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Shiraz
The capital of Fars province is the world famous historical and beautiful city of Shiraz; the birth and resting place of the greatest of Persian poets, Hafiz and Sadi. This makes the city one of the most important tourist attractions of the country. Shiraz is about 900 kilometers far from Tehran at an altitude of 1540 meters above sea level.
This city is located next to the ancient city of Estakhr. Shiraz was mainly flourished and developed in the post-Islamic period. The architectural texture of the city’s older neighborhoods mark its age-old historical background. The city witnessed the peak of its prosperity at the time of Karim Khan Zand when it became the country’s capital. The city’s modern texture has found a new beautiful outloock with large birth place of many great Iranian men of science and letters including Ibn Moghafa, Sibovaih, Sadi, Ghotbeddin Shirazi, Hafaz, Sheikh Rouzbehan, Molla Sadra and Ghaani.
The tombs of Hafiz and Sadi located in two deservingly pleasant gardens by the names Hafizieh and Sadieh are visited everyday by thousands of fans of Persian peotry and litetature. The tomb of Khaju, the 14 th century poet is also loacated in Shiraz at Tang-I-Allahu Akbar. The magnificent holy shrine of Hazrat Seyed Mir Ahmad, son of Imam Mussa (PBUH)- the seventh imam of the Shiite sect- better known as Shah-I-Cheragh which is a major site of Shiite pilgrimage has lent a certain religious significance to Shiraz. There are also a number of other holy shrines including those of Hazrat Seyed Mir Mohammad- Shah-I-Cheragh’s brother, Hazrat Seyed Aladdin, Hazrat Shah Mir Ali Hamza and Emamzadeh Ibrahim. Meanwhile, Christian and Jewish minorities have their own churches and synagogues in Shiraz. Shiraz has been always famous for its pleasant gardens, tall cypress trees and heart ravishing rose gardens. The most well known gardens of Shiraz are Bagh-I-Eram with its enchanting building, Bagh-I-Khalili, Bagh-I-Farsi, Bagh-I-Delgosha and Bagh-I-Takht. All of these gardens are recreation resorts for both the people of Shiraz and the tourists that come to this city. They are all remarkable examples of the art of Persian gardening.
The city’s stats as a place where knowledge was diseminated; and its people’s religious commitment have led to the building of major mosques and schools in Shiraz since a very long time ago. Among these buildings are the ancient Jami’s mosque that dates back to the time of Amr-Leiss of Saffari dynasty, Masjid-I-Vakil and its forty column nocturnal prayers quarter, Masjid-I-Now (Martyrs Mosque), Masjid-I-Nassirulmolk and Masjid-I-Shiraz of the Qajar period, the splendid Khan School (Madrassa-I-Khan) of Safavid period, Madrassa-I-Vakil, Madrassa-I-Mansurieh, the Haft Tanan Mausoleum and Chehel Tanan Mausoleum.
There are many beautiful old public buildings in Shiraz. The Quran Gate (Darvazeh Ghoran), Sara-ye-Moshir, Bazaar-I-Vakil. The Karim Khan Fortress (Arg) and the Narenjestan Building are just some of them.
The highly significant Prespolis complex that dates back to the time of the Achaemenids, Naqsh-I-Rustam (including the tombs of Achaemenid kings, Sassanid epigraphs and reliefs, and the Zoroastrian Kaba monument) in the vicinity of Shiraz; as well as Passargad, the site of Syrus tomb in Morghab plain, are among the important sights of Shiraz and Fars.
There are regular bus services and everyday flights to Shiras by domestic airlines. In this great tourist city, there are various types of hotels and other luxury hospitality establishments of various classes as well as plenty of recreation centers, restaurants, parks, movie houses, etc. at the disposal of tourists.
Kazerun
Kazerun is located 154 kilometers west of Shiraz on the mountainous road to Bushehr. It is a city of ancient background in the vicinity of the ruins of Shapur city. The name Kazeroun is somehow linked with the profession of the dwellers of the old city: washing cotton clothes. The Shapur Cave, the site of a huge statue of the Sassanid king Shapur, is a major sight to be seen by tourists who come to Kazeroun. The city has many holy shrines. Its people work in the areas of agriculture and animal husbandry and their most important products are date, citrus fruits, grains and tobacoo. There are urban facilities and a guest house in Kazeroun.
