Shiraz Between Gardens, Poetry and Architecture

Shiraz reveals its distinctive character through gardens, mausoleums and buildings whose histories and designs vary considerably. If you are looking for a holiday apartment for your stay, you can first consider whether gardens, Persian poetry or historic architecture should be your main focus. These places offer concrete points of reference, from a garden in the northwest to the Arg-e Karim Khan in the city centre.

Gardens with Different Histories and Designs

The Eram Garden covers 12.5 hectares and, in its present form, dates back to the Qajar era. It is located in the northwest of Shiraz, at the intersection of Eram and Daneshjoo Boulevards and on the slope of Kuh-e Asyab-e Se Tayi. Its history as a botanical garden dates back to 1359 in the Iranian calendar: with the support of Shiraz University, it was developed for this purpose from that time onward. In 1387, it was decided to transform it into a research centre; today it is known as the Eram Botanical Garden Research Centre.

The design also connects the garden with the city’s art history. The Eram Garden features Haft-Rang tilework, and Shiraz has long been a centre for this art form. The Jahan-Nama Garden offers a different spatial impression: it was laid out during the Zand era by order of Karim Khan Zand. Behind a brick wall are four pools, with a Kolah Farangi at the centre. The two gardens thus differ both in their recorded origins and in the design features described.

Round Towers, Domes and Coloured Light

The Arg-e Karim Khan is in the centre of Shiraz, northeast of Shohada Square. Its four round towers are each 14 metres high. The historic Vakil Bath displays a different architectural geometry: it was built in 1187 AH by order of Karim Khan Zand. Its Sarbineh is an octagonal room; eight coloured columns support the domed ceiling.

Decorative details take centre stage in the main building of the Narenjestan-Qavam complex. Paintings, stucco work, carvings, tilework and mirror work define its design. The complex also includes a museum with antiquities such as tableware, paintings and old coins. The Nasir al-Mulk Mosque creates a different play of colour: sunlight streams through coloured glass panes, bathing the prayer hall in red, blue, yellow, orange and green. Together, these places showcase different forms of ornament and colour without being reduced to a single architectural style.

Places Associated with Poets

Hafezieh is the mausoleum of the 8th-century poet Hafez Shirazi and a well-known sight in Shiraz. The complex consists of a northern and a southern courtyard, separated by a hall. Both its connection to Hafez and the layout of its courtyards are defining features of the site.

The Mausoleum of Saadi also reflects a poet’s life story: it is located in the khanqah where Saadi lived during his lifetime. In the past, the people of Shiraz held rituals and ceremonies at the mausoleum’s fishpond.

Which focus suits your accommodation search?

The different themes and locations provide a starting point when searching for a holiday apartment. If you want gardens and tilework to shape your stay, the Eram Garden is a specific point of reference in the northwest. For historic architecture in the centre, the Arg-e Karim Khan offers another.

For the broader travel overview: Fars.