rustam), where some ancient Elam carvings are already present. Large tombs carved from vertical cliffs. Instead of building a house-shaped tomb like the house of Cyrus the Great on the ancient site near Pasargadae, the architectural formula here was completely changed by the realization of huge tombs cut directly from the mountain face and visible. from a great place. Space

What to eat in Shiraz?

One of the most important features of Shiraz is its local cuisine and desserts. Shiraz has many cultural attractions, but the traditional food of this region can also be an option to adapt to Iranian customs and traditions. If you are traveling to Shiraz or other cities in Fars province, be sure to try the specialty dishes of this region. Shiraz has a variety of local dishes that you should not miss.

Shiraz Travel Guide

It’s hard to believe how professional Shirazis are with colorful polos! Rice refers to Iranian rice mixed with other ingredients such as vegetables, meat or chicken. Here is the list of the best meals in Shiraz:

word polo

Shiraz’s most famous dish is Kalam Ploo (cabbage pilaf), which is of course different from the dishes of the same name made in other Iranian cities. In the preparation of this dish, besides cabbage, fragrant vegetables, meat and spices are used. To enjoy the taste of Shirazi rice salad, you should definitely eat it.

What is Polo, Polo, Pilau?

The Persian term pilaf (Pilav or Pilau) means cooked rice mixed with meat or vegetables or beans or chicken. The Persian plow, formerly pronounced [pilau,pilaw], entered the Turkish language [pilav] during the Ottoman period and spread from there to European languages ​​such as English [pilav]. The word [pirafu] is now used in Japan as a Middle Eastern dish
Vegetable soup (vegetable soup)
Shiraz has different types of soup. Ash, ash, ash or ash is a concentrated vegetable soup that is also found in the cuisines of Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, the Caucasus and Turkey. There are different types of soups common throughout the country in Iran, but the Shirazi vegetable soup is native to the Fars province and is a breakfast staple. You can find many grocery stores selling vegetable soup. It’s interesting to know that Shirazis have breakfast.

Shirazi meatballs (Holo meatballs)

Meatballs or meatballs are a family of meatballs. Shirazi meatballs, known as hulu meatballs, is one of the traditional dishes of Shiraz, and it is prepared by grated ground beef with chickpea flour, egg and onion, mixed with turmeric and salt and kneaded well. Then chop and fry two large onions and finally pour the raisins on it and fry a little. Sometimes pomegranate paste is added. This dish is like a meatloaf with all the listed ingredients. Don’t forget to taste this delicious dish on your way to Shiraz!

فالوده شیرازی

What you shouldn’t miss while in Shiraz is called Faloudeh (also Paloudeh), a cold Persian dessert that originated in the modern city of Shiraz (a different kind also found in Kerman).
While this has some common features with sherbet, it is quite different from Western ice cream or other iced desserts. Sold in ice cream parlors and cafes in Shiraz, Faludeh is made from noodle-sized thin noodles made from starch in semi-frozen syrup containing sugar, rose water, lemon juice or other fruit syrups. This is an incredible frozen dessert unlike anything you’ve ever tasted!

Where to Stay in Shiraz

Shiraz is one of the most populous and largest cities in Iran and the capital of Iranian culture and civilization. This magnificent city with a mild climate is located in the southeast of Iran and attracts many travelers all year round due to its many historical, cultural, religious and natural attractions. Shiraz is one of the busiest cities in terms of tourism, so there are many types of hotels, dorms, accommodation and accommodation.

Shiraz hotels

There are a total of 71 hotels in Shiraz, including 6 5-star, 15 4-star, 22 3-star, 15 2-star and 13 one-star hotels. ; Such as hostels, apart hotels and residences.

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