Azadi Tower_Tehran

zadi Tower Built in 1971 to commemorate 2500 years of Persian monarchy, this iconic tower fuses elements of Sassanian, Achaemenid, and modernist architecture. Literally meaning ‘Freedom Tower’, the ivory-coloured, Y-shaped building is situated in a park in east Tehran, and features a well laid out underground museum. Though not as tall as the Milad Tower, it nevertheless boasts fantastic views of the city from the top floor.

Shams-ol-Emaneh_Golestan Palace_Tehran

Shams-ol-Emareh (Edifice of the Sun) is the most stunning structures of the Golestan Palace.
The idea of building a tall structure came to Nasser-ol-Din Shah before his first European and from pictorial images of European buildings. The Monarch wanted a structure from which he could have panoramic views of the city.

Designed by Moayer-ol-Mamalek, construction on the Shams-ol-Emareh began in 1865 and was completed two years later. The architect was Master Ali Mohammad Kashi.
The building has two identical towers. The exterior views have multiple arches, intricate tile work and ornate windows. This building is a fusion of Persian and European architecture.

Niyavaran Palace_Tehran

Near Alborz foothills there is a palace where Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and his family spent most of the last 10 years of royal rule. It’s set in 5 hectares of landscaped gardens and has six separate museums, the best of which is the elegant 1960s Niyavaran Palace, with its clean lines, opulent interior and sublime carpets. There’s also a pleasant cafe with outdoor seating.Apart from the Niyavaran Palace, you can also explore the Sahebgharanieh Palace, where the shah kept his office; the Ahmad Shahi Pavilion, Reza Pahlavi’s residence when he was crown prince; and the Automobile Museum, which houses a small collection of stately vehicles. Note that at the time of writing, the Sahebgharianieh Palace was closed for renovations.Farah Diba’s tasteful touch is also evident in a number of the museums, including the art-filled Jahan-Nama Museum & Gallery, and the Imperial Library Museum, once her exclusive domain.

Tabiat Bridge

Tabiat Bridge: It’s easy to see why this multilevel, sculptural pedestrian bridge, designed by Iranian architect Leila Araghian, has won awards and been a huge hit with locals. The 270m long walkway connecting Park-e Taleghani and Park-e Abo-Atash over the busy Modarres Expwy is a fun space to relax and, in good weather, it provides superb views of the north Tehran skyline against the Alborz Mountains.

There’s a decent food court at one end and a perfect restaurant at the other, as well as plenty of places to sit and socialise, making it a highly popular place to hang out in the evenings.

Saint Sarkis Cathedral_Tehran

Saint Sarkis Cathedral is an Armenian Apostolic church in Tehran, Iran.
The construction of St. Sarkis Church in Tehran began from 1964 and was complete by 1970. The church was built by Sarkisian brothers in memory of their parents.
At beginning the Tehran prelacy was located at conjunction of St. Mother Mary Church in central Tehran. In the early 1960s it was decided to change the site of the prelacy offices into new location.

The International Dizin Ski Resort_Tehran

Most of the people think of Iran as a hot country with blistering sand dunes and a good destination for short desert tours. It is of course true that you can enjoy wonderful desert tours in Iran, but at this moment, Iran’s skiing opportunities are the biggest secret of the country’s tourism. There are 19 ski areas and resorts in Iran and The International Dizin Ski Resort is the most famous and the most popular. Comments like “Skiing at Dizin is even better than that in Alps” are commonly heard from the European tourists who have experienced skiing at Dizin. There are certain reasons behind this resort’s popularity among the foreign and local ski lovers; first, the world-class skiing quality this resort offers; second, the low costs of skiing in Iran; and third, convenient accommodation facilities in the vicinity of this resort.

Hotel in Dizin

Skiing in Iran is generally cheap and skiing at Dizin Ski Resort is no exception. Aside from the cost of transportation to the resort that could be around $50 for a taxi from any hotel in Tehran to Dizin, and the cost of renting ski equipment (around $30 per day ), you’d have to pay around $30 per day to take the gondola lift to the top of resort and use the resort for the whole day. Now, for the people who would like to ski for more than one day at Dizin Ski Resort, there are very convenient accommodation facilities in the vicinity of the resort and Dizin Hotel is the most convenient one especially in terms of location. This hotel in Dizin is located right next to the resort. Gajereh hotel in Dizin is also quite popular mainly because of its newer rooms and buildings and also its lower rates.

Sa’ad Abad complex_Tehran

With an area of more than 110 hectares, there lays Sa’ad Abad complex at the foot of the Alborz ranges, north of Tehran, situated to the west of Golab Dareh and east of Velenjak quarters.It was first the summer residence of Qajar kings, and then turned into Reza Shah’s summer residence following expansion and annexation of some other quarters.

On various occasions, villa-palaces and mansions were erected on the beautiful range among aged cypresses and aspens, in almost the vicinity of the remnants of aged and weather beaten Qajar mansions the facades of which were constructed in bricks.In the course of time, they numbered 18, each in a different architectural style and technique. After the Islamic Revolution, palaces were changed into museums in a suitable way to represent the finest works of art from Iranian and non-Iranian artists to the large number of visitors.

