Hyrcanian Forests

In Persian, called /jan-gal-haye shomal/ Watching movies is the only way we can see dinosaurs. But we are going for a few hours’ drive to the forests that are as old as the dinosaurs.                                        Hyrcanian forests,the remnants of an Ice Age      The forests of northern Iran are the oldest dense forests in the world, […]

Sassanid Archaeological Landscape of Fars Region

Fars province is a treasure chest of palaces, fortifications, and reliefs from the Sassanid period. In 2018, UNESCO registered eight archeological sites of this great treasure in Firoozabad, Bishapur, and Sarvestan: Dokhtar Castle, The Oldest Domed building in the WorldIn Persian, called /qal-e dokhtar/ Qaleh Dokhtar (Dokhtar means girl), as a 71-hectare fortress built by […]

The Historic City of Yazd

In Persian, called /Yazd/ The historic city of Yazd located in the heart of Iran deserts, between the Dasht-e Kavir and the Dasht-e Lut, Esfahan and Kerman, and close the Spice and Silk Roads in Yazd Province. Yazd, as an ancient city, dates to the Achaemenid era. The adobe city has a hot and arid […]

The Persian Qanat

In Persian, called /qanat/ or /kariz/ Most Iran cities have a hot and arid climate, formed based on water supply in response to the harsh weather by providing water systems inside the arid deserts. In the early part of the first millennium BC, Iranians constructed underground water horizontal tunnels on deserts with no water resources […]

Jam-e Mosque of Esfahan

In Persian, called /masjed jam-e isfahan/ Jame Mosque of Esfahan, also known as Atiq Mosque and Masjed Jameh Isfahan, is the oldest Friday (congregational) mosque in the heart of Iran, Esfahan. As the twelve centuries’ veritable museum, the history of Jame Mosque is not related to a single period. It covers Sassanid, Abbasid, Buyid, Seljuq, […]

Pasargadae

In Persian, called /pasargad/ The archeological site of Pasargadae, the first capital of the Achaemenid Empire, was built by Cyrus II the Great after his victory over Astyages, the last king of the Median Empire, in 546 BC. Pasargadae means the homeland of the Persian or the camp of Persia, in the Morqab Plain, Fars […]

Persepolis

In Persian, called /takht-e jamshid/ Persepolis, the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire in 125,000 square meters, was built by Darius I in the City of Parseh (Persia), 518 B.C. Later, this immense complex was completed (add parts) by his son Xerxes I and his grandson Artaxerxes I. Today, you walk in Persepolis by seven […]

Naqsh-e Jahan Square

In Persian, called /Meidan-e naqsh-e jahan / or /meidan-e shah/ or /meidan-e emam/ If a time machine could take you anywhere for one day, choose Naqsh-e Jahan (image of the world) Square in the heart of the city of turquoise domes. As you step into Shah Square (king’s Square), you will find yourself in the […]

Choqa Zanbil Ziggurat

In Persian, called /choqa zanbil / To get an idea of the Iraq Bible’s Tower, travel to Choqa Zanbil. Choqa Zanbil Ziggurat, or Dur-Untash, as one of the best-preserved mudbrick ziggurats globally, is in Susa (shush) Khouzestan Province. This stepped Ziggurat’s history as the ancient world’s masterpiece dates to 1250 BC (about 3300 years ago), […]