Holiday in Tabriz

About Tabriz

Tabriz is the fourth largest city in Iran and the capital of East Azerbaijan Province in the northwest of the country. The city is located at an altitude of 1,350 meters at the foot of the Sahand volcano and has a history of over 3,000 years as a trading metropolis on the historic Silk Road. Tabriz has been the capital of Persian dynasties several times and is today the center of Azerbaijani-Turkish culture in Iran. The Tabriz Bazaar is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the largest covered bazaar in the world: a labyrinth of brick vaults stretches over several kilometers and houses thousands of shops, caravanserais, mosques, and bathhouses. The bazaar has been continuously operating for over 1,000 years and was a central hub of the Silk Road. Carpet merchants, spice shops, and coppersmiths shape the landscape. The Blue Mosque (Masjed-e Kabud), built in 1465, is Tabriz's most famous building: once completely covered with turquoise blue tiles, it was largely destroyed by a severe earthquake in 1780 and has been under restoration since then. The remaining tiles showcase the mastery of Timurid ceramic art. El-Goli Park (Shah Goli) is a historical garden palace with a large artificial lake: the pavilion on the water, surrounded by terraces and gardens, is Tabriz's most popular recreational spot. In spring, hundreds of varieties of roses bloom here. Kandovan, a village with cave dwellings in volcanic rock formations, is located just 60 km to the south. The conical tuff stone cliffs have been inhabited for over 700 years — a living Cappadocia, where people still live in the caves, with modern comforts like electricity and water.