A Tour of Tabriz: The Most Beautiful and Developed City in the Islamic World with 800 Stunning and Unique Historical Houses + Photos

According to Saed News, quoting Namnak, the presence of 800 historic and old houses in the city of Tabriz has, in a way, turned this city into the capital and showcase of historical houses in Iran. However, despite having so many historic houses in the “City of Firsts,” the introduction of these historical and scenic sites for domestic and international tours to develop the tourism industry in the country, and particularly in this neglected region, has remained largely overlooked.

In other words, although many foreign and domestic tourists prefer to stay in historic houses to become more familiar with these places, especially with the lifestyle and local culture of the region, unfortunately, no specific program has yet been designed or planned for accommodating these tourists in such houses nationwide, and particularly in Tabriz. Meanwhile, most tourists traveling to Iran—and especially to Azerbaijan and the City of Firsts—consider this lack of a program as the missing link in Iran's tourism industry.

Tabriz: The Showcase of Historical Houses in Iran

With this in mind, Tabriz, the city of beautiful old historic houses—in other words, the showcase of Iran’s historic homes—attracts the attention of visitors from kilometers away. Tourists can take souvenir photos next to these houses with their inner and outer courtyards, stained glass, plastered ceilings, central pools, and cellars.

Moreover, Tabriz being selected as the Tourism City of the Islamic World in 2018 presented a suitable opportunity to introduce these sites and to use the full potential of the City of Firsts to attract domestic and international tourists.

Wandering Among Tabriz’s Historical Houses

This report introduces some of the old and historic houses in Tabriz and several counties of East Azerbaijan.

Ostad Shahriar House
Ostad Shahriar House, dating back to the Pahlavi II era (1968), is located in central Tabriz. Later acquired by Tabriz Municipality, it was converted into the Ostad Shahriar Literary Museum. This house was registered as a national heritage site of Iran in 2007 with registration number 22729.

Parvin Etesami House
Parvin Etesami was born on March 16, 1907, in a house in the Sheshghelan neighborhood of Tabriz, on a street of the same name. She grew up there until the age of six, when her family moved to Tehran.

Ganjehizadeh House
Ganjehizadeh House is a historic building in Tabriz with mixed architecture from the Qajar and Pahlavi periods. Covering 3,000 square meters, its main residential section has three floors, consisting of several rooms in a single row without inner or outer courtyards.

The building comprises two sections: the eastern part from the Qajar era and the western part added in early Pahlavi I. Architectural plans, the combination of the two sections, porches, dual staircases, and the proper use of bricks are notable features. It was registered as a national heritage site in 2002 with number 6021.

Sharbatoghli House
This house belongs to the Qajar era. In early Pahlavi, rooms were added on two floors to the north side of the garden courtyard. Initially residential, it was purchased by Tabriz Municipality in 1990, restored, and converted into the Tabriz Cultural Center. It was registered as a national heritage site with number 3222 on February 25, 2001.

Sorkheh House
Built in the latter half of the Qajar era, Sorkheh House belonged to Mirza Mahdi Farashbashi, son-in-law of Mozaffar ad-Din Shah. Its main decorative elements include diverse plasterwork inside and outside, woodwork, and ceiling mirror decorations. It was registered in 2000 with number 2779.

Mashrouteh House
Located in the old Rasteh Koocheh (current Shahid Motahari Street), Mashrouteh House dates back to 1266 (1887–1888 CE). It belonged to Haj Mirza Mahdi Kozekanani, a notable merchant and supporter of the Azerbaijan freedom movement. During Azerbaijan’s autonomy (1324–1325), it served as a gathering place for leaders of the Azerbaijan Democratic Party.

Qadaki, Behnam, and Ganjehizadeh Houses
These houses were converted from residential use to higher education facilities and are now part of Tabriz Islamic Art University, located in Tabriz’s historical and cultural axis. Qadaki House dates back to the mid-Qajar era and includes inner and outer courtyards.

Bolurchian House
Bolurchian House, dating from the late Qajar period, is located in the Sorkhab Qapusi neighborhood. It was registered as a national heritage site in 2000 with number 3113.

Ali Mesiou House
Ali Mesiou, a prominent figure in the Constitutional Movement in Azerbaijan, owned this house. He was one of the founders of the Tabriz Mujahideen faction. The house is located on South Artesh Street, Sadr Alley, dead end Khatayiha.

