Art and Literature:
The history of Iranian art and literature goes back many thousands of years, and its works can be seen as manuscripts or stone carvings in Be-Sotoon near Bakhtaran and in Takhte-Jamshid near Shiraz.

The oldest literature is from the Sassanid period and is called Khudai-Nameh. Generally the oldest remaining Persian literature comes from the last decades of the 8th century of Hejirah (the Islamic calendar). Probably the most famous piece of Iranian poetry translated into othe rlanguages would be the Rubayyat of Omar Khayyam, although many other pieces are famous for their eloquence, clear language and moral guidance, for example Firdausi's epic Shahnameh on which he worked for 30 years, or the odes of Jami, soem of the greates poetry ever written in the Persian Language.

Persian Carpet:
One of the most reknowned art objects in the world with a long history is the hand-woven Persian Carpet. In ancient times, Persian carpets were exchanged among kings of different lands as precious gifts. Europeans have known the beauty of this work of art and have used it in their homes for centuries. According to historical facts, Persian carpets were brought to Japan via the Silk Road, but their use did not become prevalent. In recent years, the beauty, magnificence of design, colours and originality of Persian carpets have fascinated many Japanese people, and their use has to some extent become widespread. As a decorative object or a household necessity, the use of Persian carpets in the boardrooms of corporations, hotels, clubs and offices make the atmosphere uniquely cheerful. To learn more about Persian carpets, please contact the Persian Carpet Association in Japan, AB AKASAKA BLDG. #101  8-1-5 AKASAKA  Minato-ku, Tokyo, 107-0052  Tel. 3478-3168, persian@carpet-association.jp

Tourist Information Offices Each sizable town or important tourist destination has its own Tourist Information Office on the spot. These are invaluable sources of information, from maps to local hotel lists and other miscellaneous items. The personnel (often English speaking) are extremely helpful. They won't recommend hotels or restaurants unless you ask for their advice. Tourist Information Offices are also found in Airports and main Railway stations. The main Tourist office in Tehran is at: 11 Dameshq St., Vali-e Asr Ave., Tel. 892212-5

Tehran:
The Axle of Transformation and Attention Tehran, one of the villages situated at the southern foot of the Alborz mountain range, outside the city of Rey, started flourishing after Rey was attacked and ruined by the Moguls.
During the reign of Shah Tahmasb of the Safavide Dynasty a rampart was built around the city. When the governorship of the city was given to Ghafourkhan by Karimkhan of the Zand Dynasty, the city reached its peak of importance, and when Agha Mohammad Khan of the Ghajar Dynasty came into power, Tehran became the capital of Persia.
During Nasser-e-dinshah's reign the changes to the city became widespread and a new rampart and tower were built. During the reign of the Pahlavi Dynasty, because of the ever-increasing expansian of the city, the ramparts snd towers were surpassed and dismantled and this situation continued until after the victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran.
As a result of the deep transformation in the governmental structure and finally the establishment of the Isramic Republic of Iran, this large and newly shaped city, Tehran, became the center of political and international attention as the capital of Iran.
Tehran, with dry and hot summers, cold mild winters and with an altitude of 1,400 meters above sea level, sees an average of 225mm of rain annually.

Isfahan:
A Museum as large as a sity Approximately 1,575 meters above sea level at the eastern foot of the Zagros mountains, in a plateau formed from the alluvium of the Zayandeh Roud river, along with the history of Iran, a city has come into being, knows as Isfahan.
According to historical narratives, this city was inhabited before the reign of the Achaemenians, and the Sassanids, was the capital of a large province in the heart of the country for more than 900 years.
With the advent of Islam, Islamic civillization and art became general and expanded during the reign of the Samanids. At one time, it was the capital of Toghrol, the Seljug king... It survived attack by the Moguls and during the reign of Shah Abbas I, once again became the capital of Persia, once again became the capital of Persia, and reached its peak of splendour and graeur in this period, making it famous as the city called "Half the World". Besides being the capital of a province, Isfahan is one of the main tourist attractions and center of modern industry in Iran.

Shiraz:
The capital of culture and literature.
Shiraz is located 895 kms away from Tehran (Iran). 
     This  engaging and beautiful city, near the greatest and most famous magnificent capital of the ancient East, Persepolis, has been, since the fall of the Achamenian and Sasanian empires, the heir and conservator of the culture and civilization of ancient Iran. It has also been, the birthplace and residence of many illustrious and eminent men of learning, art, philosophy and mysticism, each of whom had a large share in maintaining the ancient culture and art, customs and traditions of Iran, to a greater extent than the historians after Islam have recorded. 
Shiraz, the patron of learning and art, has presented many famous scholars, physicians, painters, orators, calligraphists, architects and artists to the world of knowledge and art, and each one of them, in his own specialty, has shone and scintillated in the world of knowledge, literature and art. The wonderful and enduring productions of the craftsmen and artists of Shiraz, during past centuries are abundant in other parts of Iran, and outside the country, and they all demonstrate the proficiency, mastery, skill and excellent taste of the artists of this region. 
     The fame of Shiraz mostly rests on the possession of distinguished erudite, literary personalities. And Shiraz, besides fostering such able sons as Sa'adi, Hafez, and Molla Sadra, has nurtured hundreds of philosophers, mathematicians, physicians, astronomers, painters, illuminators (of manuscripts) and calligraphists, each one of whom in his own craft has been like a guide lighting the way to learning and knowledge. 

Shiraz , the home of Persian poetry, the city of roses and nightingales, spreads out like an immense garden on a green plain 
at the foot of Tang Allah-o-Akbar. 
The 9th century A.D. saw the development of Shiraz, the pace increased during the 10th century, when the town was promoted to the status of capital of Persia. During the period of Attabakan-e Fars dynasty (12th and 13th centuries) and continuing through to the 14th century, Shiraz was one of the largest and most populous Islamic cities. 

Karim Khan Zand (18th century), the righteous king, promoted Shiraz once more to become the Capital of the empire, contributing greatly to its prosperity by building mosques, bazaars, roads, citadels and other structures. 

Today, the famous Shiraz University, the large Namazee Hospital and the Nurse's Training college, the various modern plants, and the flourishing agriculture of environs of Shiraz, contribute towards making this city of more than one million people, a place of considerable standing and prosperity. 
Shiraz has an agreeable climate, charming and hospitable people and during Nowruz (the Iranian New Year which coincides
with the commencement of spring), the city becomes a field of flowers and greenery, heady with the scent of orange blossom. 
      All these attractions draw large numbers of both Iranian and foreign visitors throughout the year, and particularly in spring , to the city of roses and nightingales . 

The other tourist destination :
Yazd, Kerman, Kashan, Caspian sea area, Hamedan etc.

Miscellaneous

Iranian and Islamic Famous People