CITY OF POETS; SHIRAZ

Located in the south of Iran, Shiraz is a city that breaks the ground with its many features. The absence of a visa makes Shiraz a center of attraction for those who want to take a short and different journey.

Shiraz is one of the important trade centers of Iran. Here, many texts describing Shiraz define the city as such and emphasize the “commercial center” feature. However, this cold definition is so far from describing the romance and depth of Shiraz. Shiraz is above all the city of poets. Two important poets of Iranian literature, Hafez and Sa’di, are from here and the magnificent tombs of both poets are in Shiraz. Visitors to the mausoleums in the middle of large gardens are not missing all day long. While Sa’di attracts visitors of all ages, Hafez’s mausoleum is visited by lovers and lovers. Sa’di, apart from being a poet, was a traveler. The life of the poet, who lived in the 13th century, was on the road. At the end of all these journeys and all the poems he wrote, he came to the conclusion that it was what darkens the human soul. “To be silent when to speak, to speak when to be quiet”.

Let’s come to Hafez, who lived in the 14th century and has been the most beloved poet of Iran ever since. Inspired by the dervish turban and decorated with colorful tiles, Hafız’s Tomb is flooded with visitors especially in the evening; In the hands of those who come, Hafız’s fortune-telling book Faal-e Hafız. According to the belief, the poem written on the page you open randomly from this book is your fortune. Visitors touch Hafiz’s tomb and read poetry, while some leave roses on the grave. Suffering from the pain of love, the divans wander not only at the beginning of the tomb but also in the nooks of the garden where the tomb is located.

Its bazaars and mosques are very famous

Apart from its poets, Şiraz’s bazaars and mosques are also very famous. Located in the center of the city, Vekil Bazaar has gathered all products unique to the East. However, it did not incorporate the Eastern tradesman character. There is no screaming tradesman type here tugging on your arm. Also, the price given to any item is never exaggerated. You immediately understand this honesty by the fact that the tradesmen do not insist on selling goods and do not negotiate. Small shops selling carpets, rugs, spices, spreads, all kinds of fragrances and many other products are lined up in the corridors of the bazaar. Sounds, colors, smells are almost intertwined. Vekil Mosque, located next to Vekil Bazaar, is the most magnificent mosque in Şiraz. The tile decorations of the mosque, which was built in 1773 by Kerim Han from the Zend Dynasty, who ruled the city, are simply fascinating. The columns in the interior give surprising perspective flavors to the eyes and mind.

Shiraz is actually an oasis in the middle of the desert. Its large gardens make it an oasis. There are many large gardens called “bagh” in the city. Generally, large mansions built by the rulers of the city in the past are decorated with such gardens. The most famous garden of Shiraz is İrem Bağları. Irem Vineyards, spread around an eye-catching mansion built in the 19th century, are a good shelter for hot Shiraz days due to their waterways and magnificent trees.

Exploring Persepolis

Persepolis, the capital of the Persian Empire, which is the most impressive civilization of the Middle East and directs history, is one of the site areas that every traveler’s dreams of ancient cities and history. B.C. 6th century,
Persepolis Ancient City, founded by the Persian King Darius, is about 60 kilometers from Shiraz. King Darius not only founded this city, but also built the famous King’s Road from here to Sardes in Western Anatolia. Many Persian kings came to Anatolian lands with their armies, they fought wars and took many cities under their rule. Even the remnants of the city, which took 180 years to build, are at a level to reflect the splendor of that period. The gigantic sculptures and reliefs at the entrance gate of the city are the first clues on this subject. The section called “Palace with Hundred Columns”, which is the main building of Persepolis, draws attention with the reliefs on the walls. The reliefs depicting Persian mythology, various wars and kings still look very beautiful even though they were made 2,500 years ago.