Shiraz is the Fars region’s capital city and a treasure mine of Persian culture. It was the capital of Iran during the Zand line’s reign (1747–79) and is regarded as the birthplace of the legendary Persian artists Hafiz and Saadi. The city has a population of roughly 1,300,000 people.
- The graves of Hafiz, Saadi, and Khaju e Kermani (whose tomb is hidden behind a mountain outside the city’s ancient Qur’an Gate). Other lesser-known graves include those of Shah Shoja’ (the Mozafarid emir of Persia and Hafiz’s sponsor) and the Haft Tanan sepulcher, which contains the ashes of seven Sufi spiritualists. The tomb of Baba Kuhi is located on a mountain above the city, while the tomb of Karim Khan Zand is housed at Shiraz’s Pars Museum.
- Atigh Jame’ Mosque, one of Iran’s most seasoned mosques, is the most experienced, followed by Vakil Mosque and Nasir al-Mulk Mosque. The Vakil Mosque is located to the west of the famous Vakil Bazaar. It was built in 1187 (AH) during the Zand Dynasty and occupies an area of 8,660 square meters. Great tile-works and curves can be seen on both sides of the tunnel entrance. The principal chamber is connected to the left and right passageways of the tunnel entrance.
- The Arg of Karim Khan fortress is located in the city’s center quarter, next to the Vakil Bazaar and Vakil Bath. Zinat-ol-Molook House and Gahavam’s House, both in the city’s historic neighborhoods, are the most well-known.
- The Qur’an Gate is the entrance to Shiraz. It is located near the gorge of Allah-o-Akbar and is flanked by the Baba Kuhi and Chehel Maqam mountains. The gateway is where two copies of the Qurans known
- With a variety of flora and a historic house, Shiraz’s Eram Garden (Bagh-e Eram) is a stunning place for tourists. Although the precise date of the garden’s creation is unknown, historical evidence indicates it was built on the instructions of the legendary Seljuk ruler Sanjar during the Seljuk Dynasty. Afifabad Garden and The Museum of Weapons, Delgosha Garden, and Jahan Nama Garden are some of the other ancient Persian gardens.
Persepolis, Bishapur, Pasargadae, and Firouzabad are all within a relatively short driving distance of Shiraz. The graves of the Achaemenid rulers may be found in Naqsh-e Rustam, as well as the Ka’ba-ye Zartosht, which is thought to be a Zoroastrian fire sanctuary or perhaps the true burial of Cyrus the Great. Maharloo Lake is a popular breeding place for a variety of avian species.
The Elamite (second thousand years BCE), Achaemenid (550– 330 BCE), and Sassanid (226– 651 CE) periods are all represented in the Naqsh-e Rostam site. Archeologists believe Naqsh-e Rostam was a burial cemetery for Persepolis, where Achaemenid, Parthian, and Sassanid power was relinquished.
Shiraz is regarded for having the most simple shopping in Iran and the Middle East, with over 25 shopping malls and ten bazaars.
The Persian Gulf Complex, located near the city’s north end, is the world’s biggest retail mall in terms of number of stores.
The Vakil Bazaar, one of the world’s oldest bazaars, is located in Shiraz’s ancient downtown district. Its stores are recognized as one of the greatest locations in Shiraz to acquire a broad choice of Persian floor coverings, fragrances, copper meticulous work, and antiques, with beautiful patios, caravansarais, and shower rooms.
Shiraz has four distinct seasons and is categorised as a semi-arid hot climate (Köppen: BSh), however it is somewhat less than a Mediterranean summer climate (CSA). Summers are hot, with an average temperature of 38.8 ° C (101.8 ° F) in July. Winters are frigid, with typical low temperatures in December and January falling below freezing. Each year, around 300 mm (12 in.) of rain falls, nearly exclusively in the winter months, albeit in rare occasions as much as in a month (as in January 1965 and December 2004), whereas in the year of July, it falls almost entirely in the summer months. Only 82.9 mm (3.3 inches) has declined from 1965 as of June 1966. The wettest year was 1955/1956, with 857.2 mm (33.75 inches), while the highest after 1959 has been about 590 mm (23.2 inches) in 1995/1996 and 2004/2005.
Shiraz is situated in southern Iran, northwest of Fars Province. It is constructed in a grassy plain at the foot of the Zagros Mountains, 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) above sea level. Shiraz is located 919 kilometers (571 miles) south of Tehran.
Dry River, a seasonal river, passes through the northern section of the city and enters Maharloo Lake. The region has a dense forest of oak trees as of 1920.
Shiraz is the southern Iran’s economic hub. Certain economic changes occurred in the second half of the nineteenth century that had a significant impact on Shiraz’s economy. The construction of the Suez Canal in 1869 enabled for the widespread importation of low-cost European factory-made products into southern Iran, either directly from Europe or through India. Farmers started growing cash crops such as opium poppy, tobacco, and cotton in record quantities. On their trip to the Persian Gulf, many of these export crops traveled through Shiraz. Fars-based Iranian long-distance merchants established marketing networks for these goods, establishing trade houses in Bombay, Calcutta, Port Said, Istanbul, and even Hong Kong.
Shiraz’s economic foundation is built on local goods like as grapes, citrus fruits, cotton, and rice. Cement manufacture, sugar, fertilizers, textiles, wood goods, metals, and carpets are the most important industries. Shirz is also home to a big oil refinery and a key location for Iran’s electrical industry. Shiraz has accounted for 53% of Iran’s electronic investment. Agriculture has long played an important role in the economy of Shiraz and its surrounding areas. This is due in part to the relative quantity of water in comparison to the neighboring deserts. Shirz is well-known for its carpet manufacture as well as its flowers. The area has a long history of viticulture, and Shirazi wine was formerly produced here. Shiraz is also an Iranian hub for information technology, communication, electronics, and transportation.
The Shiraz Special Economic Zone, or SEEZ, was formed in 2000 with the goal of promoting electronics and communications production.