Maragheh is one of the northwestern cities of Iran, where numerous historical monuments are located. This city is one of the most populated cities of West Azarbaijan Province and is known as one of the scientific centers of the Seljuq era and one of the capitals of the Ilkhanate (along with Tabriz and Soltanieh) dynasty.

The existence of the historical Maragheh Observatory, which was, once upon a time, an international center of scientific research, speaks of the scientific and political importance of this city at that time. The Circular Tower of Maragheh is one of the historical monuments of this city, is, in fact, a tomb but the identity of the person buried in it is not known. Of course, according to some experts, prior to being a tomb this site was used as a defense fort.

The Circular Tower of Maragheh can be considered as one of the historical towers of Maragheh. Gonbad-e Sorkh (Red Dome), Gonbad-e Kabud (Blue Dome), Ghaffarieh Dome, and Gouy Tower, which was completely destroyed in 1938 AD, are the other towers of this city. These towers are, in fact, a set of tombs built in the form of domed towers, which were constructed mainly during the 13th to 15th centuries AD (6th to 8th AH) in Maragheh, and all of them were inscribed on the list of Iran’s national historical heritage in the year 1932 AD.

The Architecture of Circular Tower of Maragheh and the Materials Used in Its Construction

The Circular Tower of Maragheh has a portal with a frame and a crescent-shaped arch, in which there is an inscription decorated with bricks and turquoise color tiles. The date of the construction of the building mentioned in this inscription is 563 AH (1167 AD), which coincides with the era of Seljuq rule. In this period, a lot of importance was given to the construction of tower-shaped tombs and minarets such that the number of these buildings was more than mosques. The architects of the Seljuq era had a special skill in building domes and used brickwork as the main way to decorate the facade of buildings.

There is a room above the cellar, called the “Upper Room”, which had stucco decorations in the past, but these decorations have disappeared over time. There are no special decorations on the exterior of the building and the entire area is covered with ordinary brickwork.

Carved limestone and clay bricks were used to build the Circular Towe of Maragheh. The main mortar used in this building is Sarooj, which is one of the oldest Iranian mortars and has been used in the construction of many buildings throughout Iran. The strength of Sarooj had made it one of the most widely used materials in Iran’s construction before the widespread use of cement.

Despite being strengthened with the use of Sarooj the two-layered dome and the roof of the Circular Towe of Maragheh have been destroyed over time. In later periods, a gable roof was built on the structure to prevent its complete destruction. However, since the construction of this gable changed the characteristics of the building to some extent, it was somehow amended to preserve the originality of the building.

Buildings Adjacent to the Circular Towe of Maragheh

Having seven towers known as “Maragheh Domes”, Maragheh has been known as the “City of Towers”. These buildings are located at a short distance from the Circular Towe of Maragheh.

Presently, only four of the seven towers of Maragheh are left, which include the Circular Towe of Maragheh, the Red Dome, the Blue Dome, and the Ghaffarieh Dome. The Red Dome is one of the oldest buildings of the Islamic era, the Blue Dome, like the Circular Tower of Maragheh, belongs to the Seljuq era, and the Ghaffarieh Dome was created a little later, during the Ilkhanate period. Ghaffarieh Dome, which is said to have been built by Sultan Abu Saeed Bahadur Khan, is a brick and square building located on top of a stone platform and contains a deep crypt.

The Circular Towe of Maragheh was inscribed on the list of Iran’s national heritage in the year 1932 AD.

The Circular Tower of Maragheh has a portal with a frame and a crescent-shaped arch, in which there is an inscription decorated with bricks and turquoise color tiles. The date of the construction of the building mentioned in this inscription is 563 AH (1167 AD).

Fahadan is one of the oldest neighborhoods of Yazd and has many historical sites. The House of Laris, which is one of these sites and is related to the Qajar era (1796 to 1925 AD), was built by a famous businessman named Haj Mohammad Ebrahim Lari in the year 1869 AD. He was originally from the Lar City of Fars Province and had settled in Yazd during the Qajar era.

This mansion is neighbored by other historical sites like Ziaiyeh School (previously Alexander’s Prison), Davazdah Imam Memorial, and Yazd Citadel.

