Archive for category: Things To Do

The dominance of social media in our lives has created new trends in every aspect of our life and traveling is not an exception. Instagram photography in Iran has become a strong reason for many travel lovers around the world to travel to this ancient land. Iran is full of stunning beauties that can enrich your Instagram feed, here in this article we would like to introduce some of these places letting you take the most incredible photos.

Shah Mosque, Isfahan

Having been built about 400 years ago by the command of Shah Abbas I Safavi, Shah mosque is the best example of Islamic architecture. Traveling to Iran, no tourists tend to miss this graceful mosque with its picturesque architecture.

The unique architectural feature of the Imam mosque is its acoustic characteristic. Speaking under the dome, you will be clearly heard by anyone standing inside. However, the variety of blue tilework here is also an amazing visual feature of this mosque which can make fascinating shots.

The entrance door is known for its perfect Muqarnas technique, which has been ornamented by the shrubs. The entrance is also one of those impressive photography spots.

Spending about a day visiting the whole Imam Square, you could take enough time for Instagram photography in Isfahan.

Nasir al-Mulk Mosque, Shiraz

Nasir al-Mulk mosque or the “Pink Mosque” is one of the most photographed tourist attractions in Iran. You may have known Iran through the photos which have been taken in this mosque. The place is also known as “Iran Museum of Colors” due to the diverse patterns of light reflected through the colorful mirror works out of the window bringing about an irresistible photo spot.

The Pink tilework of the mosque is quite fascinating by themselves despite many other mosques in Iran and around the world enjoy blue tilework which is typical of Islamic architecture. The graceful place of worship is a frequently-visited attractions in Iran, many tourists spend days to take impressive photos as the unique architecture employing various colors is so eye-catching.

The best time to visit the place is from 9 to 11 in the morning.

Golestan Palace, Tehran

On your travel to Iran, you would probably visit Golestan Palace which is a fine example of Persian art, history, and architecture. Located at the heart of the capital in Tehran, this great palace is carrying memories from Safavid to Pahlavi era, about 400 years of Iran’s history. Golestan palace is the most exceptional structure in the core of historic Tehran. Registered on UNESCO world heritage list in 2013, the palace is full of astonishing aesthetic features and is a well representative of Iranian fine art mixed with European architecture and technology and is definitely one of the most impressive places for Instagram photography in Iran.

Vank Cathedral, Isfahan

The whole district of Jolfa, where the migrated Armenians have been settled from 400 years ago, attracts many visitors every day. There are more than 13 churches in the districts, and Vank is the most famous one. Displaying a mix of Islamic and Armenian architecture, the interior walls of the building are covered with unique collections of beautiful frescos that display stories mainly from the holy bible. The display of frescos on tiles with glorious gold and blue frames has created a pleasant and lovely setting inside the church for photoplay lovers. Looking for amazing architectural beauty and interior design to take photos? Vank Cathedral is a not to be missed one!

Eram Gardens, Shiraz

Searching for more places for Instagram photography in Iran? Then you are strongly recommended to visit Eram garden in Shiraz. Pesian gardens are famous for their outstanding features and Eram garden is a gem among them! Being a botanical garden has brought about variety of plants including tall cypress trees and gorgeous flowers to be grown up here which are quite impressive for Instagram photography, especially during spring, you can find many people in the garden walking and taking photos. Fall is also another amazing time here to nourish your Instagram page with colorful leaves on the ground.

You will regret not visiting this stunning garden, add it to your list right now!

Iran Deserts

No matter where you come from, Iran enjoys the variety of deserts with diverse geological and aesthetic features you can never stop yourself appreciating them.

Iran deserts are mysterious landscapes; you could easily be attracted to the infinite golden sand dunes and get lost in the silence of the place. Talking about photography, every time of the day offers its own captivating beauty you would not like to miss; shining sunrise in the morning, direct sunlight on the golden dunes at noon, gorgeous sunset and countless luminous starts at night.

It is interesting to know that not all Iranian deserts looks the same; while Maranjab desert is famous for its pretty soft sand dunes, Shahdad or Kalout desert resembles much like the surface of Mars with their giant geological structures formed due to severe erosion.

For Instagram photography in Iran, the deserts are strongly recommended!

