Iran: Mosques, Minarets, and Persian Gardens
 

Iran is a country where ancient cities and awe-inspiring sites serve as a vivid reminder of the country’s great past. Here the splendor of turquoise domes and minarets, monumental city squares, and the intricacy of architectural ornamentation contrast with exotic bazaars and expansive caravanserais. Vast desert landscapes alternate with peaceful gardens, profuse with roses, fountains, and reflecting pools. The legacy of conquerors such as Genghis Khan and Tamerlane, of the Safavid and Sassanid dynasties, is evidenced in the refinement of beautiful poetry and the most sophisticated and elegant calligraphy known. Begin in Tehran, the country’s cosmopolitan capital, known for its outstanding museums and palace complexes. Visit the holy city of Mashhad to see its elaborate mosques and a caravanserai that is considered a masterpiece of Seljuk architecture. From Shiraz, known for Persian lyrics and lovely old gardens, visit the archeological sites of Pasargadae and Persepolis, with its soaring columns and processional reliefs. Also explore Isfahan, a city of unsurpassed beauty whose numerous monuments have been recognized as the pinnacle Islamic architecture. Cost tba.

Shah Mosque in Isfahan, Iran