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

By common consensus, the highlight of any trip to Tabriz has to be exploring the delights of its old bazaar. One of the most beautiful bazaars in the country, this UNESCO World Heritage site was an important trading point along the Silk Road and flourished under the Safavids in the 16th century. High domed ceilings, the occasional caravanserai and a seemingly endless maze of alleyways, navigating the bazaar is a reliably pleasant experience. Everything from spices to jewelry, to pots and pans are sold here and the carpet section is particularly renowned.

2. Blue Mosque

Mosque

The Blue Mosque, known as Goy Masjid in Azeri, still bears the scars caused by a massive earthquake that struck Tabriz in 1779. Only the iwan of the entrance remains from the original structure, but much of the mosque has been reconstructed in the past 50 years. Dating back to 1465, the iwan demonstrates the intricate blue tile work after which the mosque derives its name, as well as some fine Islamic calligraphy. The patchy remains are an unnerving reminder of Iran’s vulnerability to earthquakes, sitting atop many major fault lines.