Persian Gulf, Qeshm & Hormoz Island

Surrounded by the endless blue waters of the Persian Gulf, biologically diverse mangrove forests, magnificent beaches the island is quite rich in terms of geotourism and ecotourism sites which are amazing spots for Instagram photography in Iran.

Visiting the star valley that pretty much resembles Hollywood cities is specially suggested around sunrise or sunset hours.

Visiting Hormoz island would probably be the integral part of your trip to Qeshm to take more fascinating landscape photos. The island is famous for its colorful sandy beaches. The geological features in Qeshm and Hormoz would absolutely satisfy your aesthetic taste and will make your Instagram page more eye-catching than ever.

It is interesting to know that both islands are free-trade zones, and as a foreign tourist you would not require visa for up to 14 days.

The rooftops, Yazd

Yazd rarely resembles other cities you have visited before! The architectural features and the materials used in this city, that well match the climatic condition, have been stable for thousands of years. You will be truly fascinated by the extraordinary beauty and the atmosphere of this city.

The most recommended way to make the best of Yazd is visiting the rooftops. The mud-brick houses and labyrinth-like alleys in Yazd can normally be seen in movies, not the real life. That is why the typical architectural features of this city such as fascinating Badgirs (meaning wind catchers) acting as natural ventilators, the domes and the mud-brick light brown view of the rooftops are picked by travelers who are fond of photography.

Are you planning to travel to Iran? Check out our Iran tours.

What does Iran remind you of? Probably the Persepolis or the Pink Mosque. But this is not all about Iran, there are loads of hidden gems in Iran only known by the locals. This article introduces some of Iran local attractions you should not miss while traveling to Iran.

Alamut Castle

Have you ever been to an eagle’s nest? Alamut means eagle’s nest, due to its strategic position and design of the castle structure and walls, it is given this name. Located in the northwest of Qazvin province and close to Gazer Khan Village,  Alamut Castle was built by Hasan Sabah, the propagator of Shiite Ismaili, who chose this area for himself during the Seljuk period. The castle was taken by Mongolia Hulaku Khan in 654 AH and there are still the remains of it where visitors can pay a visit. In order to visit castle, you should go by van, it usually takes about four hours to get there, at some points the altitude is 2200 meters above the sea level. Alamut region has a mountainous winding road with a spectacular and picturesque landscape that you can enjoy relaxing in such pleasant weather.

Raghe canyon

Rafsanjan is one of the important cities in Kerman province, located 100 km near Kerman. Raghe Canyon has situated a short distance from the city of Rafsanjan, which is a fascinating natural phenomenon in Iran also known as the “dead valley”. This valley is created by alluvial erosion caused by the Guivdary River, for several thousand years. The length of the valley is about 20 km and the depth is 70 meters, the opening of the valley is about 180 meters. Diversity of wildlife here is amazing due to being close to a protected area; eagle, partridge bird and gazelle are some of the wildlife species in the region. Another interstring point about Raghe is that it is in the middle of a path where two important natural historical attractions of Kerman (the village of Meymand and the Lut desert with its spectacular Kalouts (enormous and extraordinary geological figures emerged as a result of severe erosion) as the UNESCO World Heritages are located.

Babak castel

Let’s visit Babak castle, a castle belonged to a national hero! Located 16 km southwest of Kaleybar, East Azerbaijan province, Babak Castle is also known as the Immortal Castle, was constructed on top of a mountain with 2600 meter height. Babak Khoramdin was an activist and a militant leader who fought bravely against Arab invaders. There are facilities on the east side of this two-story castle including some rooms and reservoirs, the roofs of reservoirs are chevron and rocking. There is a corridor right before the entrance gate of the castle which used to be under the control of guardians in the past. Having passed this corridor, you will face another entrance with irregular steps through which you can reach the castle. In the northwest side of the palace, there are some stairs which were used to make arriving at the castle more convenient, however, not much has remained today. It takes about two hours to get to Babak castle from Tabriz and the best time to visit is from April to September.

