The following article was contributed from the Embassy of Iran into NDN Media Group & NDN News (www.ndnnews.co.kr) to promote Iran's tourism attractions as part of Iran National Day articles. -Ed.

Iran Tourism attractions:

Iran or Persia is long known as one of the oldest and pre-historic lands in the world. Geographically it is located in a region known as the Cradle of Civilization, the Middle East. Given Iran has been situated in the juncture of the West and the East, and along the pathway of peoples of different tribes and nations, there still remain footprints of different cultures and civilizations who once plied across this vast land of the Zoroaster. Now there are one million historical and tourist sites in Iran.

The most important tourist attractions of Iran are as follows:

The Persepolis

Founded by Darius 1 in 518 B.C, the Persepolis was the capital of the Achaemenid Empire. It was built on an immense half-artificial, half natural terrace, where the king of kings created an impressive palace complex inspired by Mesopotamian models. The importance and quality of the monumental ruins make it a unique archaeological Site.

Gate of Nations- at the Persepolis – Shiraz- Iran

Meidan Emam, (Imam Square) Isfahan

It is easy to spend an entire day meandering in Meidan Emam, alternating between marveling at jaw-dropping architecture and haggling with business-savvy bazaar keepers. It is no wonder that the city of Isfahan is known as nesfe jahan (half the world). One of the first sites in Iran to be registered with UNESCO in 1979, this square was built by Shah Abbas in the 17th century. One major monument stands on each side of this grand square, and they are all connected by two-story arcades. Imam Mosque has the largest dome in the city, while Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque dazzles visitors with its splendid tile work. Ali Qapu Palace is most notable for its music room, mosaic stairs, and views of the square, and the gate of the Imperial Bazaar will take you through one of the oldest bazaars in the region. At the end of the day, you will truly feel as though you have seen half of the world.

Meidan Emam, (Imam Square) Isfahan

The Gate of National Garden

This magnificent brick gate, decorated with colorful tiles and multiple inscriptions is one of old symbols of Tehran built based on direct order of Reza Shah by Jafar Khan Kashani and Germans cooperation in a mixture of Iranian–European architectural styles especially of tile works and Kolah Farangi in Qajar era between 1301 to 1304 SH.

The building was built as a gateway to the Mashq square that was a military area belonged to the armies therefore it has been named as "Mashq Square Gate".

Shortly after building the gate, the first public garden entitled "National Garden" was founded in the lands of Mashq square and so it has been renamed to "The Gate of National Garden".

In the upper part of the building, monitoring station, timpanist and the armed forces passage have been designed. The Gate of National Garden has a gateway for car pass and two for pedestrians. Today, there are several buildings, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (in the east side), the National Library and National Museum of Iran and the Post office on the west side of this area.

Golestan Palace

Golestan Palace was more recently included with UNESCO in 2013. Located footsteps from Tehran’s Grand Bazaar, this lavish palace became the Qajar dynasty’s seat of government. The architecture exemplifies this dynasty’s fusion of early Persian design and Western influences. Magnificent pools, green spaces, and mosaic façades are located throughout this complex, and building interiors vary from bright grand halls hanging with ornate chandeliers to dim cozy nooks of mirrored walls and stained glass. The masterpieces of painter Kamal ol-Molk are also housed throughout the buildings and not to be missed. Take advantage of the opportunity to dress up as a Qajar prince or princess and have your picture taken against the spectacular backdrop of authentic Persian architecture.

Golestan Palace, Tehran, Iran

Azadi Tower

Azadi tower on the campus of Azadi square with Hossein Amanat design and implementation has been built during the Pahlavi era (1349 Hijri). The Human Right charter of Cyrus the Great (The first written human rights of Cyrus the Great, the Achaemenid king) was unveiled in this location for the first time.

The gate-like architecture of this building is retrieved from the architecture of the Achaemenid, Sassanid and Islamic periods that is a combination of two pairs of intersecting arches on foundations with the height of 45 meters, in four floors including a body of white stones which has been divided with slits in blue turquoise; it was built as a symbol of the continuity of culture, art and civilization of Iran and a sample of urban and modern symbols and signs. The building has four elevators, two staircases and 286 stairs. There are several theaters, galleries, libraries and museums in the underground campus of Azadi tower.

Milad Tower

Milad Tower, a great complex including various parts of technical and cultural varied structures is one of the unmatched tourism centers in Iran. This tower in 12 floors and as the highest telecommunication tower in Iran is visible from every district of Tehran. The construction of this tower lasted 11 years and finished in 1387 SH and has been known as the symbol of Tehran. Iranian–Islamic architecture of this tower and its octagonal structure are the interesting and sensible points of this tower architecture.

Milad Tower usages include facilitating the wireless communication in Tehran, optimizing the radio and television coverage, digital TV infrastructure, meteorology, traffic control and tourism. Milad tower has been constituted of different parts as follows: tower’s lobby (the entrance and trade center of tower), body and the vertex of structure (the 6th tallest telecommunication tower of the world), Municipality Museum (donative from Tehran municipality to Milad Tower), tower’s cafeteria (the cafeteria of the tower’s vertex), celebrities museum (the historical figures statues), revolving restaurant (the largest revolving restaurant of the world), an overlooking terrace (a terrace with the landscape of Tehran city), special restaurant (a restaurant over Tehran city), sky dome (a glass dome at the top of city), exhibition site and the antenna on the top of tower vertex (Milad tower’s telecommunication antenna).Tower’s side facilities are including dolphinarium, paintball club, laserium, shopping center, cycling road, waterfall, caravanserai and etc.

