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Shiraz
Shiraz is perhaps one of the most attractive of all Iranian cities. It it situsted in 919 KM south of Tehran . Although there is deluxe bus and train service, it is recommended to take an hour flight from Tehran to get to Shiraz. Because of its altitude, 1600 meters (5000 feet) the climate is very agreeable, a mild winter and bearable heat in summer. Shiraz has always been the center of art and literature in the Middle East. One of the oldest universities dating back to the 7th Century and tomb of the greatest poets and philosophers have been located in this city.
 PERSEPOLIS PERSEPOLIS was the center of the Great Persian Empire. The Persians called it Takht-E-Djamshid { Throne of Djamshid the Great} and the Greeks called it Persepolis [Capital of Persia]. Even now, at the site of PERSEPOLIS, we can see the remains of the glory of the Persian Empire which flourished as early as about two millenniums and a half ago. The site is located at the foot of a rugged mountain called Kuh-E-Rahmat [Mount of Grace] bordering the eastern end of Marv-dasht plain, and is 60 kilometers to the north of Shiraz which is the administrative center of the Fars Region. This area was called Parsa in ancient times and was the place where Achaemenian Persia saw its rise. But the first capital of this dynasty was established Pasargadae 70 Kilometers to the north. Pasargadae was first built by the first King, Cyrus [reigned B.C. 558-529] and before long the capital was moved to Susa the western district, then known as Elam, which occupied a more important position in political and economic relationships with Mesopotamia. Since that time, Pasargadae came to hold religious significance rather than political. According to records, Darius I concentrated his energy in the building of Susa, collecting materials and gathering architects and workers from all over the Persian world. He erected palace buildings here including the Apadana. But soon he decided to build a new capital at the Present PERSEPOLIS. It is not known why he made this decision. The possible reasons are that the district of Fars was the home land of the Achaemenian Dynasty, that the climate of this district was more favorable and perhaps that there was some political necessity. It was around this time that Darius succeeded in suppressing the domestic rebellions and established his firm position as the Persian King. In that sense, too, there must have been a strong desire to build a fine palace in this homeland of the dynasty. The site of PERSEPOLIS consists of many monuments built on a large terrace made by leveling a part of the mountain and piling up blocks of stone. The great terrace measured about 500 meters extending north to south and about 400 meters east and west and is 10 to 13 meters high facing the plain. The buildings include facilities for public ceremonies and reception of foreign delegates, privet royal palace buildings and also such minor ones as treasuries.  |