The Top 10 Things To Do And See In Tabriz
A historical capital, Tabriz is the largest city in the northwest of modern-day Iran, and the center of the country’s Azeri community. Green, mountainous, and metropolitan the city and its surrounds are a popular tourist destination. Its rich cultural heritage bestows to posterity fabulous mosques, churches, and fortresses, whilst Iranian Azerbaijan boasts some of the most stunning landscapes in the country.
1. Tabriz Bazaar
Bazaar, Market
2. Blue Mosque
Mosque
3. Tabriz citadel
Building
Tabriz citadel
What remains of the Tabriz citadel (arg-e Tabriz) dates back to the 14th century, when it was constructed as a mausoleum under the Ilkhanate dynasty. Re-appropriated as a military compound in the 19th century during the Russo-Persian wars, the structure has a long and varied history. The edifice suffered further damage by Russian shelling in 1911, and only in recent decades has it undergone some renovation work. The imposing stone building is one of the most famous landmarks in Tabriz and is located centrally on Imam Khomeini Street.
Address: Imam Khomeini Street, Tabriz
4. Jameh Mosque
Bazaar, Mosque
Jameh Mosque
Like many old buildings in Tabriz, the Jameh Mosque situated adjacent to the Bazaar, has taken a battering from various earthquakes over the centuries, and has undergone various reconstructions. As a result, the mosque is a curious and unique mixture of old and new features. It is most noteworthy for its two tall three-tiered minarets and as well as the impressive mosaic work framing the mosque’s entrance.
5. Azerbaijan Museum
Mosque, Museum
Azerbaijan Museum
The Azerbaijan Museum, located centrally not far from the Blue Mosque, houses some impressive pieces and deserves the hour or so it will take you to explore. The museum has three halls, and its most unique artifacts date back to the Iron Age. Other objects excavated from Iranian Azerbaijan are also featured prominently, although it is the harrowing sculptures in the basement reflecting on the themes of violence and war, which will stay with you.
Address: Imam Khomeini Street, Tabriz
6. Mausoleum of Poets
Mausoleum of Poets
It’s not an exaggeration to say that Iranians love ostentatious mausoleums almost as much as they love poetry. The Mausoleum of Poets, just outside the city center combines both cultural phenomena, housing the graves of Tabriz’s great poets and thinkers of the past. Over 400 notables of the arts and letters, from between the 9th and 20th centuries, are buried here. The current mausoleum, concrete, angular, and imposing, was completed in the 1970s, and is surrounded by a pleasant park.
Address: Seqat ol-Eslam Street, Tabriz
7. Elgoli Park
Park
Elgoli Park
Southeast of the city center is the expansive, verdant and peaceful Elgoli Park. Popular with Iranian families, the park is a great place to spend a relaxing evening, pick up a street side corn on the cob, picnic with friends, and maybe even play a spot of badminton. Shady and with great views of the city from its highest point, the park surrounds a small lake, at the center of which is a reasonably priced traditional restaurant.
Address: Elgoli, Tabriz
8. Kandovan village
Kandovan village
Often compared to Turkey’s Cappadocia, Kandovan village is home to a fascinating collection of troglodyte homes carved into volcanic rock on the side of a cliff. The traditional settlement, expanded with more modern rural housing at its base, is still inhabited by a few hundred villagers. It will take about one hour to reach Kandovan by car from Tabriz. It is especially worth the effort during the winter when snowfall renders the rock dwellings indescribably picturesque.
Address: Kandovan,East Azerbaijan, Iran
9. St Stephanos Monastery, Jolfa
Church, Monastery
St Stephanos Monastery, Jolfa
Tabriz and Iranian Azerbaijan have a sizeable Armenian Christian community, and as a result you will find several churches in the region. There are a number in Tabriz itself (St Mary’s Church dates back to the 12th century), but the most visit-worthy is the St Stephanos Monastery just outside the border town of Jolfa, about one and a half hour’s drive from the city. Built in the 9th century, the holy site sits alone in the lowlands of a large valley. Reconstructed several times, the monastery is in good condition, and often surprisingly busy given its isolated location.
10. Eynali Mountain Range
Eynali Mountain Range
By car, foot, or telecabin, ascending the Eynali Mountain range just north of Tabriz will reward climbers with exceptional views of the city below – and a lasting sense of achievement. The mountain’s peak is invariably a little nippy, especially at night, so be sure to dress appropriately. A cup of Iranian tea complements the fresh mountain air well, but there are also venues for more substantial nourishment around.
Address: Idehlu Street, Tabriz
By Shaahin Pishbin
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