Gahar lake

In the heart of Zagros mountains, beside Oshtorankuh massif, in the province of Lorestan, there is a lake with gorgeous scenery attracting many visitors to the off-the-beaten-path region all around the year. It is 2360m above the sea level, 1700m long and 500m wide. The depth of the lake is 28m maximum. The region has been under good protection lately, so the environment, the flora, and fauna in the area have almost remained unharmed. Located among Oshtorankooh mountain chains which have a striking similarity to glacial lakes, Gahar lake has come into existence as a result of a landslide. The area is accessible through Dorood and Aligoodarz cities and the lake is feed from rills and springs flowing from the near highland. The thousands of visitors visit Gahar lake every year. The area is strongly recommended for staying overnight. You can easily set up your own tent and have a picnic while enjoying fishing in the lake. The best way to get there is a climb to Tpaleh Straight from Aligoudarz and then enjoy hiking to the lake.

Izadkhast Castle

located on the ancient Silk Road between Shiraz and Isfahan, Izadkhast is not only a castle but also a whole complex consisting of Castle, a caravanserai, and a bridge dating back to Safavid period in Iran. Different architectural styles from different periods of Iran history including the Sassanid and Qajar periods have been incorporated into the castle which has brought about a valuable and unique construction and made it worth a visit.  Many travelers heading Isfahan or Shiraz enjoy a stop on the way and have a picnic lunch around the beautiful scenery of the construction.

Are you planning to travel to Iran? Check out our Iran tours.

Have you ever thought how would heaven look like? You would probably think of someplace full of flowers and blossoms, with enormous fountains and green gigantic trees. Then you are probably thinking of a place like Shiraz.

This amazing city has embraced many historical and natural attractions that no visitor thinking of a dreamy trip in one of the gorgeous and ancient paradises of Iran, would tend to miss. This article introduces Things to do in Shiraz; some of which have a global reputation.

Persepolis

Persepolis was the capital of the Persian Achaemenid Empire. This monument has so many historical stories to offer; as some locals may say it is “History in front of your eyes”. In 518 BC Darius the Great built Persepolis as a modern city which was impressive due to its luxury and opulence. The architecture of Persepolis shows us how grand and fascinating the place was in 500 BC. Persepolis is one of the historical monuments that is inscribed in UNESCO. So, as a representative of Iran’s history and glory, you wouldn’t want to miss it. To reach Persepolis, taking a taxi seems the best way. There are also mini-buses departing from Karandish terminus in Shiraz every morning.

 Opening hours: 8 am – 5:30

Nasir al-Mulk Mosque

At first glance, visitors may not realize the colorful secret hidden inside this mosque. Nasir al-mulk mosque, also as some tourist might like to call it, Pink Mosque turns into a magnificent masterpiece by the reflection of the colorful windows on the Iranian carpets. Due to this incredible artwork of Iran’s culture, a heaven has been created for photographers to take stunning pictures. Today, this mosque which was built by Qajar dynasty is one of the must-see attractions of Shiraz that no visitor would like to miss.

To arrive here, you can take Valiasr-Namazi buses and get off the bus at Chahar Rah Moshir (Moshir Crossroad) Station.

Opening hours: 7 am – 5 pm

Shah Cheragh shrine

Near pink mosque, you can also visit Shah Cheragh shrine. Shah Cheragh is a tomb of two brothers named Ahmad and Muhammad who are sons of Musa-al-kazim, seventh Shia Imam. This shrine is covered with mirror shards and tilework and welcomes you with an enormous fountain.

If you are going on foot, from Shohada Square, enter Piroozi Street. Then get on Dastgheibi Blvd. and after that get to 9th of Dey Street. And in case of using a car, in Sibooye Blvd. at Shahzade Ghasem Square, turn to the right to Hazrati Street. Then turn to the left to 9th of Dey Street.

Opening hours: 24/7

Vakil Complex

Named after the founder of the Zandiyeh dynasty, Vakil complex was constructed in this period when Shiraz was the capital of Iran. The complex consists of Vakil Bath, Vakil Bazaar, and Vakil mosque, all of which have been built for the public interest.

Vakil Bazaar

Looking to buy a souvenir in Shiraz? Vakil bazaar offers everything you’re looking for. Inside the bazaar you will find yourself surrounded by all Iranians’ handicrafts and spice stalls. You can find all sort of handcrafts; such as rugs and carpets, copper handicrafts and antiques. There is also some type of sweet called Masqati including pistachio, rose and saffron which are mostly known as a famous souvenir from Shiraz. To reach vakil bazaar you can use bus; get off at Shahrdari Station and take a walk southward on Piroozi Street, turn left on Farhang Avenue, go past by Taleqani Street and find Vakil Bazaar on the left side. On the way to Vakil bazaar you can also visit other parts of Vakil complex including the bath and the mosque.

