Qazvin : like Isfahan – was in its day (in the 16th century under the Safavid Tahmasb I) as the capital of Iran. Already in Zanjan province, it lies in an altitude of 1,800 m above sea level in the northwest corner of the great central plateau of Iran, in the angle formed by the converging Alborz and Zagros mountain systems. It is 130 km to the northwest of Tehran by highway and rail, as well as 210 km to the North East of Hamedan on a first-class asphalt road. The town can even be the goal of a special excursion from Tehran (one and a half-hours on an excellent highway). Earthquakes have overstated Qazvin more than once, and what remains is only a shadow of its former splendor, although there are still some fine Safavid and Seljuk structures intact.

Places of Interests:

1.Friday Mosque:The most interesting of several Qazvini buildings are the Friday Mosque , now called Masjid-e Jame-e Kabir, with four Ivans round a large central courtyard. The square hall of prayer in the southern Ivan has a mihrab of a peculiar marble that seems to have magnetic qualities stick to its surface. The mosques were built in 1106-1153, but several times enlarged and improved, notably under Shah Abbas the Great. Two lovely minarets face the northern Ivan, which was restored by Shah Abbas.

2.The Shrine of Imamzadeh Hossein:The Shrine of Imamzadeh Hossein, the son of the 8th Imam (Imam Reza, buried in Mashad), has a magnificent blue cupola preceded by a portal with six small minarets, in the best baroque style. Hossein was, according to local legend, killed when a roof fell on him after performing a miracle. His shrine has long been an attraction for pilgrims and lies within a spacious courtyard, or rather a cemetery, paved with tomb-stones and surrounded by high, arcade walls. The elaborately decorated octagonal domed building over his tomb, dating in part from the reign of Shah Tahmasp (1524-76) when Qazvin was the Safavid capital, was erected, according to a tiled inscription, by command of his daughter, Zainab Begum. However, the mirror-work of the talar and some of the faience tiling dates from the 19th century.

3.Mustawfi’s Mausoleum:Is the tomb of the Qazvini historian Hamdullah Mustawfi (1281-1350), a follower of the first world historian Rashid-ad-Din. His 15th century tomb has nothing in it at all: it has an interesting conical roof in the Mongol style above a square chamber.

4.Heydarieh Mosque:Not far from Mustawfi’s mausoleum, Heydarieh Mosque, now a seminary school (theological college), was a beautiful little madraseh built in early 12th century (thus a seljuk work) with a square hall on the plan of a Sassanian fire temple. But whereas a Sassanian fire temple was set in the center of a courtyard, the Seljuk practice, true to Islam, was for the hall to face Mecca. Perhaps the finest Kuffic inscription in relief in all Iran is in its stucco frieze. Its carved stucco mihrab is massively rich and one of the loveliest pieces of Seljuk art extant.

5.The Nabi (Prophet) Mosque:The next place worthy of visiting is Masjid on-Nbi(known as Masjid-e Shah or the Royal Mosque until the downfall of Pahlavi dynasty). Apart from being in the heart of Bazaar, it is a 19th century Qajar creation which will forcibly remind you of the mosques of Shiraz, particularly Masjid-e Vakil, because of its ceramic floral decorations and tile mosaics.

6.Aminies House:The Amini’s house was the Amini’s family private residence constructed 1896. They were living in Qazvin for long years. The building contain 3 collateral large chambers with marvelous frieze, mirror works, and beautiful sashes. The 9 sashes with its’ stained glasses are connecting southern chamber to northern one. Iranian who love Imam Hossein, the Shiite 3rd Imam killed in Karbala-Iraq, are performing mourning ceremony for one month (Moharam) every year. The Amini’s house with a courtyard and 3 large halls, which are, decorated both with marvelous glass works and frescos, is endowed to Shiite ceremony usage. The house is rest of the year open to foreign visitors.

