Tour in Iran - Charm of ancient Persia

Arrival in Tehran. After customs formalities, transfer to the hotel and check-in. Overnight in the hotel.

The day is dedicated to the visit of some important museums of the city, such as: National Museum (only the archaeological part, the Islamic area is not available, due to renovation works),  which presents a wide collection of goods and proofs belonging to Achaemenid, Sasanian and Islamic civilizations; Abgineh Museum, famous thanks to its glass and ceramic works; Carpet Museum, where it is possible to admire several Persian carpets coming from the main weaving factories of Iran. (Museums are closed on Monday).

Transfer to the airport in the evening and flight to Kerman. Transfer to the hotel, dinner and overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel. The morning is dedicated to the visit of Kerman, capital of the namesake region. It is located on a wide plain 1,075 km from Tehran. Thanks to its position on Asian routes, it has been a rich center and city. Here, we'll visit the ancient bazaar, where the famous carpets are still weaved; Jame Mosque and Ganjali Khan, a thermal complex with the famous Windcatchers.

After lunch the tour proceeds to Rayen, which was almost destroyed by a strong earthquake in December 2003, and to the oasis of Mahan. The town of Rayen, or Arg-e-Rayen, dates back to Sasanian Empire and was inhabited until some years ago. It expands over 4 hectares of land and is surrounded by imposing walls with 16 towers. It is also divided into districts where houses and bazaar are located. At the end of the visit, we'll go back to Kerman.

En route, stop in Mahan, a nice and small village from which it is possible to observe the wonderful blue dome of the Mausoleum of Shah Nematollah-e-Vali, a sufi poet of the 14^th century, founder of the Nimatullahi Sufi Order. We'll also visit the 19^th-century-qajar garden of Shahzadeh located 6 km from the town.

Back to Kerman, dinner and overnight in the hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel and transfer to Shiraz (597 km) passing through an arid and steep territory. En route we'll stop to visit Friday Mosque of Neyriz near Bakhtegan Lake, Estahban Fig Garden, and Sarvestan, where it is possible to admire the ruins of an ancient Sassanid Palace dating back to the 5^th century. This latter is thought to be a former hunting lodge or even a small palace ordered by Bahram V (240-440 A.C).

Picnic lunch and arrival in Shiraz in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight in the hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel. In the morning we'll enjoy an excursion to Persepolis, one of the five Achaemenid Empire's capital cities (the others were Babylon, Ecbatana, Pasargadae and Susa). The town is located 50 km North from Shiraz in Fars region. The construction of the city was ordered by Darius I in 250 B.C. and went on for almost 70 years. Persepolis is one of the most important centers of the ancient world and covers an area of 150,000 sqm where ruins of the palaces of Darius I, Xerxes and Artaxerxes are located. The decorations and the bas-reliefs represent kings and courtiers, parties and ceremonies, gifts and tributes that nearby populations brought to the city.

After lunch in a local resturant the tour continues to the Necropolis of Naghsh-e-Rostam, where it is possible to visit the graves of Darius I, Darius II, Artaxerxes, Ka'be-Zardosht (Fire Temple or Sanctuary), Achaemenid Royal Tombs, the seven big rock reliefs, among which the most famous represents Shapur's victory over two Roman emperors, Philip the Arab (who implores peace) and Valerian (who is captured and is on the knees).

Finally, we'll go back to Shiraz to visit this elegant and nice city, cradle of Persian culture, also named Dar-ol-Elm. The tour of the city includes: House of Knowledge, famous for its poets, its gardens full of roses and nightingale's singing; the Tomb of Hafez, the most important lyric poet of Iran, the tomb is situated in an amazing garden; the Mosque Nasir-ol-Molk dating back to the 19^th century; Arg-r-Karim Khan, small town of the 18^th century, and the bazaar Vakil (Bazaar is closed on Friday). Dinner in the hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel. In the morning departure to Yazd (around 440 km far). En route we'll stop to visit Pasargadae. Here, Cyrus the Great built its capital city in memory of the victory over Astyages, the king of Medes. Anyway, when Cambyses II, successor of Darius, died, the capital city was moved from Pasargadae to Persepolis. This area is very large and encloses several historical proofs. Worth visiting is the Tomb of Cyrus, the founder of Persian Empire.

Lunch in a local restaurant and travel to Yazd. Dinner and overnight in the hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel. The whole day is dedicated to the visit of Yazd, important for Zoroastrianism. The city still shows large minorities of Zoroaster followers. Yazd is located halfway from Isfahan and Kerman and has been founded during the Sassanid Empire. This city is very interesting because of the natural environment surrounding it. In fact, Yazd is located at the borderline of two deserts: the salt desert Dasht-e-Kavir to the North and the sandy desert Dasht-e Lut to the South.

This town is also famous for silk weaving and on the roofs of its houses it is possible to admire the catchwinders (badgir). These are particular towers used for ventilation built in order to catch also the most insignificant breeze and adress it into internal rooms.

We'll visit: the Towers of Silence, 8-10m high wooden towers connected to each other with a large wooden board on which corpses were put. The tour continues visiting the Fire Temple, a Zoroastrian temple that hosts the holy flame, which, accoring to the legend, has been burning non-stop from 470 B.C. Friday Mosque (1.324 A.C.) with the tallest minarets of Iran, the Sanctuary of Seljuk and Ziaieyeh, a theological school.

Lunch in a local restaurant. Dinner and overnight in the hotel.

Breakfast and departure for Isfahan (313 km). En route, we'll stop in Nain to visit its characteristic clay houses, Friday Mosque which dates back to the 10^th century and the Ethnographic Museum, located in a wonderful house belonging to the 17^th century.

Lunch and travel to Isfahan. Dinner and overnight in the hotel.

Breakfast in hotel. The whole day is dedicated to the visit of the city of Isfahan, capital city of the Safavid Empire during the 17^th century. It is also called Nest-e-Jahan (half of the world) in Safavid language. The city is located 1,367 m above sea level in an irrigated plain of Zayendehurd, "Giver of live". During the visit we'll admire: the famous bridges of Shahrestan, Khajou and Sio-se-pol, the Armenian district with its churches, among which is the important Vank Cathedral.

Lunch in a restaurant. In the afternoon visit to Maidan-e-Naghsh-e-Jahan, one of the largest squares in the world. Here, Ali-Qapu Palace is located. It boasts wonderful music rooms and a balcony with view on the square, from which the Safavid king watched polo games. We'll also admire the largest mosques of Islam: Lotfollah Sheikh and Imam. Finally, the tour continues to visit Bazar Qeisarieh, which hosts hundred shops showing art and handicraft products, thanks to which Isfahan is world-famous. (Bazaar is closed on Friday). Dinner and overnight in the hotel.

Today the discovery of the amazing city of Isfahan goes on. In the morning we'll visit Friday Mosque, one of the largest mosques of the world, it is considered the most venerated monument in Isfahan, and the famous Uljaitu mihrab (Prayer Niche). Then, the tour continues to Chehel Sotun Palace ordered by Shah Abbas II during the 17^th century. The portico is composed by 20 columns, which perfectly reflect theirselves into the park's lake, in this way columns appear 40, this is why the palace is called "40 Columns Palace". Today's last stage is Hasht Behesht Pavilion built in 1670 by Shah Solayman and known as Eight Paradise Pavilion or Nightingale Palace.

Dinner in the hotel, room is available until transfer to airport.

Transfer to the airport: end of services.