Sights in Tehran
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A
Film Museum of Iran
Housed in a Qajar-era mansion built by Shah Nasir od-Din for his daughter, the Film Museum has well-displayed exhibits of equipment, photos and posters from Iran’s century-old movie industry. It’s interesting, even if you are not well-versed in Iranian film, and the building is fascinating.
reviewed
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B
Niyavaran Palace Museum
The Niyavaran Palace Museum, the complex where Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and his family spent most of the last 10 years of royal rule. It’s set in five hectares of landscaped gardens and has four separate museums – tickets must be bought individually at the main gate.
reviewed
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C
Iranian Photographers’ Centre
The Iranian Photographers’ Centre has rolling exhibits of the work of local and, occasionally, international photographers. The adjoining shop sells and processes slide film and sells pro equipment. Not surprisingly, it’s a good place to meet Iranian photographers.
reviewed
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Aks Khaneh
The Aks Khaneh is one of the highlights of the Golestan complex. The photographs depicting Qajar court life are fascinating; look particularly for the picture showing the inside of a Zoroastrian tower of silence, with bodies in varying states of decay, and the shot of 'freaks and dwarfs'.
reviewed
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Azadi Tower (Borj-e Azadi)
Way out west at the end of Azadi Ave is the inverted Y-shaped Azadi Tower, built to commemorate the 2500th anniversary of the Persian Empire in 1971. There's an underground gallery, Quran museum, cinema and, best of all, viewing platform.
reviewed
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Talar-e Almas
The tiny Talar-e Almas displays a range of decorative arts - especially 18th- and 19th-century French ceramics - in a room with red walls and a tiled floor. It's not the most riveting room in the palace. The teahouse underneath was closed when we visited.
reviewed
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Howze Khaneh
The Howze Khaneh is named for the small pool and fountain in the centre of the room. It houses a collection of paintings and sculptures of 19th-century European royalty - generously given to their Qajar counterparts by the same European monarchs.
reviewed
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D
Glass & Ceramics Museum
The impressive Glass & Ceramics Museum, housed in a beautiful Qajar-era building. Built as a private residence for a prominent Persian family, it later housed the Egyptian embassy and was converted into a museum in 1976.
reviewed
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E
Tehran University
At the centre of political change in Iran, Tehran University is a fascinating place to wander around. There is, however, a ban on foreign nonstudents entering but its enforcement is haphazard.
reviewed
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Emarat-e Badgir
The recently restored Emarat-e Badgir was first erected in the reign of Fath Ali Shah. The interior has typically ostentatious mirror work and is worth a quick look, though upstairs no longer seems to be open.
reviewed
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F
Seyhoun Art Gallery
In its 4th decade as a sponsor of young Iranian contemporary artists, Seyhoun has regular exhibitions of painting, photography, sculpture and graphic art in its distinctive, black-fronted gallery.
reviewed
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G
Shohada Museum
Diagonally opposite the US Den of Espionage is the Shohada Museum, which has rolling exhibitions of photographs, usually from the Iran–Iraq War or the 1979 revolution.
reviewed
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Museum of Fine Arts
The Museum of Fine Arts is in one of the more impressive buildings and houses some charming Persian oil paintings dating back to the 18th century and some beautiful inlaid furniture.
reviewed
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H
Silk Road Gallery
Silk Road’s primary focus is photographic art, but it also delves into other media. It’s professionally run and a pleasure to visit.
reviewed
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Military Museum
The Military Museum is housed inside and around another palace that belonged to the shah's nephew Shahram; just look for the helicopter.
reviewed
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Museum of Ethnological Research
The Museum of Ethnological Research is a small, specialist museum with a waxworks and ethnological artefacts.
reviewed
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I
Mehrva Gallery
Mehrva’s gallery exhibits contemporary art in a mix of media, but primarily painting and photography.
reviewed
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Abkar Miniature Museum
The Abkar Miniature Museum is a small, specialist museum that displays miniatures by the artist Clara Abkar.
reviewed
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J
Park-e Jamshidiyeh
The park is worth a visit, but think about bringing a picnic lunch – even the tea costs IR45,000.
reviewed
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Mir Emad Calligraphy Museum
The Mir Emad Calligraphy Museum houses samples of Iranian calligraphy from different periods.
reviewed
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Ethnographical Museum
The Ethnographical Museum is near the main entrance to the Golestan Palace complex.
reviewed
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Farshchian Museum
Specialises in the works of Mahmoud Farshchian.
reviewed
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Bihzad Museum
Contains paintings by the artist Bihzad.
reviewed