7.Bazaar:The bazaar in Qazvin, although is not as large as Tehran and Isfahan Bazaars, but is welknown with its carpet shops as well as another bazaars in Iran. Qazvin Bazaar is a must, particularly for those who Never seen an oriental market with fine carpets, gold and Aromatic spices (unknown to most visitors. (The bazaar Built under Shah tahmaseb I at the late of the 16th century, of bricks and consisted of greater or lesser degree of long, narrow, interesting lanes. The bazaar is located in city center.

8.Chehel Sotun (40 column) palace (Museum):A building constructed as European style at 16th century. The Chehel Sotoun Palace built as a reception hall by Shah Tahmaseb I in a beautiful garden , continues the old talar surrounded by columns in two floor. At its simplest it is only a roof-high porch constituting the façade. When attached to a royal building. The garden covers an area of 15 acres. The Chehel Sotoun Palace is using as a little museum currently.

9.A’ali Qapou Palace:built in the Safavied period (late 16th century), center of city probably a northern type. This beautiful building has had seven gates which highest one called A’ali-Qapou ( the Crown Gate) with marvelous tile works and an engraving worked by Alireza Abbasi the Abbasid famous calligrapher and painter. The A’ali-Qapou is conjunct to a gallery with side by side rooms around the gallery. The rooms were using as guardians quarters in Safavid era. This building is using currently as Police head quarter.

10.Grand Hotel:The Grand hotel is a historical building constructed as European style in Iran. The hotel has been established at 19th century. The meeting of Reza the founder of Pahlavi dynasty and British General Iron side is most important historical event happened in this hotel at 1916 . The meeting was about the coup d’etat planning against Qajar dynasty last king “Ahmad Shah”. Colonel Reza (next Reza Shah) was a commander of Iranian Qazaq Brigade in this time. He-as Britain protection- moved the Qazaqs division to Tehran (Capital City). The Ahmad Shah acquiesced and Reza Pahlavi picked the power as Iran Prime Minister . Qajar dynasty fell without one ball discharg a few month later.

11.Qazvin’s Gates:The old Qazvin was surrounded with A long wall and 9 gates. The gates were called Rasht, Moghlavak, Shahzadeh Hossein, Savalan, Kandovar, Rah-e Rey, Panbeh Riseh, Rah-e Sheykh Abad, Rah-e Kooshk (Darb-e Kooshk), and Tehran Gate. Remain nothing of the gates but two, The Darb-e Kooshk, is stay at end of Naderi Street and belong to Qajar era built 126 years ago. The Tehran gate, which is built in Qajar era, but tile works repaired in 1968.

12.The Castles of the Assassin :Those who favor ambitious excursions and unusual historical episodes are recommended to hire a car and a guide to go near the source of the Alamut River on the southern foothills of the Alborz Mountains. There, fortified eagles’ Nestea recall unbelievable but authentic adventures of the “ Old Man of the Mountains”-Hasan Sabbah, The Grand Master (1040-1124)- and of his sect of “ Assassins” or “ Hashashins”.The historic fortresses are known as the Castle of the Assassins, which were first introduced into European literature by the returning Crusaders, and made famous this century in Dane Freya Stark’s classical Valleys of the Assassins. These were the heavily fortified lairs of the adherents of a bizarre religious cult, based loosely on the precepts of the Ismaili Sect. Hassan Sabbah founded the cult in the 11th century. This heretical and widely feared sect sent out killers throughout the region to murder the leading political and religious figures. The cult at its height extended from Syria to Khorasan. Until 1256, when the Mongols captured its castles, the Assassins spread fear throughout the region, although some scholars claim that their reputation was exaggerated. As one might expect, the outlaw mountain hideaways were designed to be impregnable and inaccessible, and to this day it is still extremely difficult to visit them; a complete tour the castles in this region would take about a week on horseback with a well experience guide. Many of them are only accessible to experienced and well-equipped mountaineers.However, the castle of Alamout, one of the most famous of all, is nowadays more or less accessible by 4wd in dry weather. It was originally built in 860, and captured in 1090 by the Assassins, who occupied it until 1256.

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