Shiraz is a very artistic city; The city of artists, poets, philosophers, nightingales and roses has also been the subject of Yahya Kemal’s poems. Everyone knows the fame of Iranian carpets, and the Kashka prayer rugs made by immigrant tribes in Shiraz are quite famous. In Shiraz carpets, the pattern of three end-to-end medallions in the form of diamonds or polygons is also woven frequently. Stripes and geometric shapes are also common. Shiraz carpets, which are generally made in dark colors, can give a little gloom to our homes. The Shiraz Miniatures, which are now in the New York Museum of Art, are also very famous. (A page taken from Firdevsî’s Shahnameh, one of the oldest examples, dated 1341.) There are also many miniature schools in the city, dating back to ancient times. However, since our guide will introduce us to a world-famous miniature master in Isfahan, we are excitedly waiting to go to Isfahan for our miniature purchases. Of course, Shiraz has no shortage of celebrities; It is also famous for its orchids, roses, wide streets and parks, and is even the homeland of once famous vineyards and Shiraz wines made from grapes obtained from these vineyards. Of course, there is no wine in the country, which is now an Islamic Republic, but I have heard that wine is made and drank at home, although the accuracy is unknown. Traffic is heavy here, as in other cities. The city is green, but as soon as you leave the city, the desert begins. Shiraz’s orange is also famous, it even gave its name to a very important palace. The university in the city has rejuvenated the population, and even the clothing is different from other cities, it seems a little looser. Young people, both boys and girls, can go to musical cafes. There is live music in our hotel too. Shiraz is a city of art as well as a home of science, a city with plenty of courses to prevent the art of miniature from disappearing. Although the first settlement in Shiraz was during the Hechaemenid period, its history dates back to the Sassanid period. It even rivaled Baghdad in the 11th century. In the 13th and 14th centuries, it became an important city in the Islamic world thanks to the mastery of calligraphy, painting, architecture and literature, as well as poets, philosophers and thinkers such as innovative kings Hafez and Saadi. While many palaces and magnificent buildings were being built, an architect from Shiraz, Master Isa, also worked on the construction of the Taj Mahal in India. However, although the city was destroyed by many earthquakes, riots and looting, it was restored to its former wealth by Kerim Khan. Buses in Iran are not very good, but we were promised that they would be the best buses you can find. Indeed, our bus, which picked us up from Shiraz Airport last night and will be with us for the remainder of our trip, is very luxurious and comfortable. It has a single seat on the left, a double seat on the right, and is similar to a business class seat on an airplane. Our first visit this morning is Shah Çerağ. Shah of Light: The tomb of Shah Çerağ İmam Ali Rıza’s brother, Seyid Emir Ahmet; Shah Çerağ. This place is not as big as Ali Rıza’s tomb, but it is easy to visit since it consists of a single building. It still maintains its importance as a holy place of pilgrimage for Shiites because it comes from the Ahl al-Bayt lineage, that is, the lineage of Muhammad. That’s why we have to wear our chadors here. The mirror workmanship is extraordinary here too, as soon as you enter, the walls, ceiling, columns, everywhere are sparkling mirrors; One’s eyes are dazzled by the play of light reflected from these mirrors and the burning chandeliers. From time to time, stained glass windows also display mastery. There is an onion-shaped dome in the middle of the building, and two minarets on either side, also decorated with magnificent tiles. The dome, which suffered an earthquake, was later supported by steel construction and the tiles were reinstalled. A beautiful porch was added to the front of the building. Nasir al-Mulk Mosque is a very impressive and famous mosque, built at the end of the 18th century, with its architectural plan and magnificent stained glass and tiles. The building is magnificent with its exterior, especially its door. The tile decorations of the iwans at both ends of the central courtyard are among the most beautiful examples of their kind. The theme of the tiles is landscape and human paintings, decorated with floral motifs such as French Palaces. The iwan consists of 5 sections, and its ceiling is a very interesting static and architectural wonder. Architects together with geometers have found a very interesting and special method. It is in the form of a real honeycomb, and this is called “Muqarnas” ceiling. When you look at the photos I think you will agree with me, it looks amazing. It is a Persian style building, decorated with tiles, it has a closed section whose decoration is important, it is a winter place; chabestan The mosque, also called the “Pink Mosque”, is perhaps the most colorful mosque in the world with the stained glass, colored glass and especially pink glass used here. You can get magnificent images, especially when sunlight shines through the windows. The tiles and mosaics on the walls, the vaulted ceiling, and the columns supporting the vaulted ceiling are truly architectural wonders. All 48 columns in this part of the mosque built by Kerim Khan were carved from a single piece of stone. The tile work in the inner courtyard and on the altar is also really beautiful. It’s hard to explain, you have to see it. I can’t get enough of taking photos here either. The cuteness of a group of primary school students we encountered here also added warmth to the place. Narencistan Palace (Naranjestan) is an example of typical Iranian house architecture of the Qajar Period, with a large garden at the entrance to isolate the family from the outside, then the house. When we enter the garden, which matches its name, citrus trees and flowers create a very beautiful view. This place was built in the late 1800s as the house of the Persian Minister of Justice of the time. The beauty of the woodwork also stands out. In the interior, it is possible to see panels and decorations with human and flower motifs on the ceiling and niches, stained glass on the wooden windows, and examples of mirror work on the ceiling and walls. It was left to the care of Shiraz University in 1966. We have lunch at Şufi Restaurant, the most famous