# Beta Version # Iran Tourism Official Site - Religious tourism

Nice Food!
There is, in my view, no better food in the world, provided you find Iranian food, other than the traditional kebab. Do try desperately to eat the local food and don't forget to ask for Sabzi, a mixture of all kinds of greens with bread and cheese often before the main meal Andreas loved it so much he had the ingredients brought to his office and offered all the staff a sabzi break for his birthday. The food is very ... More

Attractions

Religious tourism

Cities like Mash’had, Qom and Esfehān offer unique opportunity to religious visitors. But apart from famous shrines and mosques in these cities, there are countless other wonderful religious attractions with amazing background all over the country, pre-Islamic shrines and temples, churches, cathedrals and Islamic attraction from all periods, beautifully decorated mosques, mausoleums, houses and much more in every possible corner of this vast country.

Nowadays Iranians associate Qom with a religious city and economy is based on religious tourism. Archeologists believe that civilization of this region dates back to the new Stone Age and many articles found in Ghomrūd area confirms it. The plains and the hills to the south west have been among the most important places where Arian tribes used to live. In this province castles, residential areas and graveyards belonging to the Arian tribes have been found.

The second largest holy city in the world, Mashhad attracts more than 20 million tourists and pilgrims every year.

The second largest holy city in the world, Mashhad attracts more than 20 million tourists and pilgrims every year, many of whom come to pay homage to the Imam Reza shrine (the eighth Shi'ite Imam). It has been a magnet for travellers since medieval times. It is said that the rich go to Mecca but the poor journey to Mashhad. Thus, even as those who complete the pilgrimage to Mecca receive the title of Haji, those who make the pilgrimage to Mashhad – and especially to the Imam Reza shrine – are known as Mashtee, a term employed also of its inhabitants. It is thought that over 20 million Muslims a year make the pilgrimage to this city. Mashhad is best known for its beautiful pilgrimage shrine of Imam Reza. The shrine was built on the site of the village of Sanābād, where Imam Reza died in 818 AD (some sources say 817).Imam Reza, the eighth Shi'ite Imam, was born in Medina in 765 AD and was widely known to be a person of both extraordinary scholarship and saintly qualities. One, close to the Dome, upon Naderi balcony in the southern section of Sahne Enqelab and the other far in the northern section of Sahne Enqelab on Abbāsi balcony.Shaykh Bahai's tomb is located between this Sahn and Sahne Azadi. Gowharshad Mosque, this mosque is one of the most reputed in Iran and is situated adjecent to the Holy Shrine of Imam Ridha.

Museum of The Quran, this museum is located in the vicinity of the Astaane Quds museum. It contains precious manuscripts of the Glorious Quran attributed to the Holy Imams and some gilded manuscripts. It was opened in 1364 H. The oldest manuscript attributed to the Holy Imams is in kufi script on deer skin belonging to the First century AH.

Imamzadeh Yahya,Yahya was Zaid's son and grandson of our fourth Imam Sajjad [a] His mother Raiteh was the daughter of Abi Hashem Abdullah ibne Mohamed Hanifah. He was born in 107 H. and as his life was threatened by Umayyads, he migrated from Kerbala to Madaen and from there to Khorasan. He was martyred at the age of 18 in Jowzjan in 125 H. His tomb is on the Sarakhs road 50 kilometers from Mashhad and one kilometer from Miami village.

Attractions

Chak chakou

Imam zade hossein of Qazvin

Tomb of Heighoogh e Nabbi

Dānial e-Nabi Mausoleum, Shūsh

Āstān e-Qods Razavi Mashad

Sheikh Zahed Gilani Tomb

Jamkaran Mosque

Saint Masoomeh (PBUH) Holy Shrine

Hondourha Temple

Saint Stepanous Cathedral

Qare Kelisa church

Shah-e Cheragh Holy Shrine

Vank Cathedral

Tomb of Esther and Mordecai