Religious, Spiritual sights in Western Iran
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A
Blue (Kabud) Mosque
Constructed in 1465, the Blue Mosque was among the most glorious buildings of its era. Once built, artists took a further 25 years to cover every surface with the blue majolica tiles and intricate calligraphy for which it’s nicknamed. It survived one of history’s worst-ever earthquakes (1727), but collapsed in a later quake (1773). Devastated Tabriz had better things to do than mend it and it lay as a pile of rubble till 1951, when reconstruction finally started. The brick superstructure is now complete, but only on the rear (main) entrance portal (which survived 1773) is there any hint of the original blue exterior. Inside is more blue with missing patterns laboriously p…
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B
Arg-e Tabriz
This huge brick edifice, an unmissable landmark, is a chunky remnant of Tabriz's early-14th-century citadel (known as 'the Ark'). Criminals were once executed by being hurled from the top of the citadel walls. Far-fetched local legend tells of one woman so punished who was miraculously saved by the parachute-like effect of her chador.
Ongoing construction of a stadium-sized Mosallah Mosque next door is reportedly undermining the Ark's foundations and access is usually impossible.
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Ashikhade Mosque
The once interesting area of older houses around the blue-domed, 20th-century Ashikhade Mosque has now been largely bulldozed, but some curiosities remain if you poke about in the back alleys.
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C
St Mary's Church
Tabriz has had a Christian community almost as long as there've been Christians. Near the bazaar, St Mary's is a 12th-century church mentioned by Marco Polo and once the seat of the regional archbishop.
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D
Sarkis Church
The relatively central Sarkis Church serves the Armenian community. It’s hidden in a basketball court behind high white gates.
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E
Tavasuli Mosque
The low-key Tavasuli Mosque was photogenic till they built a big mobile telephone tower behind it.
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F
Anglican Church
Behind high gates, the curious Anglican Church has a tower of four diminishing cylinders.
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Jameh Mosque
The Jameh Mosque, which has a beautiful Yazd-styled twin minaret.
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