Today, there are 10 museums open to the public as follow:

1. Green palace: It is the first palace built in the complex during Pahlavi dynasty by Reza Shah’s order. The building is called green palace because of the color of its facade. The palace is a very nice museum of Persian arts like mirror marquetry, carpets, and illumination and plaster work. It was served as Mohammad Reza’s private palace where some private meetings were held before the Islamic Revolution.

2. Nation’s palace: In two stories, different small and large rooms were served as residence and office of Reza Shah Pahlavi and his son. Rooms were used as sitting room, waiting room, reception hall, dinning hall and bedroom. There are some works of art like figurines and chinaware are kept in showcases. Furniture, chandeliers and paintings are European made. There are four big mural painting the subjects of which are Iranian myths.

3. Nations’ museum: This collection consists of various works of art purchased from other countries and represents the civilizations of pre-Islam Iranian, African, Indian, far east, Eskimos, Mayas and contemporary arts of Iranian as well as non-Iranian artists.

4. Fine arts museum: The major part of the paintings in this collection are the oil paintings of Safavid, Afshar, Zand and Qajar periods collected by Mohammad Reza Pahlavi’s last wife, Farah, from an English collectioner called Harold Emmer. The paintings have been arranged on 3 floors: 1) First floor, teahouse painting by contemporary Iranian artists, 2) second floor, various historical periods paintings mentioned above, and 3) Third floor, European works presented to Farah or bought by her.

5. Behzad museum: This museum is devoted to the miniatures painted by Hossein Behzad (1895-1968) who made a revolution in Iranian painting. Studying European art and being inspired by Kamal-ed-din Behzad and Reza Abbasy, he introduced a new style of miniature on paper, hard paper or fiberboard. This style is purely Iranian, but it has kept on with its contemporary paces and changes of art in universal art schools.

6. Abkar museum: The miniatures in this museum are works of a 20th century artist called Klara Abkar who had her particular style in painting. Her source of inspiration was the rich Iranian literature and mysticism. Her works take the visitors to a world of spirituality and a poem-like or light-music-like harmony that give everyone’s eyes peace and tranquility.

7. Mir Emad museum: The main subject of this museum is the most prominent post-Islam Iranian art namely calligraphy. On paper and parchment, there are plenty of various calligraphic styles of writing belonging to 10th to 19th centuries. Mir Emad, himself, the most well known 18th century’s calligrapher, has been introduced by his works. In some cases, some calligraphy-related arts like illumination, painting, etc are exhibited.

8. Museum of anthropology: The lifestyle and customs of Iranians through the history are displayed from cultural perspective. In a vast area and of two floors, various objects are exhibited like tools for irrigation, agriculture, husbandry, fishing and hunting as well as agricultural documents, clothes, lighting tools and handicrafts.

9. Water museum: This museum in an exhibition of ancient and traditional techniques and instruments for water supplement and distribution. Various water-related vernacular structures are introduced like water reservoirs and traditional icehouses. Some ancient water dams and royal orders concerning them are presented as well.

10. Military museum: the objects of the museum are displayed on two floors. The military uniforms of Achaemenians up to the present time are exhibited. The weaponry on display consists of some unsophisticated ones used in the ancient times until the firearms period’s. Part of the history of Iraqi-imposed war against Iran (1980-1988) is also exposed to visitors.

Visiting this complex of palaces can serve as an introductory step to be familiar with various historical, cultural and artistic aspects of Iran.

Niavaran Palace_Tehran

Niavaran Palace Complex is situated in the northern part of Tehran, Iran. It consists of several buildings and a museum. The Sahebqraniyeh Palace from the time of Nasir al-Din Shah of Qajar dynasty is also inside this complex. The main Niavaran Palace, completed in 1968, was the primary residence of the last Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and the Imperial family until the Iranian Revolution.

The main palace was designed in 1337 AH (1958) by the Iranian architect Mohsen Foroughi, and following a short delay in its construction, it was completed in 1346 AH (1967) and used in 1347 AH (1968).

Presently, it is comprised of five museums (Niavaran Palace Museum, Ahmad Shahi Pavilion, Sahebqaraniyeh Palace, Jahan Nama museum and the private library), and other cultural, historical and natural attractions including the Blue Hall, Private Cinema, Jahan Nama Gallery, and Niavaran Garden.

The Niavarān Palace Complex traces its origin to a garden in Niavaran, Tehran, that was used by Nasir al-Din Shah as a summer residence. The palace erected by Nasir al-Din Shah in this garden was originally referred to as The Niavarān Palace and was later renamed The Sahebqaraniyeh Palace. During the reign of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi all the peripheral buildings of The Sahebqraniyeh Palace, with the exception of The Ahmad-Shahi Pavilion (or Kushk-e Ahmad-Shahi), were demolished and the buildings and the structures of the present-day Niavarān Palace Complex were built to the north of The Sahebqaraniyeh Palace. In this period, The Ahmad-Shahi Pavilion served as an exhibition area of the presents of the world leaders to Iran.