Khatayi House (Tabriz Artists’ House)
The Khatayi family, wealthy merchants, lived near North Garden in large interconnected houses and gardens. Purchased by the municipality, it was inaugurated as “Tabriz Artists’ House” on November 2, 2010, and transferred to Tabriz Cultural and Artistic Organization.

Laleh’i House
Laleh’i House, hosting the historical research office of the late Yahya Zaka, dates back to the Pahlavi I era and is located on South Artesh Street, Sadr Alley.

Behnam House
Behnam House is one of the oldest early Qajar buildings in Tabriz, restored during Naser al-Din Shah’s reign. It now serves as the Faculty of Architecture at Sahand University of Technology.

Soqteh al-Islam House
Located on Chaykanar Street between Qari Bridge and Saheb al-Amr Mosque, it belonged to Soqteh al-Islam, a constitutionalist executed by Russian occupiers in 1330 AH (1912).

Saraflar House
Saraflar House, on Shams Tabrizi Street, belongs to the Qajar and early Pahlavi periods. Purchased and restored by the Cultural Heritage Organization, it has functioned as a pottery exhibition since 1995.

Ghasem Ahari House
Located in Dr. Ahari neighborhood in old Ahar, it belonged to political figure Dr. Ghasem Ahari, witnessing visits from Reza Khan, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, and Prime Minister Dr. Eghbal.

Tabriz Municipality Mansion
Built in 1935 in the abandoned Nobar cemetery under German engineers’ supervision, it features a four-faced clock tower. The façade is stone, designed based on pre-WWII German buildings, and now houses the City and Municipality Museum.

El-Goli Mansion
El-Goli is a major recreational site in Tabriz, with a 54,675 m² square pool, terraced hillside, central traditional two-story mansion, and surrounding park. Initially constructed during the Aq Qoyunlu era and rebuilt in Safavid and Qajar periods by Gahraman Mirza.

Hariri House
Hariri House, from the Qajar era, is located in Tabriz. Registered as a national heritage site in 1999 with number 2242, it features inner and outer courtyards, two blocks facing Qibla, exquisite Iranian paintings inspired by mythology, and a magnificent miniature ceiling.

Amir Nezam Grousci House
Located in Sheshghelan, it now functions as the Qajar Museum. Built during Naser al-Din Shah’s reign by Amir Nezam Grousci, it covers 3,000 m² with a 1,500 m² building. Purchased and restored in 1991, it retains its architectural and traditional features (registration number 1749).

Heydarzadeh House
Located in Maqsoodiyeh, south of Tabriz Municipality, it was built around 1870 by Haji Habib Lak. Registered as a national heritage site in 1999 (number 2524) and restored in 2001, it now serves as the East Azerbaijan Tourism Information Center.

Seifololma House
Located in the historic Gazavash district of Bonab on Shahid Beheshti (Darya) Street, it dates to early Qajar and belonged to Sheikh Ali Ghazi.

Amir Arshad Varzeqan House
This two-story Qajar house covers 1,100 m² with stone walls, brick ground floor ceiling, and intersecting arches, known as “Dash Amarat,” part of the unique Amir Arshad palace in Varzeqan County. Located in Abkhvareh Village, 12 km west of Varzeqan, it was registered in 1999 (number 2522).

The Fate of Historical Houses in Tabriz and Azerbaijan

Experts warn that nearly 800 old and historical houses in Tabriz’s old urban fabric are under serious threat of destruction. Despite repeated media reports and advocacy, relevant authorities have not shown sufficient concern, and these historical buildings are gradually disappearing from memory.

Most historic houses in Iran include inner and outer sections, entrance halls, vestibules, corridors, porches, platforms, courtyards, rooms, pools, kitchens, bathrooms, garden pits, roofs, winter and summer rooms, spring rooms, Korsi rooms, water outlets, windcatcher rooms, and more.

A Heritage and Several Cries

The large area of these houses reflects the local lifestyle, culture, rituals, and climate. The colors used in decorations were influenced by hot, dry climates, and construction materials demonstrate both structural capability and energy efficiency.

Experts believe that destroying or transferring these historic houses to unqualified entities would be a disaster for Iran’s cultural identity and historical heritage.

The Secret of Tabriz’s Historical Houses

Ultimately, with determination, collaboration, and citizen effort, Tabriz has the potential to become a globally recognized and developed city in the Islamic world, reflecting its historic role as the “City of Firsts.” Its residents and officials have always been at the forefront in social, cultural, political, and economic developments in Iran.