A CULTURAL AND ARTISTIC HUB WITH A KALEIDOSCOPE OF COLORS
Shiraz isn’t just a place; it’s an experience, like so many other places in Iran, we realized. Wandering through this city felt like stepping into a poem. Not just because it has been home to some of Persia's greatest and most influential poets, including Hafez and Saadi, it's the small things, the gardens, the tea houses, it all invites you to slow down and embrace its artistic soul. You can feel it...
Five month on the road, we've been busy traveling. And sometimes it got a little overwhelming to sort out what places we gonna visit, which route we gonna take. Since we live in the car, cities are mostly less prioritised and we almost skipped this one but we're grateful we did not. And as so often, we planned to stay three days but ended up staying for more than a week.
While Shiraz is famous for its historic architecture, the city has also embraced modernity with contemporary buildings.
Shiraz is a city where architecture tells …
a story of beauty, tradition and religion.
Historic Houses: The Elegance of Persian Homes.
A statue of Saadi Shirazi, a Persian poet, who’s famous for his moral and ethical wisdoms.
A quote by Hafez. We love it.
Hafez’s tomb: is a major pilgrimage site for not only poetry lovers. We went there on a Sunday and it was packed. People still celebrate their heritage of poetry.
Nasir al-Mulk Mosque
Nasir al-Mulk Mosque: Features delicate pink and floral tilework, making it unique among Persian mosques.
Entrance: Look at all the details in the tilework – you can see it even from far.
Courtyard of the mosque: with a reflecting pool.
Praying hall: space of tranquility, intricate design, and spiritual significance.
Built Between 1876–1888 during the Qajar dynasty.
Found another GOOD coffee place with a terrace and view on the mosque.
The walls and ceilings are covered in intricate floral and geometric tilework.
The Nasir al-Mulk Mosque is more than just a place of worship — it is a work of art, a celebration of Persian architecture. We found it quite magical to walk through all the pilers, searching for details in the architecture. The mosque has a serene courtyard with a reflecting pool, similar to classical Persian gardens we've seen in many other places.
Vakil Bazaar – The Heart of Shiraz’s Market Life
fragrant treasures: Walking through the spice stalls, you’ll be surrounded by vivid colors …
… exotic scents, and beautifully arranged piles of saffron, dried herbs, and spice blends.
Iranian cuisine is famous for its rich flavors and aromatic spices.
… and of course pomegranates.
Strolling through traditional markets is always exciting for us.
Many people we asked to take a picture of them, felt very honored and they liked to pose for it.
We bought a small carpet from Rezri, such a nic guy. Produced locally in two different qualities. Some are made by Afghan refugees.
Modern coffee culture
Yes, it exist in Iran too. And it was surprisingly big and the quality so high, we could never imagine. Pretty sure it was the best cappuccino, coldbrew and drip coffee we ever tasted at our favorite place called Gishe Senses.
So Shiraz had a coffee revolution in recent years. While Persian tea houses remain a staple of daily life, a growing number of trendy coffee shops, specialty cafés, and artisanal roasters have made coffee culture increasingly popular – especially among the younger generation and artists. And Hipsters. Was so nice to experience it here too.
Gishe café on a Sunday: packed and a line up to get a coffee.
Treat: Cheese cake with extra protein and pomegranate topping.
A place to gather and enjoy: We met the owner of the place, Majid and met so many of local clients there.
A Land Rover Garage
We were quite surprised when a guy talked to us on Instagram. He saw our car in front of the guest house we were staying. He offered us a special deal they have for overlanders traveling in a Land Rover: One night for free at the BB Hostel. Of course we appreciated this offer a lot and went to meet Rezza. A real nice guy. We found out that his boss, the owner of the BB Hostel is a Land Rover fan, having at least three Defenders and his own garage, called the Garden Garage in Shiraz. He invited to stop by, do some maintenance and having lunch. Speechless, nice.
Climbing down is often more difficult than up, even more when there are no trails and marks.
In good company at the Garden Garage.
Cable mess before the upgrade: we got a subwoofer installed.
Testing the subwoofer and programming the equalizer. Sounds good!
Parked in the beautiful backyard at the home of Houssein and his wife.
Making friends with locals turned our trip into a deeply meaningful adventure. So good to meet you all!
This is how a REAL GOOD Persian lunch looks like.
KHAHESH MIKONAM
(THANK YOU) FOR THE READ!
The universe is a complete unique entity. Everything and everyone is bound together with some invisible strings. Do not break anyone’s heart; do not look down on weaker than you. One’s sorrow at the other side of the world can make the entire world suffer; one’s happiness can make the entire world smile. ―