Jame Mosque of Ardabil

This mosque refers to the Seljuk period and is located near a fire temple in Ardabil. The previous mosque building belonged to the fire temple and included mosque courtyard, chamber and magnificent arches which are destroyed in the Mongols invasion and just a part of that survived.

This mosque is the surviving part of a great and unique mosque formed in different Islamic eras particularly in Seljuk time and it was usable to the early Safavid period .The fact that from what date this mosque is contracted over pre -Islamic buildings is not clear, but the studies done by the Iranian council of excavations shows this mosque was built in the early centuries of Islam.

The mosque was much broader and larger in Seljuk and Ilkhanid periods compared to the current cubic building and the present monument is merely domes and chamber. The single cylindrical brick minaret is of Seljuk monuments. Over time, the parts of the building have been partially destroyed to the extent which is seen today.

Jame Mosque of Ardabil

Soltaniye Dome: A Masterpiece of Persian- Islamic Architecture

Situated in the province of Zanjan, Soltaniyeh dome is one of the outstanding examples of the achievements of Persian architecture and a key monument in the development of its Islamic architecture. The octagonal Soltaniyeh building is crowned with a 50 meter tall dome covered in turquoise-blue faience and surrounded by eight slender minarets. It is also known as the largest brick dome in the world and the Mausoleum of Ilkhan Oljaytu. The 8 porches and the 8 minarets are inspired by the 8 legendary doors of paradise and are ornamented with stunning brickworks. It is the earliest existing example of the double-shelled dome in Iran. The mausoleum’s interior decoration is also outstanding and scholars have described the building as ‘anticipating the Taj Mahal’. This dome is absolutely one of the masterpieces of Persian- Islamic architecture which is inscribed as a world heritage site by the UNESCO. The hemispherical structural style of domes were adopted by many civilizations in different period of time. Today it is one of the most familiar architectural styles and it continues to use for decorating temples, churches, mosques, monuments and even government buildings.  If you are interested in visiting one of the most incredible domes in the world, we will accompany you. Just check out Zanjan world heritage tour.

Soltaniye Dome, Zanjan, Iran

The Jame Mosque of Yazd

Most cities with sizable Muslim populations possess a primary congregational mosque. The unique hybrid of design and dimensions, reflect the atmosphere of the period or geographic region and the expertise of the architect. The grand congregational mosque of Yazd in Iran is unique in this regard and thus enjoys a special place in the history of Islamic architecture.

Jame Mosque of Yazd, Iran

This magnificent mosque dating back to 12th century is regarded as one of the outstanding building. It is believed that the mosque was built on the ruins of the Sassanid fire temple by Ala'oddoleh Garshasb during the Al-e-Bouyeh dynasty and was largely rebuilt in 14th century. The two most outstanding features of this Islamic mosque are its domes and minarets. It is famous for its notable minaret’s architecture as the highest in the world with more than 52 meter and their turquoise gem that could be seen from miles away. With the special tiles works and various domes, this mosque is an excellent example of Islamic architecture. Under the central dome inside the mosque, there are some smaller dome like arches designed with dazzling ceramic tiles and the beautiful manuscripts from holy Quran which depict the masterpieces of calligraphy and tiling.