Opening hours: 8 am – 9 pm

Vakil bath

Vakil bath was originally a public bath dating back to Zandiyeh dynasty. The arches and the tilework of the bath show the history of Iranian architecture and culture.

Getting to Shohada Square, you can walk an 8-minute distance eastward on Zand underpass and then turn right on Taleqani Street to get to Vakil Bath.

Opening hours: 9 am – 9 pm

Vakil mosque

Vakil mosque is a fascinating mosque near Vakil bath with 48 columns which is an interesting place for photographers to take special photos. A large courtyard and stunning facade, blue tileworks of the arches and porches, the ceiling with its spectacular designs surrounded by well-designed walls are quite impressive and eye-catching. Vakil mosque is named after the founder of the Zandiyeh dynasty just like the bath and bazaar.

Using bus seems to be quite easy to access the mosque, you can get to Shohada Square and walk an 8-minute distance eastward on Zand underpass and then turn right on the first alley to get to Vakil Mosque.

Opening hours: 8:30 am – 8:30 pm

Karim khan Citadel

Karim khan Citadel known also as Arg of Karim khan, is also a part of Vakil complex but used to be a royal palace for Karim khan, himself who was the founder and the first king of Zandiyeh dynasty. However, during Qajar dynasty the castle turned into a prison and each room turned into a cell. Despite all of the damages occurred to the castle, it is still considered as an intricate and detailed brickwork. Inside of the citadel, is a courtyard with hundreds of citrus trees with great smell of oranges’ blossom in spring. To keep a memory of your trip to Shiraz, you can take a selfie right next to the sign of Shiraz behind the castle.

You may either take a bus or taxi. Use the buses to Shohada Square and get off the bus in the square, you will see the great Karim Khan Citadel.

Opening hours: 9 am – 10 pm

Near the citadel, you can also pay a visit to Pars or Nazar museum which is the oldest museum of Fars providence. It is an old house near the citidel, full of amazing and dazzling paintings on its roof. Although It is a small museum but the fact that Karim Khan, one of the of Iran’s most moralistic kings has been buried there, makes it special. You can find precious and valuable objects such as boxes, mirror frames and an ancient hand written Quran with a spectacular font. You will be amazed by the fascinating atmosphere and the vast variety of items which is definitely worth visiting.

To use the bus, Shahrdari Bus Stop in Shohada Square is the closest station, after 5 minutes of walking you will reach the museum.

Opening hours: 8 am – 6 pm

Shapouri Pavilion and Garden

Shapouri House was owned by one of the greatest merchants of Shiraz. The idea of its architecture originated from two periods in Iran’s history, Qajar and Achaemenid architecture. Entering the house, you will see a garden full of Mediterranean cypress, plane and maple trees and a huge fountain surrounded by roses and pelargoniums. The first floor is used as a café and the second floor is a restaurant; so, after visiting the garden around the mansion you can sit in the yard or at balcony, order drink or food and enjoy your stay. Photographers will specially be impressed by this elegant house and its beautiful garden.

Accessing the Garden is possible either through walking from Kari Khan Zand Street and also taking a taxi which is quite affordable in shiraz.

Opening hours: Every day at 9 am – 12 am

Eram Garden

The beautiful and colorful blossoms at Eram Garden especially during the spring has made this UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site an attractive place for visitors. Being a botanical garden, different kinds of plants and trees, such as palm and cypress trees are planted and raised here. By just looking at the garden and the beautiful mansion inside designed with traditional tiles and unique architectural patterns, you will truly believe you’re in heaven. Women will appear in traditional colorful costumes, and walk around the pool while people go and visit the building.

To use subway, Find Namazi metro station, after 10 minutes of walking, pass Daneshjoo Square and you will find Eram Garden. Having decided to go by bus, try to find Kolbeh Sq to Eram Sq. or Narenjestan Blvd. to Namadi Sq. buses.

