Tombs of Hafez and Saadi

Other Important
Monuments

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Shiraz

Shiraz's other key monuments are located on the south bank of the Khoshk River. The imposing citadel of Karim Khan with its four circular towers dominates the city centre. This well-preserved fortress was part of the royal courtyard in the time of the Zand dynasty. Today, it houses the municipal offices and is not open to visitors.

The Citadel of Karim Khan (Arg Karimkhani), Shiraz
( Photo by Mansour-e Sane )

Karim Khan laid out a landscape garden opposite the citadel, and one of its pavilions has been turned into a museum called Muzeh-ye Pars. This small octagonal building was once a reception hall, and then for a brief period it became Karim Khan's mausoleum. However, Agha Mohammed Khan (founder of the Qajar Dynasty) ordered the body to be removed.

There are also several mosques in Shiraz, including the Masjed-e Vakil (Regent's Mosque), the Masjed-e Shohada (Martyr's Mosque) and the Masjed-e Atigh (Old Friday Mosque).

Masjed-e Vakil (Regent's Mosque) can be found at the entrance to the Regent's bazaar. This mosque dates back to 1773; however, it was restored in the 19^th century during the Qajar Dynasty and its main interest lies in the haft rangi¹ tile work.

Masjed-e Vakil (Regent's Mosque)

Masjed-e Shohada (Martyr's Mosque) was built by the local ruler Sa'd ibn Zangi, patron of the poet Saadi, at the end of the 12^th century. It is one of the largest ancient mosques in Iran but sadly it has been extensively damaged by earthquakes.

Masjed-e Atigh (Old Friday Mosque) was first built in 894. Virtually all the original structure has disappeared, as a result of various earthquakes and most of the building dates from the 17^th century onwards. One interesting feature of this mosque is its house of Korans, a square building with a tower at each corner, set in the centre of the courtyard. Build in the 14^th century and restored in the 20^th century, it is said to have stored some of the most valuable copies of the Koran.

Masjed-e Atigh (Old Friday Mosque)
( Photo by Mansour-e Sane )

This serene theological college was founded by Emam Gholi Khan, the governor of Fars in 1615, at which time it housed about 100 students. The original building has been damaged extensively by earthquakes, and only the octagonal hall that can be seen from the entrance dates back to the 17^th century. The interior is designed in the traditional style with a central court surrounded by arcades which lead into the students' rooms. The south eivan² has pink and blue tiles, which have been decorated with stylized designs of birds and flowers.

Madresseh-ye Khan, Shiraz
( Photo by Mansour-e Sane )

Most of the gardens for which Shiraz was once famous are now long gone, but the town still has a number of parks and gardens, which are particularly pleasant to wander through in the summer. One of the most popular gardens is Bag-e Eram in the north-west of the town, which is famous for its cyprus trees. The 19^th century Qajar palace lies in the middle of this garden, with its own reflecting pool.

Bagh-e Eram, Shiraz
( Photo by Helen Loveday )