Visiting Iran with all its magnificent historical monuments makes travelers have wonderful memories. Among the tourists sites, mosques plays an important role, manifesting the true meaning of art and architecture as well as an awesome mixture of nice colors and breathtaking symmetry which are photogenic enough to provide chances for taking stunning photos.
Besides, the modern world includes afflictions such as anxiety, worries and stress that humans wish for getting rid of them and according to some research, one of the best ways to do so is by making a pilgrimage or visiting religious places. What comes below is a glance on a few fantastic mosques across Iran with unique structures which are visited by a large number of domestic and foreign tourists.
Isfahan Jame Mosque
Located in the historical center of Isfahan, Jame Mosque can be seen as a stunning illustration of the evolution of mosque architecture over twelve centuries. The monument illustrates a sequence of architectural construction and decorative styles of different periods in Iranian Islamic architecture from around 771 to the end of the 20th century. As a result it has rooms, built in different architectural styles, representing a condensed history of the Iranian Architecture leading to the Grand Bazaar of Isfahan through its southeast wing. Registered by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, this grand mosque is one of the oldest mosques still standing in Iran, built in the four-iwan (a vaulted open room) architectural style for the first time in Islamic building, placing four gates face to face while the iwans are connected by two-story arcades ornamented by glorious tiles.
Isfahan Imam Mosque
Imam Mosque (previously known as the "Shah Mosque") in Isfahan is regarded as one of the everlasting masterpieces of Persian architecture and an excellent example of Islamic era architecture of Iran. Built during the Safavid period, the mosque gained its splendor mainly due to the beauty of its seven-color mosaic tiles and calligraphic inscriptions. As the largest and most splendid monument with awesome symmetric tile designs, the Safavids founded the mosque as a channel through which they could express themselves with their numerous architectural techniques. The mosque can be claimed as the final perfection of the art of mosque building in Iran which is truly worthy of visiting.
Isfahan Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque
Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque in Isfahan is regarded as one of the architectural masterpieces of Safavid architecture which was built during the reign of Shah Abbas I and named after a famous Shiite preacher of those days to pay homage. Due to not having common specifications of a mosque such as courtyard, interior iwan (large vaulted porch) and minaret as it was a private chapel for the royal women, the mosque is recognized as the most unusual Iranian religious structure but undoubtedly the most splendid of all.
Shiraz Nasir ol-Molk Mosque
Located in the historical district of Shiraz, Nasir ol-Molk Mosque, also known as the Pink Mosque is Iran’s most beautiful mosque with no rival in other cities even in Isfahan. What has made the mosque one of the most attractive sites of Shiraz is the unique architecture of the mosque in which amazing tile-mosaic and Moqarnas (stalactite) work in beautiful pink color with delicate layers of gold have been applied, making it to be called Pink Mosque. The fascinating part of the mosque is one of its halls with colorful glass opening onto the courtyard of the mosque that cast rays of light in various colors particularly in the morning due to the reflection of sunshine, providing an unforgettable scene.
Shiraz Vakil Mosque
Built in the mid-18th century by Karim Khan Zand, the founder of Zand Dynasty in the heart of Shiraz, the beautiful Vakil mosque as part of the Zandiyeh complex is an amazing landmark in terms of design and architecture. Covering an area of 8,660 square meters, the mosque includes two halls and two entrance doors decorated with colored tiles in nice floral patterns and the Qur’anic verses in Sols and Nosakh scripts. The characteristic feature of the mosque is its main hall known as Shabestan (night prayer hall) built on 48 identical stone pillars, each carved with spiral shape from a single block of stone, covered with small cupolas, and embellished by wonderful tile works.
Mashhad Goharshad Mosque
Located in the holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS) in Mashhad, the Goharshad mosque is a fantastic architectural structure. Built on the order of Goharshad, the wife of Shahrukh of the Timurid Dynasty in 1418 CE, the mosque is made of brick and plaster and considered as one of the outstanding historical monuments of Iran owing to its structural features and having rich tile and scripture decorations. Its courtyard is adorned with mosaic faience and tiles of flora, artistic and arabesque designs, making the mosque a masterpiece of Islamic architecture.
Kashan Agha Bozorg Mosque
Dating back to the late 18th century, the historical mosque of Agha Bozorg in the beautiful city of Kashan is a must-see attraction. Constructed for holding prayers and preaching sessions carried out by Mullah Mahdi Naraqi II, known as Agha Bozorg, the mosque enjoys a precise and symmetric Persian architecture. The most notable features of the mosque include the dome flanked by wonderful minarets with colorful tiles in geometric shapes, a central courtyard surrounded by a couple of chambers and arcades and a pool in its midst as well as and elegant cobbled veranda and brick walls.
Yazd Jame Mosque
Jame Mosque in the central city of Yazd is a fabulous historical monument dating back to the 14th century with a glamorous combination of ancient and Islamic architecture. Originally it was a Zoroastrian fire temple during the Sassanid dynasty which was converted into a mosque during the Seljuk era. The mosque contains an amazing dome embellished with white and turquoise tiles and two minarets that are among the highest in Iran in addition to large rectangular winter prayer halls.
Tabriz Jame Mosque
The historical Jame mosque of Tabriz is a monument embellished with delicate and artistic plasterwork of the 5th century AH. The mosque has a vast roofed area which is considered as the oldest part with an arch domes based on octagonal brick pillars as well as a high altar. The mosque has been renovated during the Qajarid Era Qajarid era, one of the greatest artworks of that time worthy of visiting due to its height, solid structure, and fantastic architecture.