The quadrilateral design of the palace and its interior archeological designing is inspired by Iranian archeology while making use of modern technology. Its decorations have also been inspired by the pre and post Islamic art. The gypsum work has been carried out by Master Abdollahi, the mirror work by Master Ali Asghar, the tile work of the outer part by master Ibrahim Kazempour and Ilia. The building floor is covered by black stone and has an aluminum sliding roof. The internal decoration and furniture of the palace have been designed and implemented by a French group. In the ground floor of this building there is a great hall in which all the rooms are situated, including a private cinema, dining room, guest room, waiting room and lateral halls as well as the Blue Hall.

The Golestan Palace_Tehran

The Golestan Palace in Tehran is on top of the list when it comes to must-sees in Iran. The "Palace of flowers” is a true masterpiece of the Qajar era, one the oldest of all historic monuments in the capitol of the Islamic Republic and since mid 2013 listed as UNESCO world heritage site. Believe me, from all the enchanting places that I visited on my travels through the beautiful country of Iran (and there are tons!), this place is definitely one, that deserves this title.

The Palace is all that remains of Tehran's Historical Citadel (Arg) which once glittered like a jewel. This historical Arg was built at the time of Shah Tahmasb I in Safavid period. It was reconstructed at the time of Karim Khan Zand and was chosen as the venue of the royal court and residence at the time of Qajar Kings. Nassereddin Shah introduced many modifications in Golestan Palace buildings during his reign.

The Royal Court and Residence occupied more than one third of Arg, like traditional Iranian houses, had two interior and exterior quarters. The exterior quarters consisted of the administrative section of the royal court and a square shaped garden known as Golestan (rose garden). These two parts were separated by several buildings, that were destroyed in Pahlavi period.

The interior quarters were located east of the administrative section to the north of Golestan. It was a large courtyard including the residences of the Shah's women, with a huge dormitory in the middle that in fact contained "Harem sari ". These buildings were destroyed in the Pahlavi period and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance was built in their place.

During the Pahlavi era (1925-1979) Golestan Palace was used for formal royal receptions and the Pahlavi dynasty built their own palace at Niavaran. The most important ceremonies held in the Palace during the Pahlavi era were the coronation of Reza Khan in Takht-i Marmar and the coronation of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in the Museum Hall.

The complex, in its current condition, consists of two connected gardens, a smaller one on the west and a larger one on the east, and the buildings that surround them. The smaller garden on the west, referred to here as the Takht-i Marmar garden, is oriented along a north-south axis, with a small degree of rotation along the northeast-southwest axis. A water channel runs down the garden's central axis. The larger garden, here called the Golestan garden, is roughly square in plan (it is slightly longer along its east-west axis) and with a small degree of rotation to northwest-southeast. It features a water channel that runs north-south along its western side, near its border with the Takht-i Marmar garden.

The main access to the complex is from Panzdah Khordad Square on the southwest corner. Here, one enters the Takht-i Marmar garden on its south side, and immediately views an elongated pool running on the main axis of the small garden to the north, terminating in a pool in front of the Imarat-i Takht-i Marmar. This building is located along the north side of the small garden and spans the garden from northwest to northeast. On its west side, the Takht-i Marmar garden is separated from Davar Street by a wall. Along its east side, this garden is open to the Golestan garden and on its southeast corner the Kakh-i Ab'yaz is situated.

Tochal_Tehran

Tochal is a 3962 meter-high mountain peak in northern Tehran, which forms part of the Alborz mountain range. The southern slopes of Tochal are adjacent to Tehran, with its summit overlooking the city.
Tochal aerial tramway is equipped with three main lines, three tele cabin lines, and one tele ski line. The overall length of the three tele cabin lines amounts to 7500 meters, one of the longest continuous gondola lines in the world. The first, second, and fifth tele cabin stops lie at 2000, 2300, and 3000 meters above sea level respectively, and the seventh and highest stop is 3700 meters above sea level.

Some of the recreational facilities in Tochal area include the following:

Tochal Hotel
Tochal Hotel is located at the seventh tele cabin stop at 3545 meters above sea level. The construction of this hotel was completed in 2003. The hotel has a wooden façade and comprises 30 rooms and suites.

Tochal gondola lift starts at the end of Velenjak Street, 3 kilometers from Tajrish Square, Shemiran.
Sports Complexes

The Tennis Club: The tennis club is located in the southern corner of the first tele cabin stop, and includes five tennis courts in an overall area of 2040 square meters.

The Archery Club: Covering an area of 3000 square meters, the archery club is located in the south eastern corner of the first tele cabin stop, offering facilities such as a grass field with eight target boards.

The Bungee Jumping and Skating Club: Tochal Bungee Jumping Club is the first of its kind in Iran with a 40 meter free fall dive. The club also has a professional skating rink and a coffee shop.

The Pint Ball Club:Located en route the first tele cabin stop between the second entrance gate and the stream, the pint ball club consists of a play ground, a coffee shop, a stockpile for guns, and a cloakroom.