Opening hours: 8 am – 8:30 pm

Tomb of Hafez

Hafez is one of the most prominent poets of Iran, his poems are engraved on Iranians’ heart. Tomb of Hafez is one of the most significant Shiraz tourist attractions that anyone with a sense of love for poetry would like to visit. The garden offers a peaceful atmosphere, with loads of flowers in various colors, there is usually a pleasant music in the background and it’s a wonderful place to relax and read some of Hafez poems.

For centuries, Iranians have widely believed in consulting Hafez when confronting a difficult situation or making challenging decisions. Opening the Hafez Book randomly, the poetry will reveal the answer to your intention and guide you to the right path.

To arrive here, you can either of these buses line: Dastgheib to Narenjestan or Golestan Sq. to Namazi.

Opening hours: 8:30 am – 10 pm

Tomb of Saadi

Saadi is one of the greatest poets of all time, not only in Iran but to all over the world. Saadi was both a traveler and a poet; having travelled to a lot of countries, he came back to Shiraz and started to write his poems. Tomb of Saadi offers a spiritual atmosphere with a beautiful garden; his poems are written all over the walls around his tomb. In front of the tomb there is a pond that people stop to make a wish and throw coins into it. Don’t forget to drop coins into the pond and make wishes!

To reach the site, take a taxi or a bus by Haft Tanan Boulevard, enter Boostan Boulevard and after walking for 10 minutes you will get to Tomb of Saadi.

Opening hours: 8 am – 10 pm

If you are looking forward to pay a visit to Shiraz, spring is the best season to visit this breathtaking paradise because of the blooms and blossoms and also during fall due to the good atmosphere of the city.

Many people appreciate the golden sand dune of deserts, some love it for its peace and calmness, some others like it for safari and off-road activities and some for taking amazing photos. The diversity of Iran deserts can fulfill travelers of various tastes; this article is going to introduce some of these naturally dynamic habitats, and the unique features they offer.

Rig-e Jenn

This desert in the central part of Iran is one of the most mysterious Iran deserts. Local people believe that the region is governed by devil spirits and so, it is cursed. In fact, this is a kind of explanation for the strange disappearances that have happened over time. Many travelers never returned from this wide emptiness which has caused great fear among people and made the desert to be called the “Bermuda triangle of Iran”. There are also strange voices that are really horrifying both for the locals and travelers. For many years, no one dared to travel to the region and find out about its mystery!

Strong whirlwind here causes the sandy hills to move in a way that in some areas driving would almost be impossible on these steep slopes. There is also no water in this desert; however, it still attracts many adventurers. You may ask what is really the secret of the place? Well, the scientific explanation of this scary zone is that it is full of salt marshes, especially the southern parts, and identifying these marshes is not easy. Therefore, if the travelers are not familiar with it and take the wrong direction, they might be swallowed! And the voices are actually the sound of the wind blowing to the natural structures which have been created by erosion. These figures are another reason for causing fear due to their unusual forms!  frightening, yes?

If you are still interested in experiencing some adventure here, do not go alone, you must travel in a group and pack food, water, petrol and the highest level of equipment for at least 15 days! Do not forget your map. Wish you an awesome adventure!

To reach Rig-e Jenn, drive through Garmsar road from Kavir National Park to Malek Abad road and then straight to the desert. Check out our RIG-E JENN SAFARI TOUR.

Lut Desert

As one of the most captivating Iran deserts, Lut is a UNESCO-listed natural attraction in Iran. Here was once considered the hottest place on the Earth surface that Nasa had ever registered; 71ºC! It is absolutely an abiotic zone; no living creature can endure here. So, if you are afraid of going to the desert because of usual threats such as snake or scorpion, then do not worry! These creatures will not make it here in such a severe condition.

40 Km to the northeast of Lut, you will reach Shahdad or Kalout desert, where resembles one of the Hollywood cities such as the one you have seen in the Star Wars, with its strange geological figures. Believe it or not, these giant structures that have formed due to wind, soil and water erosion sometimes reach a height of 200 meters! When it rains, the flowing water washes the soil and carries it around the rocks and gradually over time, these huge mud sculptures form! These amazing figures are more than 20 thousand years old.

Walking among these structures, you feel like walking on the surface of Mars while if you are lucky enough, you may hear the voice of wind blowing through them. That is the only voice to be heard at the endless silence of the desert!

