|
|
| |
Iran's Cities > Shiraz |
Fars Province
Capital: Shiraz
Area: 126,486 km2
Population: 4.2 million
History:
Fars excellent far beyond its present boundaries and
covers much of the southern region of Iran.  This is
where the Persians or Parses first settled, and where
the great empires of the Achaemenians(559-330 BC) and Sassanians (224-637 AD) were centered. Persepolis, once
the greatest city of the region is the principal
diffraction today.
Shiraz
Shiraz the provincial center was one of the most
important cities in the medieval. Islamic world and was
the Iranian capital during the Zand dynasty (1747-79),
when many of its most beautiful building were built or
restored. Through its many artists and scholars, Shiraz
has been synonymous with learning, nightingales, poetry,
roses and, at one time, wine it's now an important
university town with lots of students eager to speak
English, and the medical faculty is the most prestigious
in Iran. In many ways Shiraz continues to justify its
former epithet of Dar-ol-Elm (House of Learning) the two
most famous Persian poets (Hafez and Sa'di) were also
born in Shiraz, and both are honored with mausoleums.
Shiraz (population: approximately 1.1 million) lies at
an altitude of 1491 m, in a fertile valley once famed
for its vineyards.
History:
There was a settlement at Shiraz at least as early as
the Achaemenian period, and it was already an important
regional centre under the Sassanians. However, it did
not become the provincial capital until about 693,
following the Arab conquest of Estakhr, the last
Sassanian capital (8km north-east of Persepolis, but now
completely destroyed), in 684. As Estakhr fell into
decline, Shiraz grew in size and importance first under
Arab rule (637-1050) and then under a successions of
local dynasties, so by the time Estakhr was eventually
sacked in 1044, Shiraz was said to be the rival of
Baghdad. Tomb of Hafez,14th century Firuzabad palace
Eram Garden Famous for its cypress trees, the delightful
and extensive Garden of Paradise is the place where any
"budding" botanist should head.
Afif Abad Garden these pretty gardens once belonged to
the Shah and contain the Afif Abad Palace. Built 1863,
and influenced by the Chajar style of architecture, the
lower floor of the palace is now a military museum.
Mosques & Mausoleums:
Masjed-e Vakil
 The Regent's Mosque, built in 1773 by Karim Khan at one
of the entrances to his bazaar, The mosque has tow vast
eivans (Open rectangular halls) to the north and South,
a magnificent inner courtyard surrounded by beautifully
tiled alcoves and porches, a vaulted mehrab (a niche
facing Mecca) with 48 impressive columns and a
remarkable 14 step marble membar (pulpit). Although the
structure of the mosque dates from 1773, most of the
tiling, with its predominantly floral motifs, was added
in the early Ghajar era.
Shah-e' Cheraghs mausoleum the famous tomb of the King
of the lamp houses the remains of Sayyed MTr Alimad
(brother of Emam Reza of Mashliad fame) who died, or was
killed, in ShTrra7 n 835. A mausoleum was first erected
over the grave in the mid-14th century4 and it's been an
important Shi'ite place of pilgrimage ever since.
Masjed-e Jame'-ye AtTgh
This ancient mosque, first built in 894, is in an alley
south-east of the Shah-e' Cheragh mausoleum. Virtually
all the original structure has disappeared, as a result
of various earthquakes, and most of the building dates
from the Safavid period (1502-1722) onwards. It is
mainly of interest for the very unusual turreted
rectangular building in the centre of the courtyard.
Known as the Khodakbfune (House of God), it was built in
the middIe 4th century as a repository for valuable
Qurans and is believed to be modeled on the Kaaba at
Mecca. Although most of it was very skillfully rebuilt
in the early 20th century, the House of God still bears
an original and
unique inscription in raised stone characters on a tiled
background.
Tomb of Hafez
The tomb of the celebrated poet Rafez the garden with
its two pools is very pleasant and restful, especially
in the warmer months when the flowers are in full bloom.
he marble t9mhstone, engraved with a long verse from the
poet's works, was placed here, inside a small shrine, by
Karim Khan in 1773. In 1935, an octagonal pavilion was
put up over it, supported by eight stone columns,
beneath a tiled dome. Karim Khan also built an Eivan
close to the shrine, which was enlarged at the same time
as the pavilion was erected am to Aramgah-e Sa'di the
garden at the Tomb of Sa'di is tranquil with a natural
spring in a valley at the foot of a hill. |
|
|
