Sightseeing
In Tabriz
Kandovan Village: is located in a cold mountainous area at 50
kms. south of Tabriz and on the slopes of Sahand Mountain. It is very cold for about
9 months of the year. The interesting point about this village is the shape of the
mountains with the small cave like spaces, that people are using for living.
Thermal Springs: There are so many thermal springs in Tabriz
Township which are used as a remedy by many people, such as: Sofiyan, Kandovan, and
Bostan Abad.
Jame' Mosque, Tabriz Museum, Old Bazaar of Tabriz, Bagh-e-Golestan,
Bagh-e-Shomal, Ancient Bridge of Chehel Dokhtar near Tabriz, Constitution House and
Maqbarat-ol-Shoara are of other places of interest in Tabriz.
Old Bazaar of Tabriz is one of the most well known bazaars of
Iran. The architecture of this bazaar is very popular in the Middle East.
There are great number of shops, arcades, mosques and schools in this place, which make it
an excellent trade center.
Ark Or Citadel Of Tabriz
Ark-e Tabriz in Persian (also called Masjid-e Alishah, Arg-e Alishah) is the impressive remainder of a great and imposing building in the town. The Arg, a huge and crumbling brick citadel, is a notable landmark that was built in the early 14th century on the site of a massive mosque which collapsed over 500 years ago, and which must been one of the largest ever constructed. Inside the Citadel there is nothing except two arches and an indication of the position of the mehrab; Ali Shah’s court has been covered with ignoble buildings, the sanctuary walls have been rebuilt and propped up, and it is hard to believe that any part of this place was ever a mosque.
Constitution House
The Constitution House is located next to the Tabriz grand bazaar, on Motahari Ave. During the years which led to the Constitutional Revolution and afterwards, the house was used as the gathering place of the leaders, activists, and the sympathizers of the movement, among them Sattar Khan, Baqer Khan, Seqatoleslam and Haji Mirza Aqa Farshi.
The two-story building was constructed in 1868 by Haj Vali Me’mar-e Tabrizi. It has numerous rooms and halls. The most beautiful part of the house is a skylight and a corridor decorated with colorful glasses and mirrors.
Blue Mosque
The Blue Mosque (or Masjid-e Kabud) on the north side of town, is a 15th-century structure destroyed partially by one of Tabriz's recurrent earthquakes.
The entrance portal with its two minarets appears to have been connected with the main prayer hall (Shabestan) under the largest cupola of the mosque, by means of vaulted corridor. On both sides along the corridor, there stand the remains of the chambers with vaulted roofs. The walls of the mosque have been riveted with marble slabs and decorated with superb mosaic tiles. Some of the blue mosaics in the mosque's portal are heavily damaged and half missing.
Golestan gardens
Also called the National Park, the garden is one of the main recreation centers of the city and covers an area of 53,000 square meters. It was built some 70 years ago and has many huge pools surrounded by green and trees.
Shah Goli
Do not miss El Goli (former Shah Goli), a pleasant hillside garden and park around an artificial lake to the area of 54,675 square meters. El Goli, only 4 km south of downstream Tabriz, is so lovely a place that it deserves an illustration. It is a popular weekend resort for the locals.
A hill in the eastern side of the park leads down to the pool with steps, and a fountain from top of the hill flows down to the pool. In the center of the pool there is a grand hexagonal building. The pool itself is said to have been built during the reign of Aq Qoyunlu kings. However, it was extended by the Safavids.
Azarbaijan Museum
Azarbaijan Museum, inaugurated in 1962, is on Khomeinie Ave (next to the Kabud Mosque). With an area of 300 square meters, it consists of three main halls in which historical articles, costumes of various tribes of Iran, works of renowned calligraphers, as well as a collection of pictures, tracts, declarations, documents, and personal articles of the leaders of the Constitutional Revolution are on display.
Baazaar
Strolling in the center of Tabriz, one is reminded emphatically that it is a commercial city: one cannot miss its very large and 15th-century covered bazaar. It is already much diminished in its variety of goods, but still a great place for getting hopelessly lost amid its dusty architectural splendors. Its architectural style, numerous caravansaries, mosques, and schools have added further beauty and glory to this complex. Exact information on the history and origin of the bazaar is not available; however, historical buildings such as the Jam’s Mosque, Talebieh School, and Sadeqieh School indicate that the complex is one of the oldest structures of the city. The present structure of bazaar dates back to the closing years of the Zand dynasty (1750-1779 AD).
Leaving the modern chick avenues to see the real bazaar, the visitor will understand with the amusement of recognition the shocked tone of the Moor, that indefatigable traveler Ibn Battuta, who visited Tabriz in 1334:
"I passed through the jewelers’ bazaar, and my eyes were dazzled by the varieties of precious stones that I beheld. They were displayed by beautiful slaves wearing rich garments with a waist-sash of silk, who stood in front of the merchants, exhibiting the jewels to the customers' wives, who bought them in large quantities to outdo each other."
The complex has high brick domes and arches. It includes several small bazaars, or bazaarches, each for a specific guild and craft. Carpet making is the main trade, but Tabriz is also renowned for its silverware and jewelry.
The spice bazaar, one of the most pungent and impressive in Iran, is an excellent place for picking up henna. Look out also for the traditional Azari hats resembling those worn by the gypsies of Western Europe.
Churches
From the earliest days of Christianity there has been a sizable Armenian community in Tabriz, and the city boasts a number of churches, including one mentioned by Marco Polo on his travels.
Nowadays, Tabriz has six churches, the most important of which are: Saint Serkis Church, located in Armenian quarter of Tabriz, Baron Avak, which was renovated in 1845; probably the most interesting and the oldest but substantially rebuilt Church of St. Mary (Kelesa-ye Maryam-e Moghaddas) which was completed in 1785, on the corner of North Shari-ati Ave. and Jomhuri Ave; Able Mary Church which was built in 1910 and is on Miar Miar quarter of Tabriz.Wild Life
Many kinds of wild animals live in the province of E-Azarbaijan. On the mountainous and forest areas; live beers, wolfs, pigs, foxes, and rabbits. On the river-sides and lake-sides there are: partridge, duck, wild duck, pheasant, ringdove, pelican, flamingo, different kinds of ducks, crane, swan, heron, and other kinds of birds. Near to the peaks of Sahand, Bozqoosh and Qaradaagh, live many kinds of wild animals such as; wild sheep, wild cat, partridge, beer, panther, deer, gazelle, falcon, and other kinds. And in the mountainous forest, live many kinds of snakes, serpents, rattlesnake, and different kinds of lizards.
Trip to, and Stay in the Province
All districts and towns of the province are provided with well connected nets of roads, and traviling facilities, so a trip to these destinations is very easy job. All towns of the province are well facilitated by networks of services such as telecommunication and health services, and all service staff are familiar with tourism regulations as well as local culture. The International Airport of Tabriz is well facilitated, and many international as well as national flights are held there daily.
Excerpts from: IRAN Today, by: Gita Shenasi, 2nd Edition,1995
Printed by: Peykan,Tehran - Iran
A Travel Guide To IRAN, copyright 1995 by: M.T. Faramarzi