Since here is one of the hottest places, the best time to travel and visit Shahdad is definitely winter. You need legal permission to travel to this natural site and it would be best to travel in a group to avoid getting lost.

About 100 Kms from Kerman, you will get to the capital of the province to Shahdad and driving another 40 Kms from Shahdad you will reach these Kalouts. Driving would be the best possible option to get here.

Mesr Desert

Mesr village is an oasis located in the central desert of Iran which has one of the most beautiful sceneries around. Close to the heart of the village, there is a spring that is the only source of water in the area. It is said that one of the villagers named Joseph, once digged a deep well in search of water for the village. Later, people called the village Mesr, meaning Egypt, to remember the story of Joseph the prophet.

Mesr is one of the most attractive Iranian deserts for sand lovers, the peace here is beyond understanding! Walking on the golden sand dunes and feeling its warmth between your toes during the day would probably be one of the most amazing things you can experience here!

Spending a night in Mesr is an interesting story! It is one of the most breathtaking night skies with luminous stars you may have ever seen in your entire life.

This desert is located in Isfahan province, 45 Kms from Jandagh city. You may either drive or travel on a tour to get to this desert.

Bafgh Desert

Not far from the city of windcatchers, Yazd, there is an amazing peaceful landscape to be discovered, Bafgh desert. The golden sand dunes’ height sometimes reaches 80 meters here. Activities such as Camel riding, sandboarding, and safari are only some of the options that make your trip a lifelong experience. If you plan to stay overnight, there is a famous camp named “Shen va Shaden” which also serves traditional food.

The desert is divided into various parts, including Darre Anjir with no plants, Moghestan with beautiful salt hills and also marshes in some parts and Sadegh Abad with its famous tourist camp. If you are looking for the experience of sleeping under a sky you have never seen before, you can set up your own tent and stay overnight in this desert.

To arrive in Bafgh desert, drive through Naeen road on the north of Yazd or through Anar city in the south and then to Bafgh.

Rig-e Zarin

Right north to the Bafgh, there is another desert with hair-raising landscapes that is divided into the northern and southern parts due to the variation in the desert’s altitude. The softness of sands here is kind of impressive, making a memorable experience of traveling to Iran deserts.

Do not forget to take your camera with you! It’s no secret that photographing during sunrise and sunset provides a wonderfully soft light that can make beautiful landscape images. There are many points of interest at Rig-e Zarin that helps you break the repetition of landscapes; the extreme soft sands are also a subject of detail photography.

Drive through the road Ardakan to Ahmad Abad and then straight to the desert.

Varzane Desert

People love deserts for different reasons; off-road activities, taking astonishing photos, etc. But,

Varzane is famous for its high sand dunes which are above the average height among all deserts in Iran. This feature makes Varzane one of the bests for meditation among Iran deserts. Meditation in the prolonged silence of this isolated place while sitting on the warm sand dunes feels incredible.

Sandboarding and paragliding are other activities to try in Varzane. There is no strong wind here to move the dunes; so, you can enjoy camping even for several nights.

There are also cultural attractions in this region; women still wear white veils just as ancient time and if you are interested in connecting with the locals, you may visit their house and see carpet weaving.

To arrive in Varzane, you should use a 4WD; however, if it is the first time you go there, it would be much better to travel on a tour or travel with a guide.

Maranjab Desert

The desert is said to be named by “Shah Abbas”, the Iranian King, meaning a place where water is found with difficulties. In ancient times, deep wells must have been digged to access freshwater. It is interesting to know that, the desert is the habitat to various animal species such as wolf, eagle, snake, fox, lizard, and chameleon due to its endemic vegetation.

Depending on what you are looking for in a desert, you can visit Maranjab during different seasons. It is one of the best Iran deserts to watch meteor shower at night, these astronomical events are announced by NASA about a month before it occurs; so, you have got enough time to plan your tour to Iran.

Just looking for a cool peaceful place to meditate, or sitting around the fire at night, or maybe drinking coffee and listen to your friends’ stories? Then fall and winter are the best time to travel to Maranjab and enjoy your camping.

Arriving in Maranjab desert is rather easy, you should drive through the Tehran-Qom and then to Aran va Bidgol country.

