Historic city of Yazd
Yazd is one of the historical cities of Iran which antiquities have made it one of the first brick historical cities of Iran and the second historical city of the world. Due to the many attractions of Yazd and brick buildings, the name of this historic city is registered in Iran’s UNESCO world heritage list and it is also referred to as an international city.
Yazd is famous for its city of wind-catchers and qanats (aqueducts), and in the corners of this city, you can watch history and enjoy its beauties. Here are the top tourist attractions of Yazd, stay with us in the continuation of this fascinating Iranian historical article.
12 Top Tourist Attractions of Yazd
1- Jameh Mosque of Yazd
Jame Mosque of Yazd is one of the masterpieces of Iranian artist architects that is located in the heart of the Iranian desert in Yazd province. Also, the Jame Mosque of Yazd is not only one of the top religious destinations of Iran but also one of the top tourist attractions of Yazd that many travelers choose to explore.
This mosque was built about 100 years ago during 3 periods and was considered one of the main foundations of the Sassanid rule. What makes this mosque different from other mosques in Iran is the dormancy of the dome, the high and tall entrance, as well as its beautiful and unique tiles that dazzle every eye.
Inside the mosque, you can see famous tiles that most tourists have taken souvenir photos next to them. These tiles are also the symbol of this city, and a photo next to them confirms the visit of this city in your travel history.
2- Time Square
Another top tourist attractions of Yazd is Time Square. This square is one of the oldest clock towers in Iran and the world and is the first city clock in Iran. The construction of this clock tower dates back to the Qajar period, and arches, brick decorations, and tiles with lines of verses have given it a special look.
This clock tower was built by Abu Bakr, one of Yazdi’s skilled watchmakers, and today it is considered as one of the valuable attractions of Iran.
3- Amir Chakhmaq Complex
One of the symbols of Yazd, which is very famous and almost everyone knows it, is Amirchakhmaq Complex. In this complex, a collection of historical and valuable monuments are displayed such as a mosque, two water reservoirs. One of the most significant of these attractions is a pillar with tall minarets that is remembered as the most original part of the city and that is why it’s listed among one of the top religious destinations in Iran.
This square and complex dates back to the ninth century AH and the time of the Timurid rule and was built by a person with the same name Amir Jalaluddin Chakhmaq.
4- Lariha House Museum
The house of Lariha is yet another top attractions of Yazd, which is about 150 years old. In the past, about 270 years ago, Lariha came to Yazd from the city of Lar in Fars province for trade and settled in different parts of this city.
The Lariha House Museum, despite having a mirror room with mirrors that are about fifty or sixty years old, shows its nobility.
5- Dowlat Abad Persian Garden
This garden is one of 9 Persian Gardens whose name has been registered in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The tall mansion of this garden has the tallest wind-catcher in the world and is very valuable in terms of architecture.
This garden is one of the oldest gardens in Iran, which is 260 years old and in its area of 6.4 hectares, has placed signs of paradise to take the viewer to another world. When you enter this garden, you will not feel that you are in the desert city of Yazd and the smell of flowers and plants will intoxicate you.
The large pond and fountains of Dowlat Abad Garden take you to a mansion in the middle of the garden. An octagonal mansion built on two floors. Sash windows with stained glass, pool house, and applications multiply the beauty of the mansion.
6- Rotam Giv water reservoir
There are more than 100 water reservoirs* in the city of Yazd, of which the six wind-catcher reservoir is the most famous due to the number of its wind-catchers. This reservoir was built during the Qajar period. 3 wind-catchers of this building are old and 3 others are new.
This reservoir, like all other reservoirs, has a treasury, a dome, a spout, and wind-catchers. Each of these sections had different functions: a treasury to hold water in the heart of the earth, a wind-catcher to keep water cool in the treasury, a dome on the treasury to keep the water clean, and a hallway spout to collect water.
* Water reservoirs are actually indoor reservoirs that were built below ground level in the past to store running water for public use.
7- Historical context of Yazd
The historical context of Yazd is known as the most untouched and extensive historical residential context of Iran and covers an area of more than 700 hectares. This texture is a unique combination of old alleys, houses, sabbaticals, and brick buildings that have all the features of individual and social life.