The History of the House of Laris

The House of Laris was built by a tradesman from the city of Lar by the name of Haj Mohammad Ebrahim Lari during the Qajar era who lived in this house until around the end of the reign of Pahlavi I (around 1941 AD). After his death, there was a dispute among the heirs, and as a result, the house remained abandoned for 50 years during which it was used as a monastery by dervishes.

In 1984 the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Organization of Yazd Province took over the management of this mansion and took the necessary measures to restore it. Presently, a part of the mansion is used as a document museum and another part is used as the administrative office of this Organization.

The Architecture of the House of Laris

Windcatcher, which is one of the components of desert houses, can also be seen in this mansion. This house was built on a plot of 1700 square meters with an infrastructure of nearly 1200 square meters. Clay, mud, brick, straw, mortar, and plaster have been used in the construction of this house. There are two entrances to the house in the west and north, of which the one in the west is the main entrance of the building. This entrance is built with a vestibule and leads to the main courtyard.

Based on the principles of the Iranian style of architecture, the House of Laris has two internal and external parts. There are three courtyards in the mansion, one of which is located in the northeast and is separated from the other two courtyards. The entrance to this courtyard is independent.

The middle yard is smaller than the main yard. There is a vestibule in the middle of the main courtyard and the middle courtyard. A seven-door room in the northwest, a five-door room, and a three-door room have been created in the northeast of the middle courtyard. The carved wall in front of the seven-door room looks quite beautiful.

The main courtyard of the house is located in its west. A beautiful pond has been built in the middle of it and a bed can be seen on it. This part of the building is known as the “Ghorub/Sayeh Neshin” (lit. A place to spend time after sunset). In hot summer days, this part of the mansion was used as a resting place by the residents of the house.

Several structures and rooms can be seen on four sides of the main courtyard. A total of 22 rooms were built in this mansion, which have been often decorated with mirror work. One of the rooms in the eastern part, which is known as the mirror room, is considered the most beautiful part of the mansion.

The southern parts, which receive less sunlight, were used for living in the summer, and the northern parts, which absorb the sunlight and heat more, were used during winter. The southern part has a large porch and a high windcatcher. Some small windcatchers have also been created in this area, whose job is to act as air-conditioners and cool the space inside the building. The height of the south porch makes the rooms be in shade so that the intensity of the sunlight is reduced.

The main kitchen of the mansion is located in the eastern part, which was used in autumn. In the spring, the residents of the mansion used to go to its western part.

This mansion has a cellar, which is located under the porch and is connected to the yard by a few steps. This cellar was mainly used for storing food materials such as meat, beans, etc. The ceiling of the porch is in the form of an arch and is covered with straw and plaster. This form of architecture is known as “Toizeh Arch”. Even the cellar of this mansion has been decorated with two colored shamsas (decorative patterns looking like the sun). Sometimes, on hot summer days, the residents of the house took refuge in the cellar to escape the existing heat.

The third courtyard, which is smaller than the other two courtyards, has only one room. Probably, this yard was an environment for family members to withdraw from others and to rest in seclusion.

The House Laris was inscribed, as a national monument, on the list of Iran’s national heritage in the year 1996 AD.

The House of Laris, which is one of these sites and is related to the Qajar era (1796 to 1925 AD), was built by a famous businessman named Haj Mohammad Ebrahim Lari in the year 1869 AD.

Bazaars were considered one of the most important urban centers in ancient Iran, which have preserved their importance in many cities even today.

Where Is Qaysariyeh Bazaar of Lar located?

Larestan is a city located in the south of Fars province and has a hot and dry climate. Difficult climatic conditions have made farming in this city very difficult, but Lar’s location between the two important cities of Shiraz and Bandar Abbas has made it an important commercial center. Due to its commercial position and interactions with the Persian Gulf countries, Lar is considered one of the richest cities in Fars province.

History of Qaysariyeh Bazaar of Lar

Founded and built by a person named Hossein Asoudeh, who was one of the famous and powerful architects of his time, Qaysariyeh Bazaar of Lar can be considered the oldest market in Iran, where a complete set of daily goods and products is offered. According to some historical sources, the idea for the formation of Shiraz’s Vakil Bazaar, Isfahan’s Bazaar of Chit-makers, and Bukhara’s Bazaar was inspired by this Bazaar. Although this bazaar has been renovated and repaired many times, but its shape and design have not seen major changes in the past 400 years.

