According to youremailverifier, Tabriz is the capital of East Azerbaijan Province and the fourth largest city in Iran. It is located in the north-west of the country, 619 km from Tehran and 150 km from the border with Azerbaijan. Tabriz lies in a mountain valley at an altitude of 1340 m, 70 km north of the extinct Sahand volcano.
According to legend, the biblical city of Eden was located on the site of Tabriz. The exact date of the founding of the city is not known. The first mention of these places dates back to the 4th century BC. They were found on an ancient stone tablet, which refers to a certain fortress Tauri or Tarmkis. From the 3rd century BC Tabriz is known as the capital of ancient Azerbaijan. During the reign of the Safavid dynasty, Tabriz was chosen as the capital of the empire. In the 20th century, Tabriz became one of the strongholds of anti-monarchist uprisings. Also in the 20th century, Tabriz was twice occupied by Russian troops.
Despite its rich history, there are not many attractions in the city, most of them were destroyed by earthquakes. The Blue Mosque (Masjid-e Kabud) of 1465 is located on Imam Khomeini Street. It was built during the reign of Shah Jahan (his mausoleum is located here) and was named so because of the use of blue and white mosaics in the decoration of its facade and interiors. At the end of the 18th century, the mosque was almost completely destroyed by earthquakes. Only in 1973 began its restoration. The mosque is currently closed to the public. Opposite the Blue Mosque is located Museum of the History of East Azerbaijan. This is the most important archaeological museum in the northwestern part of the country. Archaeological finds of Iranian Azerbaijan are presented here, in total about 2300 ancient exhibits.
As in any other city in Iran, there is a bazaar in the center of Tabriz. Bazaar of Tabriz is one of the oldest bazaars in the Middle East. It traces its history back to the 15th century. The bazaar acquired its present appearance in the 18th century. Here, on an area of about 1 sq. km there are several markets specializing in the sale of certain types of goods. The products of local craftsmen sold in the Tabriz bazaar are known all over the world, especially carpets and jewelry. Also here is one of the best in Iran spice markets. The religious holiday of Ashura is celebrated on the territory of the Tabriz bazaar. Opposite the bazaar is the Jame Mosque. The mosque has a school of theology. Also in the center of Tabriz, the remains of the Arg-e Ali Shah citadel, which was built in the 13-14 centuries under the Mongols, have been preserved. In addition, interesting in Tabriz are the Constitution House of 1868, the Behnam House of the 18th century, which was used as a vacation home for members of the Qajar dynasty, the Amir Nezam building of the 18-19th centuries, which houses the museum of the Qajar dynasty, the Saat tower or City Hall of 1934, where the Municipal Museum has been located since 2007, “mausoleum of poets”, where more than fifty famous Iranian poets, scientists and theologians are buried, and two ancient Ghari bridges over the Mehran River, which are closed to cars. A significant group of Armenians live in Tabriz, so you can see several Orthodox churches in Tabriz.
In the southern part of Tabriz, on an area of 55 thousand square meters. m. stretched El Goli Park. The park was laid out at the end of the 18th century. During the reign of the Qajar dynasty, it was used as a summer vacation spot for members of the dynasty. Nowadays, El Goli Park is a favorite vacation spot for citizens. The relief of the park is hilly with many walking trails and small lakes. In the eastern part of the park you can see the palace, which stands in the center of the lake.
62 km southwest of Tabriz is the village of Kandovan. It became famous for its architecture. The houses here are carved into the rocks. Some of them are over 700 years old. There is a five-star hotel in the center of the village. It was also carved out of the rocks and is the only such hotel in Iran.. In the vicinity of Kandovan there are many mineral springs, on the basis of which rest houses are built. The local mineral waters are known as an excellent remedy for the treatment of kidney diseases.
The village of Kandovan stands on the northern slope of the extinct Sahand volcano. The height of the volcano reaches 3707 m, this is the highest point in the province. On the southern slope of the Sahand volcano, 130 km from Tabriz, the city of Merage is located. Here are the remains of the famous observatory of the middle of the 13th century, from which the central tower and the library building have been preserved, as well as the Merage Museum, where about a thousand handwritten books dating back to the Mongol era are on display.
East of Tabriz not far from the coast of the Caspian Sea rises its one extinct volcano – Sabalan (4811 m). This is the second highest point in the country. The Sabalan Volcano is a great place for mountaineering and hiking. There is a lake in the crater of the volcano, and on its slopes there are many thermal and mineral springs. At the foot of the Sabalan volcano is the village of Sarein, where entire spa complexes are equipped based on nine hot springs. The waters of local springs contain a significant amount of sulfur compounds and help with pain in the bones and joints. The temperature of the water sources can reach +67 degrees.
Another attraction of the surroundings of Tabriz is the salt lake Urmia.. It is located 60 km west of Tabriz at the junction of the provinces of East and West Azerbaijan. This is the largest lake in Iran and the second largest salt lake in the world. Its area is 5000 sq. km, the maximum depth is 5 m. It is believed that it was in these places that Zarathustra, the founder of the religion of Zoroastrianism, was born. Due to its uniqueness, the lake and the surrounding areas became part of the national park of the same name. A road has been laid along Lake Urmia, and you can also move around the lake by boat. The high salinity of Lake Urmia does not allow any life to develop in its waters. According to the chemical composition, the water of Lake Urmia is similar to the water of the Dead Sea. It is used in the treatment of dermatitis and rheumatism. There are many hospitals on the coast of the lake. Inside the lake there are about a hundred islands, most of which are located in its southern part. Among them are the inhabited island of Eslami and the island of Kabudan, where a wide variety of animals live. According to legend, Hulagu Khan (grandson of Genghis Khan) was buried on the island of Kabudan with his second wife and the legendary treasury. Kabudan Island is a habitat for many birds: flamingos, pelicans, wild geese and a variety of gulls. In order to enter the island, you must obtain permission from the Department of Environment of the province.
