Post Conference Tour

A two-day optional post-conference tour to Isfahan or Shiraz has been provided for participants.

In Shiraz Participants can visit numerous interesting places and monuments, including famous Takhte-Jamshid, (Persepolis) the capital of ancient Iran. Isfahan is another beautiful city of Iran with some of the unique historic monuments which are authentic masterpieces of the Iranian and Islamic culture and attract a lot of visitors every year to Iran. For those who choose this tour, it will prove to be an exciting and educational post conference tour.

The fee for this tour is 300 USD (payable in cash in Tehran, before the excursion). This includes: air ticket, 2-night hotel room, meal, local transport and other tour charges.

Shiraz
Dating back to antiquity, Fars province has been a significant center of the Persian culture and civilization. During some important Iranian dynasties, including the Achaemenide, Shiraz was the capital of the country. Considering numerous historical monuments, Shiraz is an exponent of the Iranian and Islamic art and history. Some of the greatest Iranian poets and philosophers are from Fars. The identity of this province and the whole country is so much merged that Iran was once known as Pars (Persia).

It is located in the southern part of Iran and covering an area of 133000 square km, the climate of Fars is variable, ranging from cold in the mountainous regions, to warm in the Southern and Eastern areas.

Persepolis
Takht-e jamshid or as the Greeks called it, Persepolis, is a ruined capital of the ancient Iran, about 60Km North-East of Shiraz. It is one of the greatest artistic legacies of the ancient world, founded by Darius I (550-486 B.C.), an Achaemenid king, in 518 B.C. Taqkht-e Jamshid was completed by Xerxes and Artaxerxes I, who ruled Iran from 465 to 486 B.C. and from 426 to 465 B.C., respectively. The palaces were used by the Achaemenid kings up until they were destroyed by Alexander in 330B.C.

Arg (citadel) of Karim Khan
Located in the central area of the city, this citadel has been the seat of government and the residence of Karim Khan Zand (1750-79), first of Zand dynasty. This magnificent building which is a triumph of architecture has impressive plasterwork, wooden windows and tilework. It is encircled by four great towers.

Shrine
The most important shrine in Shiraz is the Mausoleum of Seyyed Mir Ahmad Shah-e Cheragh (meaning the king of lights) the brother of Imam Reza, the 8th Imam of the Shiites, dating back to the 10th century.

Isfahan
The golden era of Isfahan began in the Safavid period, (17th century) during which Isfahan achieved worldwide supremacy in terms of wealth, majestic buildings, unique urban planning and attractive prosperous bazaars. As historians have recorded, the population of Isfahan then reached one million persons.

In those days, Isfahan was considered an international political and commercial center and the great countries of the time, such as England, Portugal, France and the Netherlands, had diplomatic and commercial representatives in the city. The most important monuments of the historic city of Isfahan also date back to this period.

The historic monuments of Isfahan are unique because some of them are authentic masterpieces of Iranian and Islamic art which attract innumerable visitors. The oldest historic relic of Isfahan is the Shahrestan Bridge located 3 km east of the Khaju Bridge, in the ancient district of Jey. This bridge dates back to pre-Islamic times. Researchers believe that its foundation was laid in the Sassanid times, while its superstructure belongs to the early Islamic period, i.e. the era of Eaylamite and Seljuq rules. This bridge is 100 m long and 4.6m wide.

Siosepol (Bridges of 33 Arches)
That is 300m or more long and built in 1602. Attractive and good for walking, has a marvelous view especially at nights.

Jame (Congregational) Mosque of Isfahan
The origin of mosque dates back to the early Islamic period, i.e. some 14 centuries ago. This is one of the most ancient historic monuments in Iran.

Emam (Naqsh-e Jahan) Square (enlisted in the world cultural heritage by UNESCO)
A unique point to visit in Isfahan is Emam Square, built in the Safavid period as the main urban center and a point of popular gathering during ceremonies and sports events. As attested by travelers, who visited the city in Safavid times, this square was the largest and most beautiful in the world in those days, and it still is the most attractive place to visit. The square is 510 m long and 163 m wide and formerly served as a recreation field, particularly for polo games. The stone posts used in those polo games are still visible at the northern and southern extremities of the square. Such incomparable monuments as the Ali Qapu, Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, Emam Mosque and the ancient Bazaar of Isfahan surround this square.

The Ali Qapu
This six-storied edifice was built upon the orders of the Safavid monarch Shah Abbas I, and served to receive foreign ambassadors and guests. The building features fine tile-works, stucco carvings and miniature wall paintings. Even the vaults are exquisitely decorated with golden and polychrome patterns. The large frontal balcony of the edifice, whose roof rests on 18 pillars, constitutes a large reception hall with a central pool and water sprout, which blends harmoniously with the façade of the building and creates a rare sight. The upper floor of the building, where delicate stucco carvings can be admired, is occupied by a music gallery, which represents an interesting innovation of its time.