The reason for choosing the name Qaysariyeh (there are many bazaars with this name in Iran) is that this name refers to a long corridor that was exclusively dedicated to the supply of delicate and valuable goods such as gold and jewelry. In fact, Qaysariyeh Bazaar of Lar had originally been the place of supply of such goods and it was later on that other guilds gradually appeared there.

There are different opinions about the age of Qaysariyeh Bazaar of Lar. Some people date it back to 900 years ago, and others date its construction to 1350 years ago. However, considering each of these possibilities, it goes without saying that it should be considered the oldest market in Iran and a role model for building other markets.

Features of Qaysariyeh Bazaar of Lar

A collection of traditional Iranian art from the pre-Safavid era (before the 16th century) can be found in this bazaar. There are several caravanserais around it, which were used to accommodate of merchants and commercial caravans in the past.

The best materials, mainly rocks - which are found abundantly in the lands around the city - and the highest architectural knowledge of that time had been used for the construction of this market such that the 1960 earthquake, which caused a lot of damage in Lar and its surrounding areas, had no effect on this bazaar.

The Architecture of Qaysariyeh Bazaar of Lar

This bazaar is designed in a cruciform shape and a unique octagonal dome has been created in its center. The ceiling of the bazaar is about 18 meters above the floor, and a skylight is installed in the middle of each arch. In addition to providing light, these skylights also ventilate the air and make the air in the bazaar 10 degrees cooler than the surrounding environment in the hot summers of Lar. The high arches of the bazaar are quite unique in comparison to all other Iranian bazaars.

The most important manifestation of the art of the architect of this bazaar is manifested in its middle square where a dome is built and reinforced with certain structures called “Khashkhashi”. This method of strengthening the dome was later used in some of the most important domed buildings in Iran, including the Imam Mosque of Isfahan.

Each of the four main passages connects to the central space and has its own name:

• South Passage: “Rastehye Meidan” (Passage to the Square)

• North Passage: “Rastehye Aabforoushan” (Passage of Water sellers)

• Western Passage: “Rastehye Kamargiri” (Passage of Wrestling)

• Eastern Passage: “Rastehye Qassabha” (Passage of Butchers)

The design of the market is such that it provides the possibility to see all the chambers. The atmosphere of the Qaysariyeh Bazaar of Lar still maintains its old structure and the merchants of the same goods have their chambers close to each other.

Qaysariyeh Bazaar of Lar was inscribed on the list of Iran’s national heritage in 1938.

Located in the Chogan Valley of the Zagros Mountains in Kazerun, Shapour Cave is about six kilometers away from the ancient city of Bishapur. The big statue of Shapour I, the second Sassanid king (reigned from 240 to 270 AD) is one of the most important tourist attractions of this strange cave.

Features of Shapour Cave

Shapour Cave is located at an altitude of 800 meters. The entrance of the cave is 30 meters wide and 15 meters high. It is about 450 meters from the entrance to the end of the cave. The reason for naming it Shapour Cave is the large statue of Shapour I in it.

This seven-meter tall statue, the width of whose shoulders stands at about two meters was carved on one of the stalagmites of this limestone cave some 1700 years ago in the third century AD and is the only statue of this size left from ancient Iran.

Who Was Shapour I?

Shapur I was one of the most powerful kings of Iran who defeated the Romans in a tough war. In his last battle with Rome (260 AD), he captured the Roman emperor and imprisoned him in the city of Bishapur. Shapour has had the scene in which the Roman emperor has surrendered to him inscribed on the wall of Naqsh-e Rostam.

Other Sights of Shapour Cave

There are two stone inscriptions carved on the walls of the Shapour Cave, one of which is related to the early period of Sassanid rule. This old inscription is attributed to the Sassanid king, Shapour. The other inscription, which was carved in the contemporary era contains an explanation about the re-erecting of the statue of Shapour I. According to this inscription, the statue that had been pulled down after the advent of Islam in Iran was erected again, after 14 centuries, in the year 1957 AD.

There are two reservoirs inside the cave that have been dug into the rock. Each of these reservoirs is about one meter deep and is accessible by climbing down several steps. It seems that these small reservoirs were created by the local people to collect and use the water that dripped from the roof.

A small stream flows from the left side of these reservoirs behind which there are some beautiful stalactite and stalagmite stones.