Jahrom
Jahrom, which is located 190 kilometers southeast of Shiraz on the way to the city of Lar, is an old city that is famous for its citrus fruit orchards, palm plantations and tobacco farms. It is an agricultural city that produces carpets and exports date, Lemon juice and citrus fruit. There are many holy shrines and historical monuments like the Sassanid Zoroastrian Fortess (Ghaleh Gabri) in Jahrom.
Fassa
Fassa is located 160 kilometers southeast of Shiraz along the Main road from Darab to Bandar Abbas. Fassa is a very old city. There are still Sassanid period remains in the ruins of the ancient city now known as Tall-I-Zahhak. People of this region work in the agricultur and animal husbandry; their major agricultural products are date and citrus fruits. Carpet weaving, cotton shoe making and ceramics are among the city’s handicrafts while there are also some modern industries including a sugar mill and some industrial workshops in the city. Thera are a number of holy shrines in Fassa. There is also a guest house to host tourists.
Firouzabad
Firouzabad is located in a mountainous region ten kilometers south of Shiraz on the way to the city of Lar. It is an old city built next to the ancient city of Gur. The name of the city dates back to the time of Deylamite dynasty. There are several Sassanid period monuments like an old tower, the ruins of Gur, Ghaleh Dokhtar, and Fire temple in Firouzabad. Most of the people of Firouzabad work in agriculture and animal husbandry. Carpets and Gelims are among the area’s handicrafts. Firouzabad has a tourist guest house too.
Sepidan
Sepidan is a mountainous area in the northwest of Fars province. With the history exceding 1,000 years, this beautiful and calm region stretches in the continuation of the Zagros mountain range at the height of 2,250 m above sea level.
The geographical position of this and neighboring mountain areas, with their abundance of snow in winter and verdure in summer, creates the unique opportunities for tourism promotion here.
The region also possesses remarkable capabilities for developing the ski facilities here, and people of Fars and other provinces as far as the Persian Gulf gather here in winters for sport and recreation.
Lar
Located in the south of Fars province, Lar is one the Iran’s oldest cities. It achieved its utmost importance under the Safavid monarchs when it was one of the most important centers of the trade route to Bandar-e-Abbas.
Lar was originally called Lad, named after its founder, a son of an old king of Pars.
The historical, cultural and religious attractions in Lar
Pir-e-Sorkh, Imamzadeh Mir Hamzeh, Imamzadeh Mir Ali ebn- Hosein, Masjed-e-Jame, Mausoleum of Nader Shah’s Mother, Qal’e-ye Ezhdeha Peykar, Qal’e-ye Garash, Qal’e-ye Parvizeh, Dahnan-e Shir Water storehouse, Abbasi Brideg, Qeysariyeh Bazaar, Neshat Garden.
Sarvestan
Sarvestan shines like an emerald gem on the golden background of the Fars land, just 80 km southeast of Shiraz. The town’s history dates back thousands of years, and it is one of the oldest in the province. Numerous buildings, both pre-Islamic and Islamic, bear evidence of the deep historical roots of this town. We shall cover the most important memorials, such as Sasan’s Palace (dating to the Sasanian period), and so forth in this pamphlet.
The historical, cultural and religious attractions in Sarvestan
Sarvestan Palace, Mausoleum of Sheikh Yosef Sarvestani, Qal’e-ye Gebri (Zoroastrian Castel), Qal’e ye- Borzu (Borzu Castel).
Darab
One of the largest and oldest cities of Fars province. Darab is located 280 kilometers east of Shiraz on the road to Bandar Abbas. In old times the city was called Darabgerd. The ruins of the old city are located on the southwestern of the present city. There are Sassanid reliefs like portrait of Shapur, the Azarju fire temple, as well as a number of shrines in Darab and its suburbs. Among the handicrafts of this city are carpets, Gelims, Jajims, Creamic works and cotton shoes. Darab’s major agricultural products are dates and citrus fruit. The city has a tourist guest house.
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