Iran tourism, present iran, covering a large area of iran Plateau, has been a prosperous and generous land for the inhabitants.Here comes a summary of the history of culture and arts in glorious architectural periods.It is a glance on the natural scen-eries of Iran and original Iranian artworks.

Climate and Nature of Iran

Regarding its nature, Iran is among rare countries of the world. The natural northern bordered of Iran are Atrak River, the Caspian Sea, and the Aras River. On the east it is bordered by Hindu Kush Mountains and western mounts of Sind Valley.

The western slopes of Zagrus and the basin of Arvand Rud River from the western limits. The southern limits are the Persian Gulf and the Oman Sea. The western-most city of the KelisaKandi, the easternmost is Jalaq, the northernmost is Parsa-bad, and the southernmost one is chabahar.

Two mountain ranges Zagrus and Alburz, having more than 30 peaks higher than the packs in Europe and America, have produced a collection of mountainus and forest sceneries with amid climate and even permanet glaciers in the heart of a dry desert.

Seas, lakes, remaining Hyrcanian forests on the northwest of Mazandaran; deserts such as Kuluts on the western ridge of Lut desert – Know as the biggest clod city of the world; international lagoons like Parishan in Fars, caves, waterfalls, spas, as well as attractive villages like Kandovan, Masuleh, and Abyaneh are attractions of this land.

The anthropology of Iran , different cultures, music, poems, traditions and rituals, as well as nomad tribes and clans are other attractions of Iran. Some of them are important international centers of ecotourism.

Prehistoric Art and Architecture

Iran Plateau has a civilization history of several thosand years before the settlement of Aryans. The inhabitants of the plateau have lived in the mountains on the edge of the plateau since Paleolithic and Neolithic ages.

They have left remains of their cultures there, Some stone tools and weapons from Paleolithic period have been discovered in a cave in Paldeh Valley in Bakhtyari Mounts. Some civilization such as Sialk Hill of Kashan and Hesar Hill of Damghan flourish in middle fifth millennium BC.

Many temples, graves, and relief figures belonging to the Elamite period have been discovered. Choga Zambil ziggurat is the most significant. The downfall of Elamites was marked by the flourish of Medes and Pars tribes of Aryans. Persians chose Shush in Khuzestan as the capital and Medes settled in Hamedan.

Achaemenid Art and Architectur

Cyrus defeated the Medes King in 559 BC, extended his temitory from Asia Minor to the Persian Gulf, and started developing the country an d erecting giant buildings. The most Significant architectural masterpieces of the period were built in Pasargadaethe capital of Iran.

The remains from Cyrus Palace in Pasargadae are an exhibition of glorious Architecture and decorations affected by Urartians, Assyrian and Babylonian arts.

Columns were the main elements of Achaemenid
buildings and the capitals were iusually in from of animal- sometimes human- heads.

Darius and Xerxes erected magnificent palaces of Persepolis. The
Achaemenid Architecture is also visible in Shush. The vast Achaemenid kingdom lasted more than 200 years.

Arsacid and Parthian Art and Architecture

Seleusids, the successors of Alexander, expanded the Greek culture and traditions in iran. Then Parthian founded a new dynasty in Iran and captured the whole country. The Arsacid Pahlavi script replaced by Arsacid kings.

They not only revived the pre-Seleucid architecture. Two elements entered the architecture: first, erecting domes on a square base; and second, building arched porticos, Ashur Palace, Khajeh Mount, and Anahita Temple are remains of this period. Widely used Paintings and stucco decorations are characteristic of this era.

Sassanid Art and Architecture

Sassanid Art revived the traditional patterns and styles of Iran and provided a ground for many Islanic arts. In fact, Kasra Arch, big Shapur Palace, and Sarvestan Palace are some remains of this period.

Architectural decorations of this period are stucoo-works and tile decorations seen in the western and eastern porticos of Bishapur Palace.

Islamic Art and Architecture

Islam was the real heir of Sassanid art and gave it a new life. At first the Muslim srtist and handicraftsmen used Sassanid art elemnt in their works. The early mosques were built like those in other Muslim communities; however, a new style in mosques architecture based on Iranian traditions flourished since fourth century AH.

Iranians created their own decorative patterns inspired by Arabic script. The Buildings and ornamental arts of early Islam were of two types: architectural buildings mostly in form of mosques, mausoleums, towers, seminaries, caravansaries, shrines, and bazaars like Tarikhaneh Mosque of Damghan and Naeen Friday masque and the early mausoleums such as Amir Esmaeel Samani Mausoleums and Gonbad-e Qabus.

Iranian Architects were not intersted in creating new things in this period; instead, they developed what they had before. Mausoleum towers were usual in this perioad, Most ornamental arts were painting, calligraphy, crafts, and music.

Seljuk Art and Architecture

The Seljuk era is the creative period of Islamic art. There were significant developments in all art aspects. Color entered the architecture and bricks were used for decoration, Using animal figures was a continuation of Sassaind art. The human figures were individually used in clay decorations sometimes.

They were usually painted inside geometric motifs. The four-arched Sassanid mosque were developed in this period and big mosque with central courtyard, four porticos, and a domed square prayer hall were erected.

this style was also used in building caravanserias and seminaries. The Friday mosque of Isfahan, Ardestan and Qazvin belong to the Seljuk era. Moreover, the round towers of Maragheh, Toghrol Tower in Shahr-e Rey city, and Gonbad-e Kaboud in Maraghe belong to this era.

Timurid Art and Architecture

Timurids played a significant role in the development of Islamic Civilization. Most architectural remains of this period are in Samarghand and Herat. Painting reached such a high level that became a standard for the following painting schools. Moreover, a great revolution happend in ornamental arts in fabrics and carpets, pottery, jewelry, metalwork, engtaving and carving, painting and calligraphy in this era.

Safavid Art and architecture

The Safavid architecture, know as “Isfahani School” is visible in mosques, palaces, caravanserias, seminaries, mausoleums, baths, and bazaars. Art prospered and many great painters and calligraphers who increased the ewalth of fine arts of Iran flourished in this era.

Kamalieddin Behzad, living in Timurid and Safavid periods, is an example. Many religious schools were erected to preach and teach religion, A brilliant characteristic of the period is the construction of bazaars, mosques, gardens, and bridges along width inlaid tiles, square bricks, and painted tiles called “Haftrang” bricks, clear tiles, and vaulted stucco-works.

The religious buildings of this era had tile decorations and other buildings had wooden ornamentations. Non-religious buildings were mostly decorated by illuminations, paintings and miniatures. Some important Masque in Naqsh-e Jahan Square, Sheikh Lotf-ollah Masque and the mausoleum of Shahzadeh Hussein.

iran tour guide, By the development of the media, Iran is now well known in western countries and lots of tourists travel to Iran annually. However, travel to iran has the potential to have much more visitors.

Iran Private Tour, Mostly central and western part of Iran are where you can find magnificent monuments that reflects the history of different eras and dynasties.

source : bordersofadventure.com , worldtravelguide.net , youtube.com

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