Isfahan and Chahar Mahal Bakhtiari Province

Isfahan City has a long civilization and historical background. This city is probably constructed in Achaemenian era. During the reign of Ardavan V (222-24 BC.) Sepahan or Espehan has been the center of one of the states of Iran. In Sassanian time, Isfahan was a garrison city and was conquered by Moslems in the year 19 AH. Since then, it was divided into two sections of Moslem dweller (Shahrestan) and Jewish dweller (Yahoodieh). In the year 1,000 AH the capital of Safavid was transferred from Qazvin to Isfahan. Isfahan holds a treasury of tourist attractions:

Isfahan Jame’ mosque which is a collection of architectural styles of different periods after Islam;

Imam (Naghsh-e-Jahan) square, constructed in Safavid time, surrounded by Imam and Sheikh Lotfollah mosques as well as Ali-Ghapoo palace;

Chehel Sotoon (40 pillars) palace with a beautiful edifice is constructed in a wide ground and there are so many paintings on its interior walls;

Menar Jonban (shaking minarets), with unknown date of construction of its two minarets, is very interesting due to the shaking ability of the minarets as well as its dome;

Two churches in Jolfa (Vang and Maryam) which are monuments belonging to Safavid era;

Zoroastrian fire-temple, which is from a pre-Islamic time;

Khajoo and Siosehpol (33 arches), and Shahrestan bridges constructed across Zayandeh Rood River and connect Jolfa district to Isfahan city (these bridges are important from architectural point of view).

Zayandeh Rood, which crosses the city, is a natural habitat and the people use its banks as recreational places. Some parks were constructed on its banks like Boostan, Mellat, and Ayneh Khaneh.

Bazaar of Isfahan, of having important parts with chambers (old type of commercial offices) and caravansaries, historically valuable, is one of the worth-seeing places of this city. This Bazaar is the main place for transaction of Isfahan handicrafts which some of them have worldwide reputation and mostly their names are synonym to Isfahan. The most important of these handicrafts with high artistic values always demanded by tourists are: inlaid work, enamel work, miniatures, painting and illumination work, embossment work, turnery work, carpet, rug, silver work, engraving work, crocheting, and ceramics.

Isfahan carpet for its color, design and ornaments is amongst the bests in the world and has an international fame. Today, in addition to being the center of the province, Isfahan is one of the most industrialized cities of Iran. The main mills of steel industry of the country are centered in Isfahan. The other cities of this province are Kashan, Shahreza (Ghomsheh), Golpayegan, Natanz, Na’een, Ardestan, and Abyaneh. Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiari province, which is located in the western part of the country, is the main residence of Bakhtiari nomads. This province enjoys a wonderful nature with the landscapes of mountains, wetlands, rivers, springs, and caves which have totally changed this province into one of the most worth-seeing provinces of the country. The beautiful natural landscapes of this province can be compared with those of Alps slopes in Switzerland and Austria.

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Gilan, Mazandaran, and Golestan Province

The coastal plains of the Caspian Sea, with more than 600 kilometers length, mountainous slopes and beautiful towns and villages, kind and hospitable people, are some of important recreational regions of Iran. There are different and enough accommodation facilities as well as other necessary services providing suitable conditions for tourism.

There are in the coastal areas of the Caspian Sea, dense forests of different species, forest parks, sandy beaches, clean waters, and several large and small rivers that totally have created a beautiful and eye-catching natural landscape. The large and small cities are mostly located beside the coastal road and are centers of socio-economic activities of the region. From border-town of Astara in extreme northern coastline of Iran to the banks of Atrak river in southeast of the Caspian sea, there are numerous cities and tourism centers with necessary facilities like Talesh, Bandar Anzali, Rasht, Lahijan, Ramsar, Chaloos, Nowshahr, Babol, Amol, Sari, Behshahr, Gorgan, and Gonbad-kavoos.

In addition to recreational characteristics of the Caspian Sea coasts, there are other worth-seeing places. Among them, the existence of the historical sites in the cities of Rasht, Fooman, Lahijan, Gorgan and Gonbad-kavoos may be pointed out. In the cities of the Caspian Sea coastline, different wooden, bamboo, and mat-like products are supplied in huge quantities. Vast fields of rice, tobacco, tea, oleaginous seeds, cotton, and citrus orchards along with beautiful wooden houses, have created a very interesting social life and livelihood, which is worth-seeing for every tourist.

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