Chehel Sotoun

Chehel Sotoun‎‎ (literally translated: Forty Columns) is a palace in the middle of 67000 square-meter garden of Jahan-Nama at the far end of a long pool, in Isfahan. The palace was built by the order of by Shah Abbas II as his leisure the palace was specially used for tor receive high ranking guests like Iranian and foreign politicians.

You can see 20 beautiful slender columns plus 20 columns reflected in the water of the fountain in the middle of a well maintained garden which is registered as one of the World Heritage Persian Gardens. The elegant palace of the 40 columns has superb fresco's and mural paintings on ceramic.

The palace opens to an elegant terrace with the spectacular view of the fountain and garden. If the pool is full of water, you can see 20 reflected columns in the fountain. There are four stone lions at every corners of the central fountain, the hall and marble and vaulted cornices around it.

Portrait of the sovereign in the royal hall, the Mirror Hall, the portrait of Shah Abbas I wearing his royal crown and the miniatures of the treasury room are the must sees of the palace.

The building used to be a royal pavilion for kings’ receptions and balls. An inscription on the structure shows the decoration and frescoes were finished in 1647. Two large historical frescoes date back to late Zand dynasty. The building is now used as the museum Persian painting and ceramics.

It makes it even more interesting to visit Chehel Sotun if you know the palace had been severely damaged since it was built. At the time of Afghans’ occupation of the town, the interior of the the mural paintings and walls of the palace were covered with a thick coat of whitewash. It is not yet known if the wall were coated to protect the mural paintings form any possible vandalism or to demoralize the value of the paintings. Whatever was the reason behind it, the mural paintings are now extensively restored under the aegis of the Institute Italian Per il Medio Oriente.

Nasir al-Mulk Mosque

Nasir al-Mulk Mosque is one of the oldest mosques in the Goud-e-Araban district close to the famous Shah Cheragh Mosque in Shiraz. Mirza Hasan Ali, also known as Nasir-al-Mulk , was one of the Qajar dynasty's grandee who ordered the construction of this building.

Mohammad Hassan Memar was the architect of the 2212 square meter mosque. The construction and building of the infrastructure of the mosque lasted about 12 years (1914 to 1926).

The mosque has a large courtyard, one main entrance to the mosque, yard, porch, arches, the decorated finials and tiling, masonry, brickwork and stained glass works. The beautiful design is significantly known among mosques in Iran.

Ski resort of Dizin

Dizin is the largest Iranian ski resort located in the Alborz mountain ranges 70 km North of Tehran. Dizin is the first ski and winter sport resort in Iran that has been officially recognized and granted the title by the International Ski Federation for its capability in administrating official and international competitions.

The ski season in Dizin lasts from December to May, due its high altitude. The highest ski lift reaches 3,600 m (11,800 ft), making it one of the 40 highest ski resorts in the world.

Dizin ski resort

Tabriz Historical Bazaar Complex

Tabriz has always been an important commercial center due to its strategic location along the Silk Road. The Bazaar, added to the UNESCO inventory in 2010, is one of the oldest bazaars in the Middle East. An interconnected series of red brick buildings, each part of this complex sells a different product such as gold and jewelry, shoes, or various household items. Perhaps the most notable section, however, is the rug bazaar where those in the business can be seen selling dyed thread, sewing up loose rug ends, and transporting stacks of rugs.

Tabriz Grand Bazar – Persian carpet market

Bam and its Cultural Landscape

This ancient desert city of the southern Kerman province was registered with UNESCO in 2004. An overview of Bam immediately gives visitors the impression of being in a life-sized sand castle. The most recognized monument, Arg-e Bam, dates back over 2,000 years to the Parthian Empire. This citadel was build out of khesht (sun-dried mud bricks) in the 6th to 4th centuries B.C. and served as the governor’s quarters. Reconstruction of this landmark began after a devastating earthquake nearly flattened this mud brick city, killing over 26,000 people in 2003. Dates, a particularly special export of Bam, flourish especially well thanks to the vast system of qanats (an ancient underground water system) still used today.

Arg-e Bam, Bam, Iran

Pasargadae

Brazilian poet Manuel Bandeira published the poem Vou-me embora pra Pasargada (I’m off to Pasargadae) describing a man who, unsatisfied with his life, talks about escaping to this utopian city. In a remote location some 50 kilometers from Shiraz, it might not presently look like the utopia it may have been in its heyday, but Pasargadae was the first capital of the Achaemenid Empire in the 6th century B.C., founded by Cyrus the Great. Added to UNESCO in 2004, it is also known as the first multicultural empire that respected cultural diversity. Ruins of the palace and citadel remain, but the main feature is the mausoleum of Cyrus the Great, said to have been visited by Alexander the Great himself after destroying Persepolis.

Tomb of Cyrus the Great | © sunriseOdyssey/Flickr

Sheikh Safi al-din Khanegah and Shrine Ensemble in Ardabil

This shrine ensemble located in the northwestern city of Ardabil joined UNESCO in 2010. It is the location of the tomb of Sheikh Safi al-din, a leader of Islamic Sufi mysticism. Constructed between the 16th and 18th centuries, it is a fusion of Sufi tradition and Iranian traditional construction. The route to the shrine consists of seven segments representing the seven stages of Sufi mysticism, and other parts are divided into eight gates, which mirror the eight attitudes. The areas of this shrine have served various purposes over the years including a library, mosque, school, mausolea, and cistern, among others.

Sheikh Safi al-din Khanegah and Shrine Ensemble, Ardabil, Iran