Shiraz; city of great poets & rich history in Iran

Shiraz is located in the southwest of Iran on the “Khoshk river” (The Dry River) seasonal river. It has a moderate climate and has been a regional trade center for over a thousand years. Shiraz is the oldest city of ancient Persia. Shiraz is regarded as the cultural capital of Iran and the city of poetry, gardens and love. Shiraz is famous for its laidback atmosphere as well as its many historical and natural sites. May 5^th is named the day of Shiraz by approve of the Iranian Parliament, on this occasion, every year, special events will be held by the municipality of Shiraz.

Shiraz on Map

History

Shiraz is estimated to be more than 4000 years old. The name Shiraz is mentioned in cuneiform inscriptions from around 2000 BC found in southwest corner of the city. In the 13^th century, Shiraz was a leading center of the arts and sciences due to its many scholars and artists. Hafez, whose poems have captured the hearts of many throughout the world, hailed from this city. The tombs of Hafez, Sa’di, the Khajou Kermani in the city are stunning structures erected in memory of these legendary poets.

Tripp Plans

• 1^st day: Bazar-e Vakil market, Masjed-e Vakil, Moshir House, Hamam-e Vakil, Sharzeh and Saray-e Mehr restaurants (for lunch), Arg-e Karimkhani complex
• 2^nd day: Nasir al-Molk Mosque, Shah Cheraaq, Sharzeh Restaurant (for lunch), Narenjestan-e Qavam House, Zaynat al-Molouk House
• 3^rd day: Hafeziyeh Tomb, Sa’diyeh Tomb, Bagh-e Delgosha Garden, Haft Khan Restaurant (for lunch), Park-e Azadi Shiraz, Bagh-e Eram, Italian Restaurant Polparsi (Khakshenasi Street- for dinner)
• 4^th day: Takht-e Jamshid (Persepolis), Naqsh-e Rostam – (restaurants around for lunch), Pasargadae ancient complex
• 5^th day: Ecotourism and vising the old village: Qalat, the lost paradise on the earth with abundant springs, old trees, and deep valleys. The village has stairwell houses, often stretched from the slopes of the mountain to the summit.
• 6^th day: Darvazeh Qur’an, The tomb of Khajou-ye Kermani, the restaurants of Shams al-Emareh and Shandiz or Haftkhan (for lunch), Luna Park Shiraz, Bagh-e Jahan Nama
• 7^th day: Shopping from the Khalij-e Fars Tourist Complex, take a walk around the streets of Qasr al-Dasht in Shiraz before returning to your city or country and enjoy the wonderful gardens and old and newly woven fabrics.

Top Hotels

Name	Stars	Address	Tel
Pars International Hotel	Five Star	Zand Boulevard, Shiraz	071-32332255
Homa Hotel	Five Star	Meshkinfam St, next to Azadi Park, Shiraz	071-32288014
Shiraz (Grand) Hotel	Five Star	Quran Square, Shiraz	071-33660000
Aryo Barzan Hotel	Four Star	Roudaki Avenue, Shiraz	071-32247182/4

Top Restaurants

• Haft Khan Restaurant Complex: International, Middle Eastern, Persian
• Qavam Café & Restaurant: Café, Persian
• Soofi Traditional Restaurant: Italian, Café, Armenian
• Sharzeh Restaurant: Middle Eastern, Persian, Persian, Vegetarian Friendly
• Shapouri Garden Traditional Restaurant: Persian, Middle Eastern

How to Get There

• Airplane: Shiraz Airport is the main international airport of the province and the second in the country. Shiraz is along the main route from Tehran to southern Iran.
• Train: Since 2010, Shiraz is connected to Tehran by train. Daily trains connect both cities leaving in the afternoon and arriving the morning after.
• Bus: Shiraz is accessible via freeways to Isfahan, Kerman, Bushehr, Ahvaz and Yasouj, and accessible via road to Bandar Abbas.

Persepolis Palaces (Takht-e Jamshid)

Glimpse

Founded by Darius I in 518 B.C., Persepolis was the capital of the Achaemenid Empire. It was built on an immense half-artificial, half-natural terrace, where the king of kings created an impressive palace complex inspired by Mesopotamian models. The importance and quality of the monumental ruins make it a unique archaeological site. Persepolis was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire (ca. 550-330 BC). It is situated on the northeast of Shiraz city in Fars Province. The earliest remains of Persepolis date back to 515 BC. It exemplifies the Achaemenid style of architecture. UNESCO declared the ruins of Persepolis a World Heritage Site in 1979.

Name

The English word Persepolis is derived from Ancient Greek Persepolis, meaning “the Persian city” or “the city of the Persians”. To the ancient Persians, the city was known as Parsa, which is also the word for “Persia”. Due to the belief among Late Antiquity Persians that the monuments were built by Jamshid, an Iranian mythological figure, the site has been known as Takht-e-Jamshid.

General Information:

Name: Ancient Achaemenid complex of Persepolis (Takht-e Jamshid)

Location: Marv-Dasht

Age: Achaemenid period

Builder: Darius l, Xerxes and Artaxerxes

Special Features: Power Symbol of the Achaemenid Empire

UNESCO World Heritage: √

Visiting Time: 8:00 to 18:00

Duration of Visit: About 2 hours

Weekly Holiday: Does not have

Annual Holidays: Formal holiday based on solar calendar

Entrance Fee: 350.000 Tomans

Suggestions:

Best Time to Visit: May to October – In the cool weather (early morning)

Important Parts to Visit: All Sections

Nearest Tourist Attractions: Achaemenid Museum, Naqsh-e Rostam

Facilities Available Around:

Hotels & Lodging Houses

Restaurants

Shops and Supermarkets

Network Coverage

Gasoline