There is a large hole with a diameter of about 100 meters at the bottom of the cave, which is leftover from a dried lake. This hole is about 30 meters deep compared to the entrance floor of the cave. After passing by the hole, one can see a flat area, on the left side of the cave, which has been structured by local people and according to archeological experts, this area was used for holding ceremonies or offering sacrifices in the past. In this part, the height of the cave ceiling is nearly 40 meters from the floor.

Local people believe that the body of Shapour I is buried somewhere at the bottom of this cave. According to another story told by local people, Shapour took refuge in this cave after being defeated in a battle and was never seen again.

Points to Keep in Mind When Visiting Shapour Cave

Considering the semi-arid climate of the region, if you plan to visit Shapour Cave in spring or summer, take enough drinking water with you. You will also need warm clothes in autumn and winter, because sudden winds may start blowing, which will be very disturbing.

To reach the cave, one has to climb 230 steps from the foothill of the mountain. Another path leading to the cave goes through the steep and winding slopes of the mountain, so be prepared and wear appropriate shoes.

Being inscribed on the list of Iran’s National Heritage in 1932, Shapour Cave was also inscribed on the list of UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee in 2018.

The seven-meter tall and two-meter wide statue of Shapour I was carved on one of the stalagmites of this limestone cave some 1700 years ago in the third century AD and is the only statue of this size left from ancient Iran.

Lar is a city in the south of Fars province, which is known as the “city without alleys”. Due to its hot and dry weather, Lar has many groves and reservoirs. This city is 330 km from Shiraz and 190 km from Bandar Abbas and has a population of about 70 thousand people.

Traveling to Lar is possible by land. Lar also has an airport with flights to Tehran, Shiraz, Ahvaz, Dubai, Kuwait, Doha, and Sharjah.

Geography of Lar

Lar is 806 meters above sea level, its average temperature throughout the year is 38 degrees Celsius, and its annual rainfall is 203 mm. The summers of Larestan are very hot and rainless but has moderate weather from mid-autumn to mid-spring.

Lar’s Economy

Trade is the main activity of the people of Lar and its economic exchanges with Qatar, Kuwait, UAE, and Oman are impressive. With four towns and two industrial districts, this city ranks first among the cities of Fars province. The production of food and edibles, industrial and mechanical parts, and cellulose materials constitute the main industrial activity of Lar. There are also salt, gypsum, and lime mines in this region.

History of Lar

There was a fire temple in Lar during the Sassanid era (224 BC to 642 AD), which brought this city to the attention of the empire. Since the end of the 4th century AD, this city was the center of minting coins. The ancient roads leading from Firouzabad and Estakhr to the ancient port of Siraf passed through Lar, and for this reason, trade with the people of this city flourished since ancient times. This city continued to exist after the advent of Islam (7th century AD) and played its communicational role. The existence of Qeaysarieh Bazaar of Lar, one of the oldest markets in Iran, reflects this aspect of Lar.

Lar’s Tourist Attractions

The long history of Lar, along with the geographical location of this city, has caused the survival of many historical monuments both inside and outside the city.

Historical Attractions of Lar

The historical attractions that have survived inside the city of Lar and date back to the pre-Islamic era until the 19th century include the Azhdeha Peykar (Dragon Body) Castle of the pre-Islamic era, the tomb of Nader Shah’s mother or “Nane Nader Tower” of the Timurid era (14th and 15th centuries AD), New and Golshan caravanserais, Neshat Garden Mansion, Pir-e Sokh Mausoleum, and Lar Anthropology Museum.

However, the Qeysarieh Bazaar of Lar, which was built in the shape of a cross and is more than 13 centuries old, and has served as the role model for the construction of various other historical markets, is the most tourist attraction of this city. One of the important bazaars built with this model is the Vakil bazaar of Shiraz, which was founded during the reign of Karim Khan Zand (19th century).

From among the tourist attractions on the outskirts of Shiraz mention should be made of Azar Faranbagh or Karian Fire Temple, which is located halfway between Lar and Siraf and is considered one of the largest and most important fire temples of the Sasanian era, Shah Abbas Bridge, which was built on the Shour River during the reign of Shah Abbas I (reign from 1587 to 1629 AD).

