JAMI’ MUSJID OF YAZD

One of the oldest cities on Earth, rising from the vast desert plains of central Iran, is Yazd. A city with no peer, this well-preserved, mud-brick town is as interesting as a small town can be.
The city’s most salient feature is its Jami’ Musjid. Its original structure was built in the 12^th century and was then rebuilt in 1324CE by the Ilkhanids. A descendant of Hulegu – the Mongol leader who destroyed Baghdad and the Abbasid Caliphate – accepted Islam and ruled over this part of Iran as well as the lands East and North of it. The Musjid was rebuilt during their rule over this area. Most of the decoration in the building was added under Muzaffarid rule, after they succeeded the Ilkhanids.
The Musjid dominates the skyline of the city due to its twin minarets at the entry portal of the Musjid which are amongst the highest in Iran.
The Musjid has intricate, beautiful work on its dome and mihrab which date back to 1375.
It also had an amazing qanat (canal) system that would bring water to Yazd from Fahraj village. The water would then continue further on to Zarch making the total distance of the canal 90km – one of the longest in Iran.

KASHAN BAZAAR

One of the entrances to the bazaar Kashan’s historic bazaar is one of the best in Iran. Described as being ‘large enough to surprise but not to get lost in’, it stocks a variety of goods ranging from traditional to modern. Amazingly, the site has been the centre of...

ABYANEH VILLAGE

Homes in Abyaneh The picturesque village of Abyaneh sits at the foot of Karkass Mountain, 70km south-east of Kashan in the province of Isfahan. The village is believed to be around 1500 years old making it one of the oldest surviving villages in the country. Abyaneh...

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF IRAN

Interior of the Museum The institution which is around 70 years old contains approximately 300 000 artefacts. It is the largest in the country and also one of the few prestigious museums of the world with regard to grand volume, diversity and quality of its artefacts....