restaurant of this place. As in every restaurant, Kubide (shish meatballs) is available here, among other options. The feature of this restaurant is the gravel pita oven. The inside of the oven is filled with pebbles and the pitas are baked on the hot pebbles. It was very delicious, and we couldn’t get enough of it when it was served hot with butter on the side. Continue traveling to melt these delicious and delicious breads… Karim Khan Castle is a historical castle built by Kerim Khan Zend in the 1700s, belonging to the period of the Zend Dynasty that ruled Central and Southern Iran. The entire castle is made of bricks, and the beautiful engravings on it belong to the Qajar Dynasty. There are four bastions with a height of 14 meters at the four corners. When we look carefully when our guide asks us if there is anything we noticed, we realize that one of these bastions is tilted. On our way to the Vekil Mosque, we only see the castle from the outside. As we were returning to the castle to get into our vehicle, the weather was starting to get dark and the beautifully illuminated castle and its wonderful decorations were worth seeing. It gave us the opportunity to capture beautiful shots. Vekil Mosque We have heard and read that Iran is a country known for its extraordinary architecture in mosques. Every mosque we saw during our trip proves this to be true. Here is another masterpiece! A magnificent mosque built by Kerim Khan in the 18th century. It is one of the largest mosques in Iran, with 2 facing iwans, four sides surrounded by walls decorated with mosaics, and a very large courtyard. The facade of the mosque, including the columns, interior and ceiling, are among the most beautiful examples of magnificent tile and ceramic craftsmanship. When you enter, it is very interesting and an architectural wonder; the fluted columns, column capitals and the vaults on them are magnificent. Wherever I look, I get extraordinary images. The wonderful ceramics and workmanship on the walls are also worth seeing. Each of the original stones on the ground has a different shape, these are the signature of the masters who laid the stones. Altogether, it is perhaps one of the most beautiful examples of mosques in Iran. Shiraz Vakil Market This market near the mosque is a mixture of our Grand Bazaar and Mahmutpaşa Spice Bazaar. It is a very old building with a ceiling decorated with vaults. There are shops here selling all kinds of clothes, fabrics, sandals, mother-of-pearl inlaid household items, backgammons, boxes, jewelry, paintings, Shiraz carpets, food and souvenirs. In other words, it is a lively, crowded, very beautiful market. When we went out, it was getting dark, the lights of the market were on and it looked very nice with its illumination. Another of Iran’s beautiful mosques; Atik Mosque. We couldn’t see it because it was under restoration. We will depart for Yazd early tomorrow morning. But before we left, we of course visited the two famous and greatest poets of Shiraz; Sadi and Hafiz. Sheikh Sadi-i Shirazi Sadi from Shiraz, one of the greatest poets of Classical Iranian literature… He is a scholar who lived in the 1200s and studied in Baghdad, famous for his poetic and fairy-tale discourses. He collected his various poems in his books called “Ghazaliyat” and his odes talking about people’s lives in his books called “Kasaid”. Apart from these, he also has eulogies and lyric poets. His most famous works are Bostan and Gulistan. He escaped from the Mongol invasion for a while and traveled to many places, including Anatolia. He traveled around, but when he returned to Shiraz, the atabey of the time took the poet under his wing. His books, which are advice to people, are still read in Iran. Sadi Tomb and Garden. A small but very beautiful garden full of flowers… Verses from the poet’s poems are written above the entrance gate of this garden. This is a modest mausoleum located inside. Its tomb, covered with a blue dome, is behind a porch with pink marble columns, a spacious place with high ceilings, with couplets from Gulistan decorated on the walls and written on tiles, our local guide said. He first read the couplets to us in Persian and then translated them. As in each of his couplets, it is a fairy-tale story that gives advice and shows the right path. The Pir of Persian: Hâfız-ı Şirâzî Hafiz, who took this name because he could memorize the Quran and read it in 14 different ways; The great master of lyrical poetry and literature, who embodies being a good person and is the biggest reason why Shiraz is known as the poetic city. He is not a rint or a philosopher, Sufism guided his thoughts and he always asks the question “How to be a good person?” in his works. He committed this and expressed his hatred for hypocrisy and simplicity. According to him, a person should live to be happy, and for this, he should act moderately and get along with other people. He only believed in the living world. For him, love is not attachment to a beautiful person but the whole of life. He wrote his praise poems in the form of ghazals, using love and wine motifs, instead of odes. These ghazals are the most beautiful and important of Persian ghazals. In his poems, he included details from life in Shiraz, the lives of statesmen and echoes of historical events. He wrote his praise poems in the form of ghazals instead of odes. Many philosophers quoted from hafiz while writing the divan. If it weren’t for Hafiz, maybe divan literature would not have found shape in the Ottoman Empire. He is so loved in Iran that many people know his poems by heart. It was also the subject of a poem by Yahya Kemal Beyatlı; There was a rose in the garden where Hafez’s grave was; It blooms again every day with its bleeding color. Night; The nightingale was crying until dawn, with a harmony that made one imagine Old Shiraz. Hafiz, who did not leave this city he loved throughout his life, was buried among the cypresses (Nazlı Cypresses of Shiraz – Selvi Nazlar) in this garden (Hafeziye), which he named after his death. A very beautiful and well-kept garden with lush green trees, flowers and grass. It lies under a dome decorated with mosaics supported by 8 columns, which can be reached by stairs passing through this garden. There are two ghazals written on his gravestone. It is visited as a sacred place by people who know and love his works, and it is also a very touristic place. Mavimore Turizm is a travel agency registered with TÜRSAB. Document number: A-8307