Several salt domes have been formed over millions of years and contain such minerals as sulfur, uranium, iron, sulfate, and granite also exist around the city of Lar and are visited by many tourists.

Hormoud Protected Area is also located near Lar, which is more than 201 thousand hectares and hosts various plant and animal species. The conditions of this area are such that allow botanical and zoological research.

The long history of Lar, along with the geographical location of this city, has caused the survival of many historical monuments both inside and outside the city.

Situated in the heart of the Lar City of Fars Province and near the Qeysarieh Bazaar, Neshat Garden of Lar, which houses palms and plane trees as well as a historical mansion, is one of the tourist attractions of the city.

History of Neshat Garden of Lar

A large area of southern Iran was called “Larestan” in the past. Due to being on the trade route of caravans, this region was given a lot of importance such that a number of sites, like the Qeysarieh Bazaar were built in it during the Qajar era (19th century). Presently, a significant number of people of this city engage in trade with Persian Gulf countries or have settled there.

Lar was a semi-autonomous region during the Safavid era (16th to 18th century) and was administered by local rulers. Neshat Garden of Lar was built in the Safavid era and some parts were added to it in the Qajar period.

Features of Neshat Garden of Lar

The area of this garden is about one hectare and there are a number of buildings in it. In the not-so-distant past, Neshat Garden was the residence of the local rulers. There is a beautiful three-floor mansion in the middle of the garden, the basement of which has been used as Zoorkhaneh (a gym for varzesh-e pahlavāni or varzesh-e bastani of Iran) in recent years.

Architecture of Neshat Garden of Lar

Neshat Garden is built in a rectangular shape on a plot of 35 x 135 meters. The mansion in the middle of the garden has a long and impressive porch whose height is 2.5 meters. There are wooden doors on both sides of the porch and a polygonal stone basin in front of it. An octagonal hole has been installed in the middle of the mansion to provide light and air ventilation. The mansion has been decorated with beautiful muqarnas and plasterwork. All parts of the garden are made in a symmetrical form.

The Bathhouse of Neshat Garden

This bathhouse is located in the north of the garden and it seems that it was built at the same time as the main building of the garden. The crescent-shaped roof as well as the spiral stone columns and plaster works of this bathhouse have given it a special beauty. There are some skylights in the ceiling, which are covered with glass to keep the air warm in the bathhouse.

Like many old Iranian bathhouses, this bathhouse, too, has different parts:

• Entrance: This section is made in a spiral form so that cold air does not penetrate the bathroom. Presently, the main entrance has been closed and an entrance from the garden side has been constructed for it.

• Dressing Area: In this part, there are several platforms for sitting, before and after bathing. There is a small pond in the middle of the area, which was used for washing feet before and after bathing. This pond was filled with cold water.

• Miandar or Sarkhan: An area located between the entry point and main bathing areas with a winding corridor to keep the bathing area warm. There are two ponds on both sides of the miandar, which were filled with hot water from the khazineh (reservoir) to prevent the cold air from the entry point from penetrating the main bathing area.

• Garmkhaneh or main bathing area: Four spiral columns with beautiful limestone decorations support the roof of this part of the bathhouse. There is a skylight in the middle of the ceiling. There are spiral tunnels on the floor of the garmkhaneh through which hot water passed, kept the floor warm, and created a thermal balance in the garmkhaneh.

Neshat Garden of Lar was inscribed on the list of Iran’s national heritage in 2003.

Due to being on the trade route of caravans, this region was given a lot of importance such that a number of sites, like the Qeysarieh Bazaar were built in it during the Qajar era (19th century).

Reservoirs, usually called Aananbar or Berkeh in Persian were built to store water at a height lower than the ground level. In low-water and desert areas, the reservoir was filled with rainwater or seasonal streams in order to use its water in the low-rainy seasons. There are many reservoirs in Iran, and their construction is related to the history of digging the aqueduct. In all probability, the largest reservoir built in Iran is the Kol Pond of Gerash, which is located in the southwest of this city.

Features of the Kal Pond

The construction of Kal Pond, also called Ganj al-Bahr, dates back to the Qajar era (18th century). This reservoir is located on the path of the Tangab seasonal river and it has been built in a place where it can be filled with water in rainy seasons and protected from sunlight and water evaporation in hot seasons. Even today, when many waterways leading to the pond have been destroyed due to the surrounding constructions, the pond gets filled with rainwater.