Some of the features of the historical basement of Yazd include very dense and compact texture, completely enclosed urban spaces, covered and irregular alleys, connected buildings without distance, placement of biological complexes based on the direction of sunlight and wind.
Narrow alleys, as well as high walls, are also features of the historical texture of Yazd. The ancient ancestors of the Yazidis raised the walls to provide shade throughout the day, breaking the wind speed by winding the narrow alleys and protecting the citizens from the danger of strong winds. Roofed alleys and sabbaticals were built with the same philosophy to protect the citizens as much as possible from the wind and sun.
In case you are tempted to visit and take a stroll through this neighborhood, just choose from any Iran tours that consist of Yazd, because since it’s a top tourist attraction, it is definitely on the itinerary.
8- Ziai’yeh School or Alexander Prison
There is a building in the city of Yazd with two different names, which indicates the dual use of this valuable historical building. Some believe that this building was built in the eighth century in 631 AH and its construction was completed in 705 AH. Ziai’yeh School was a place for teaching more than seven hundred years ago and has hosted meetings such as discussions with elders and scholars.
It is said that the name of Alexander Prison was created as a result of the arrival of a group of exiles of Alexander III of Macedon in Yazd, and of course, other factors such as climatic features, Yazd’s remoteness from large and busy centers in the past became more famous.
9- Yazd Fire Temple
Bahram Fire Temple is a place to keep the sacred Zoroastrian fire and a place of worship for Zoroastrians. The fire inside this place has been lit for 1500 years and its visitors can see the fire temple through the glass where the fire is located. One of the main architectural features of fire temples is their simplicity, and unlike many places of worship, there is no mention of the splendor and architectural decorations in them. Due to its sacredness, it’s among the top religious destinations in Iran.
The Zoroastrian fire temple of Yazd is inspired by the architecture of Persepolis and the fire temple of the Persians of India. At the top of the building, Forouhar’s painting shines. The stone capitals in front of the building are a manifestation of the art of Isfahani artists. These capitals were carved in Isfahan and brought to Yazd.
10- Tehrani House
Another attraction of Yazd is the house of Tehrani, which belongs to one of the Iranian merchants. A family from Tehran lived in this house about 250 years ago and were carpet merchants in Yazd.
The beauty of this house is such that it has long been used as the economic consulate of some European countries. The building of this house has a main courtyard, an orange grove and a pergola mansion, three beautiful wind-catchers, a large hall, a beautiful and active basement, a porch, and a large roof overlooking the historical context of Yazd. Today, this house is one of the top tourist attractions of Yazd as the first hotel of the Iranian Museum in Yazd.
11- The Tower of Silence
Another top tourist attractions of Yazd is the Tower of Silence. A tower located on a sedimentary mountain called Dakhmeh Mountain and was a place of worship for Zoroastrians at that time. This tower is a place where Zoroastrians placed the bodies of their dead ones to “get back to nature”. Because they believe that the earth alongside the other 3 elements of nature is sacred and shouldn’t be polluted by burning or cremating the bodies.
12- Copper bazaar
One of the old handicrafts and souvenirs of Yazd, in addition to Termeh, cashmere, and weaving, was copper smithing. The old coppersmith market of Yazd, which dates back to the Timurid period, shows the antiquity of the coppersmith industry in this city. The market building is made of clay, mud and bricks and has multiplicative roofs.
In the past, there were more than 160 coppersmiths in this market, and the sound of their hammers echoed on the copper sheets in the market. Although the number of these coppersmiths in the copper market is not as high as it used to be, the market is still booming. In this bazaar, as far as the eye can see, there are copper utensils that sparkle on guests through the doors and walls of the shop.
If you go to see Yazd, do not forget to walk in the historical context, drink tea on the roof while watching the wind-catchers, and discover this city. Traveling to Yazd is like walking in history; Travel to this city so that the silence and the different atmosphere of the world’s first brick city will sit in your heart and soul. You can see the list of Iran tours that consist of Yazd and choose to buy your Iran tours so that you can see the top tourist attractions of Yazd up close.