It does not matter why you are attracted to the desert, you will come back with tremendous memories and astonishing photos that make you miss this ocean of sand forever!

Are you planning to travel to Iran? Check out our Iran tours.

As a lovely and amazing city, Isfahan has embraced three UNESCO world heritage sites, plenty of cultural and architectural attractions, and friendly hospitable local people. However, walking into Jolfa district would fascinate every visitor in a different way; it feels as if you have traveled back in time and you are in a different period of history. Let’s not forget to mention that there are 13 churches in this district right now but Vank is undoubtedly shining as the most gorgeous one. Vank Cathedral is a things to do in Isfahan, a masterpiece representative of artistic expression of Christians in Iran and Armenian living place in 400 years ago.

The History of Vank Cathedral

About 400 years ago, the Armenians migrated from Azerbaijan to settle in the Jolfa district of Isfahan in search of a haven, due to the Armenian genocide that occurred in Yerevan during Ottoman war. Jolfa is still famous as a quiet area with European setting and architecture.

Vank Cathedral is a historic church dating back to Shah Abbas the second period (1642 – 1666) having the reputation of training high rank priests in the Christian world; that is why Vank is considered as one of the most noticeable churches among Armenians. Besides being an impressive Cathedral, Vank is the largest museum in Isfahan due to possessing an outstanding collection of historic documents during the last 400 years which makes it one of the most well-known Armenian centers in the world.

Architecture and Design

Displaying a mix of Islamic and Armenian architecture, this church covers an area of approximately 4000 square meters including the main church and its courtyard, monastery, belfry, library, museum, clock tower, Bishops’ room, community halls, and tea house; considering the Vank garden and green spaces around, it is about 9000 square meters.

The height of the walls from the yard to the roof of the second floor is about 11.75 meters. Unlike many other Armenian churches in Iran which are made of stone, the main construction material in Vank Cathedral is clay.

The exterior walls are covered with brick and tiles designed with winged angels can be seen everywhere while the interior walls are covered with plaster and eye-catching paintings which is the most splendid feature of this building. The magnificent artistic decorations in different parts of the church, such as inside the dome, walls and arches are mainly originated from the holy Christian book. These paintings mainly represent stories from the Holy Bible, Jesus Christ from the birth to the ascension, day of resurrection and the judgment, heaven, and hell. A combination of Persian floral ornaments and Armenian national motifs are also evident on the ceilings and walls. The display of frescos on tiles with glorious gold and blue frames has created a pleasant and lovely setting inside the church. The cost of all paintings and decoration of the church was provided by “Avdic Stepanos” which are unique among Armenian churches.

Museum

Vank museum is a not to be missed place in Isfahan. One of the most significant and most  comprehensive collections of biblical manuscripts are kept and displayed here. The museum keeps 700 handwritten books, a variety of objects related to the Armenian community in Isfahan such as Safavid costumes, European paintings brought back by Armenian merchants, tapestries, embroidery, and other ethnological exhibits related to Armenian culture and religion.

Visiting various collections in this museum would be one of the most interesting parts of your tour. The precious paintings related to Safavid period, painted by Armenian and European artists are unexampled. There are stunning collections of porcelain and clay dishes, collections of wooden works consisting of instruments, furniture, clock, etc. and eye-catching metal objects including gold and silver jewelries, belts, frays, etc.

The exhibition of Armenian textiles, traditional handwoven and embroidery are quite appealing to any visitor’s taste.

Vank Cathedral enjoys possessing 170 sheets of crucial historical commands, 22 of which are depicted in this museum today. Belonging to 17th to 19th century, these political orders are mostly related to the emigration of Armenians, offering religious and commercial privileges to them and tax rules for residents of Jolfa district.

And last but not least, the most highlighted object at Vank museum is a piece of hair, belonged to an 18-year-old girl on which a sentence from the old testament has been written with a diamond pen in 1974. You can read the sentence through a microscope kept by the side.

Opening hours

9:00 am till 6:30 pm

Location

Vank Church alley, Jolfa District, Isfahan, Iran

Contact

Phone Number: (+98) 3136243471

Are you planning to travel to Iran and looking for an Iran travel agency? Check out our Iran tours and feel free to contact us.