This pond was built by “Haj Asadollah”, a philanthropist of Gerash, who also built another reservoir near this pond, which is known today as “Asadollah Reservoir”. Although there is no inscription in Kal Pond and the exact date of its construction is not known, it can be attributed to the Qajar period because both reservoirs were built by the same person. Asadollah Reservoir, which was completed in 1869, is the second largest in Gerash.

Nomenclature

Since in the local dialect (Achomi) of Gerash “Kal” means “deaf”, some locals believe that this pond was given the name Kal because it does not have a ceiling and sounds do not get echoed in it. Some other locals, however, believe “Kal” means a hornless sheep and are of the opinion that the pond was given this name because of having no roof, denoting its incompleteness. Of course, in some old documents, the name of this reservoir is mentioned as “Ganj al-Bahr”.

Architecture

The overall shape of the pond is circular and its tank is cylindrical. The capacity of this reservoir is 13 million liters, which makes it one of the largest reservoirs in Iran. To keep this huge volume of water, its wall is made of two inner and outer layers the total thickness of which is three meters.

The inner diameter of the pond is 29 meters and its depth is 21 meters. The pond had a roof in the past, which is no more there. Various reasons have been mentioned for the collapse of this roof. While some people it was caused by the Lar earthquake in 1960, some old residents say that the roof had collapsed before this earthquake. There is also a document from 1958 in which this reservoir is mentioned as a large and roofless circular reservoir.

The reservoir has six conduits for surface water to flow in and six entry points to take water. The entrances have been paved with carved stones. The height and width of the conduits are 220 cm and 75 cm respectively. A staircase stretched from under one of the entrances to the bottom of the reservoir, which made access to the bottom of the pond possible. A major part of this staircase has eroded over time. These materials included stone, plaster, and mortar, and all the stones used for the purpose were precisely cut and stacked in an orderly manner.

This historical site was inscribed on the list of Iran’s national heritage in the year 2001.

Since in the local dialect (Achomi) of Gerash “Kal” means “deaf”, some locals believe that this pond was given the name Kal because it does not have a ceiling and sounds do not get echoed in it.

The climatic and geographical diversity of Iran is so great that it is possible to find all types of attractions that exist around the world, including cold regions, dry and burning deserts, wetlands with numerous plant and animal species, uninhabited areas, all kinds of valleys, caves, foothills and plains. This variety of attractions can make every tourist with any taste enjoy visiting Iran and its incredible nature.

Aladaghlar Mountains of Iran are famous for their diverse and strange colors. These mountains are located in the two provinces of Zanjan and East Azarbaijan, and passing through the busy highway from Zanjan to Tabriz has made it easy for everyone to access them.

There are also mountains named “Aladaghlar” in the southern regions of Türkiye and perhaps this similarity in name has caused the Aladaghlar mountains of Iran to be less well-known to foreign tourists. However, the beautiful view of these mountains is one of the rarest natural landscapes in the world.

Features of Aladaghlar Mountains

Zanjan and East Azarbaijan provinces are located in the northern part of Iran and adjacent to each other. Due to their geographical location, these two provinces have a milder climate than many regions of Iran. There are several volcanic peaks in these two provinces that have been inactive for years. There are also many glacial lakes in the highlands of this region. However, Aladaghlar Mountains - with such colors as green, red, yellow, white, and orange, which stand out like a work of art - are the most outstanding and must-see tourist attraction of these two provinces.

According to experts, like China’s Zhangye mountains, Aladaghlar Mountains of Iran have, as a result of the compression and oxidation of minerals and sandstones, turned into different colors over millions of years.

The Feeling of Being on Another Planet!

Aladaghlar is like a rainbow that has appeared on the earth and not in the sky. For this reason, many tourists consider being in the middle of these mountains a good opportunity for photography and recording their moments in the region. The variety of colors of these mountains, which in some areas become more apparent for being in contrast with the colors of the adjacent layers, creates an otherworldly atmosphere, making one feel as if he or she has travelled to another planet.

With streams flowing in the heart of the mountains during the rainy seasons, the contrast between the running water and the multi-colored bed of these steams becomes indescribable. Also, the rains on these mountains make the various colors of different layers more transparent and visiting them more pleasant. By the same token, the reflection of sunlight on the body of these mountains is also spectacular. Aladaghlar Mountains can, therefore, be described as a landscape that has many beauties to flaunt about.

