Geography and nature, Climate, ,History, Historiography, Population and Ethnic Groups, Religion and culture, Travel and transportation, Hotels, guesthouses and other, Accommodation Facilities, Tourism Attractions, Path of Tours

Architecture

Every region of Iran has its own architectural style. Hereunder, the architecture and the styles of house building in different parts of Iran are briefly pointed out:

In the coastal regions of the Caspian Sea (Gilan and Mazandaran provinces), wooden houses are built on woody pillars with roofs made of straw or earthenware.

In the margin of great Iranian desert (Kavir), the most distinct kinds of houses have dome-shaped roofs which are traditionally built according to the climatic conditions of these regions during centuries till now.

In Azerbaijan, the foundations of houses are built of stone and have flat roofs.

In some areas of very hot regions like Khuzestan, especially Dezfool, the basements as well as summer shelters are essential for rural and urban life.

In mountainous areas of Alborz, since many centuries back, most of the houses are made of wooden structure with mud walls and flat roofs. Recently, some houses with bricks and iron beams have been built in this region.

In Sistan and Baluchestan the houses are quadrangular with dome-shaped roofs. There are some simple reticular structures in the roofs for ventilation.

These manifold, different, and worthy styles of architecture, which manifest themselves in the construction of houses and other buildings in different parts of the country, attract so many foreign tourists who are fascinated to them. Also, domestic tourists get acquainted with the extent, greatness, and cultural wealth of their homeland.

Museums

The museums of Iran are the treasury of cultural, historical and natural heritage of this land. There are some museums in the large and old cities of Iran, which have demonstrated numerous antique, artistic and natural vestiges of ancient Iran.

The museums of Tabriz, Maragheh, Orumyeh, Khoy, Kashan, and Miandoab in Azerbaijan, Museums of Kashan and Chehel Sotoon in Isfahan, Kermanshah museum, Museums of Reza Abbasi, Carpet, Decorative Arts, Contemporary Arts, Glass and Earthenware, National Arts, Iran Bastan, Anthropology. And in Tehran: Toos and Naderi in Khorasan; Susa, Haft Tappeh, and Abadan in Khuzestan; Falak-olaflak in Lorestan; Ganjali Khan in Kerman; and museums of Gazvin, Zanjan, Shah rood, Semnan, Zahedan, Rasht, Gorgan, Hamedan, Persepolis, and Sanandadj are amongst the rich museums of Iran. In some cities especially in Tehran, there are established several palace-museums, which are worth seeing places of these cities.

Some Natural History museums have been established in the large cities some of which may be pointed out: the Natural History Museums of Orumyeh, Isfahan, Tehran and Shiraz. These museums are the important centers for research activities on human sciences and arts and are memorable.

Daily and Weekly markets (Bazaars)

These bazaars are the centers for transaction of local products and goods as well as the place of social interactions and regulating social relations of people especially rural and tribal areas. These bazaars, which reflect the local, economical and cultural conditions of the region, are held in many urban, rural and tribal areas. The weekly bazaars in rural and tribal areas are held close to summer quarters regarding season, decampment time, and economic need of the villagers and nomads. In these kinds of bazaars, the daily needs of people are secured through cash, credit, barter, or conventions. At present, in some northern provinces including Gilan, Mazandaran, and Golestan, rural weekly bazaars are very common.

Also, in southern coastal provinces of the country including Sistan and Baluchistan, Hormozgan, Boushehr, and Khuzestan, these kinds of bazaars are common and are amongst the attractions of these provinces. The weekly bazaars of nomad tribes are held in all tribal regions of Iran including Azerbaijan, Lorestan, and Kurdistan. The daily bazaars of urban, rural, and tribal regions are the places in which the artistic and creative ability of women are reflected through supplying their fine handicrafts. Visiting these bazaars and purchase of different handicrafts, will be an unforgettable memory for tourists.

Handicrafts

The most important handicraft of Iran, which has a worldwide reputation, is the industry of weaving carpet and Gelim (short-napped coarse carpet).

Iranian carpet, due to its design, texture, and fixed color has its own special privileges, which is unique in the world. Today, there are many people, especially women, who are involved in this industry in large and small carpet workshops, scattered all around Iran. Nomad women weave a simple kind of carpet in their leisure time, which is called Jajim (coarse). Jajim is softer and lighter than Gelim. In addition to these, other hand-woven products like cashmere, shawl, and different cloths are produced in Iran for different uses.

Every tourist who comes to Iran, wishes to buy a small carpet or coarse. Everybody knows the reputation of Iranian carpets, as one of the best and invaluable handicrafts of the world. This industry and its workshop are owned both by government and private sector. Most of the carpets are produced in rural and tribal regions of Iran. The carpet of every region has its own texture, design, and color. The cities of Tabriz, Isfahan, meshed; Kashan, Kerman, and Hamedan as well as the region of Turkmen, Baluch, Ghashghai, Afshar, Kurd, and Lor tribes are important centers of carpet industry in Iran.

Iranian tile and ceramic industry and its products have perfectly portrayed themselves in mosques and historical monuments. The color and quality of Iranian tiles and ceramics are so fixed that have resisted against hard climatic and erosive conditions of Iran for centuries. Besides this industry, the industries of pottery, glassworks, and tannery should be mentioned, of which several products are supplied to market. The metal and wooden handicrafts like copper and brass products, silver work, inlaid work, embossment work, engraving, and other fine objects, which are produced in metal, wood, and bone, have a long history in Iran and are highly demanded by tourists.

Traditional and national foods

Iranian “sofreh” (cloth which is spread on the floor and on which food is served) is a colorful one and the food culture of this country is very rich. This richness is due to diversity of natural environment. In different areas of the country, based on existing possibilities, diverse local foods are cooked. But there are some foods, which are common all around the country, so they are considered as traditional and national foods. The most famous foods of this kind are: Chelokabab (steamed rice with grilled lamb or beef); Abgoosht (the mixture of lamb, beans, spice, and potato); Khoresht (a kind of food which is commonly cooked with different ingredients and served with rice); Fesenjan (poultry, especially goose or duck, walnut, pomegranate, souce, sugar, and spice); and Dolmeh or stuffing (a mixture of meat and other materials wrapped in the fresh leaves of grapevine).

In the northern and western regions of Iran, several kinds of local foods are cooked with wild plants or vegetables and beans, which are served with, or without meat and are very tasty. Caviar of Iran, which is obtained from sturgeon fish in the Caspian sea, has worldwide reputation and is very tonic. Different kinds of food are cooked in northern and southern parts of Iran with fish. The shrimp of the Persian Gulf is amongst the best in the world and due to its quality, varieties of foods are cooked with it.

Baking of bread in Iran is done in deferent ways. Basically, Iranian breads are thin and heated on surface, so they are very soft. In Iran bread is commonly used freshly. The different kinds of Iranian breads are Sangak, Lavash, Taftoon, and Barbary.

One of the common traditional Iranian beverages is Doogh (yogurt drink), which is consumed with fragrant vegetables