Where Are Aladaghlar Mountains Exactly Located?

These mountains cover a total of about 70 square kilometers of Zanjan and East Azarbaijan provinces. They start in Khajeh (Heris) County, 25 km northeast of Tabriz, and continue until Ahar. Another part these mountains extends to Miyahen in the southeast of Tabriz. Traveling on the Tabriz to Zanjan highway makes it possible to see parts of these mountains. Aladaghlar Mountains can also be seen in Mahneshan County of Zanjan Province.

The climatic and geographical diversity of Iran is so great that it is possible to find all types of attractions that exist around the world, including cold regions, dry and burning deserts, wetlands with numerous plant and animal species, uninhabited areas, all kinds of valleys, caves, foothills and plains.

Bazaar has always been the most important economic pillar in Iranian cities and this is the reason that most of the historical cities of Iran have bazaars that still maintain their efficiency. The Historical Bazaar of Tabriz is also one of these traditional markets, which has been the center of economic activities of this city since the distant past.

Almost all the foreign tourists who have traveled to Tabriz since the distant past have mentioned this bazaar in their travelogues and written about the variety of goods including fruits, precious fabrics, precious and semi-precious gems, and jewelry found in this market. The Historical Bazaar of Tabriz is one of the most important tourist attractions of this city, which must be included in the itinerary of every tourist who visits it!

History

Tabriz was located on the east-west trade route. The Silk Road, which once connected East Asia to North Africa and Europe and was the largest communication highway of the world trade network for 1700 years, passed near Tabriz and this made this city gain strategic importance.

Although the historical and geographical position of Tabriz had resulted in the foundation of many commercial infrastructures, the establishment of the Bazaar of Tabriz dates back to the Seljuq era (12th century AD). After the Mongol invasion of Baghdad in the 13th century and the destruction of this city, Tabriz became the center of attention resulting in the increasing prosperity of this city. Ibn Battuta and Marco Polo, two famous travelers of the 14th century AD, have described Tabriz as one of the richest cities in the world of the time in their travelogues.

Although after the coming to power of the Safavids in the 16th century Tabriz maintained its glory, this city faced decline when Shah Abbas I moved the capital of the country from Tabriz to Qazvin. Nevertheless, through the efforts of its people, Tabriz managed to regain its position as one of the most important cities in northwestern Iran.

In the 18th century, a terrible earthquake almost completely destroyed Tabriz, and its bazaar, too, suffered a lot of damage. But being economically important, it was restored after some time and regained its glory. It seems that the current structure of this bazaar was created by a person named “Najaf Qoli Khan Danbali”, who was the governor of Tabriz at that time, about 300 years ago.

Architecture

The historical market of Tabriz is a complex in which there are several caravanserais, markets, and passages. These parts have been gradually formed and integrated according to the requirements of the time. The most prominent parts of this historical bazaar include the Amir Bazaar, which is a gold and jewelry market, the Mozaffariyeh Bazaar of carpets, and the Shoe Sellers’ Bazaar. The Historical Bazaar of Tabriz, which is the largest covered bazaar in Iran and the world, is located over an area of nearly one square kilometer.

Most of the arcades of this bazaar are built on three floors, the lower floor accommodates the warehouses, the ground floor is the trading place, and the upper floor is the resting place. The main corridors of the bazaar are connected with several sub-corridors, which house the arcades. The crossroads of these corridors are covered with brick arches. the largest of these arches is that of the Amir and Bazaar and the most beautiful of them is that of the Mozafariyeh Bazaar.

There are also several traditional teahouses in this bazaar, the layout and interior decorations of which represent a part of Iran’s history. There were also some caravanserais in this market, which were a resting place for commercial caravans. Certain chambers had been prepared in these caravanserais for the passing caravans to sell their goods.

The Historical Bazaar of Tabriz was inscribed on the list of Iran’s national heritage in 1975 and as one of Iran’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the year 2010.

Almost all the foreign tourists who have traveled to Tabriz since the distant past have mentioned this bazaar in their travelogues and written about the variety of goods including fruits, precious fabrics, precious and semi-precious gems, and jewelry found in this market.