SAEDNEWS: Exploring the Wonders of Yazd: Share Your Favorite Spots with Us!
According to SaedNews Family Magazine, Yazd is a central Iranian province recognized as the world’s first adobe city and the second historical city globally. Known as the “City of Windcatchers,” “Bride of the Desert,” “Dar al-Elm,” and “City of Bicycles,” Yazd offers visitors a journey through history, architecture, and desert culture. Choosing the right accommodation in Yazd or anywhere else is crucial for comfort and enhancing the overall experience.
Built 400 years ago by order of Shah Abbas, Zein al-Din Caravanserai is a two-story adobe structure located 60 km along the Yazd-Kerman road. Recognized as one of Yazd’s top historical attractions, UNESCO awarded it the Best Restored Building in 2006.
Photo source: Google Maps; Photographer: Unknown
Constructed in 1212 AH under the local ruler of Yazd, this Qajar-era bathhouse earned its name because it was frequently used by the city’s elites. Beyond bathing, it historically served as a social space for relaxation, conversation, and gatherings. Today, it has been transformed into a restaurant and traditional teahouse, attracting many visitors.
Interior view with bath pool
Dating back to 1320 SH, the Giv Ab Anbar was crucial for supplying water in Yazd’s desert climate. Built during the Qajar era and registered as a national heritage site in 1375 SH, it is located in the Zoroastrian quarter near Basij Boulevard.
Night view of the reservoir’s windcatchers and roof
This Qajar-era mansion, built about 150 years ago by Haj Mohammad Ebrahim Lari, features six courtyards designed in traditional desert architecture. It once served as a Nematollahi Sufi lodge and is now a registered national heritage site. Accessible via Imam Khomeini Street in the Fahadan neighborhood, it is near the Kolah Farangi Mansion.
Photo: Lari House
One of the oldest living trees in the world, this cypress in Abarkuh measures 11.5 meters around its trunk and stands 25–28 meters tall. Russian scholar Alexandrov estimated its age at over 4,000 years.
Photo: Cypress amidst greenery
Registered as a national heritage site in 1313 SH, the mosque features a tall iwan, two prayer halls, two warm rooms, a dome chamber, two underground water reservoirs, and a large rectangular courtyard. With six entrances, it remains one of Yazd’s most iconic landmarks.
Located 11 km south of Yazd, this historical Zoroastrian site was used for sky burials. Corpses were exposed to vultures, and remaining bones were disposed of in the tower’s central cavity.
Dating back over a thousand years and located 77 km from Yazd, Kharanaq features an ancient fortress, the Imam Reza shrine, a 17th-century minaret, and a restored caravanserai offering accommodation.
This famous ensemble of a square, mosque, bazaar, water reservoir, and Tekyeh dates to the Timurid era (9th century AH) and was constructed by Jalal al-Din Amir Chakhmaq. The Tekyeh was registered as a national heritage site in 1330 SH.
Photo: Amir Chakhmaq Mosque view
Located on Shahid Rajaei Street, this garden dates back to the Afsharid and Zand eras. Its lush greenery, fruit trees, and flowers create a serene environment. The garden houses several historic structures, including the tallest windcatcher in the world.
The Zarch Qanat, stretching approximately 80 km, is the longest underground aqueduct in the world. Built by Zoroastrians, its water once supplied a mosque and local reservoirs. Registered as a national heritage site in 1384 SH, it features square wells rather than typical circular ones.
Located 50 km north of Yazd, this icehouse was used to store and produce ice. Built with mud and clay as natural insulation, it likely dates back to the Safavid era and is the largest of its kind.
Opened in 1377 SH in the restored Serafzadeh House, this museum showcases traditional lamps, candles, and electric lighting objects made of pottery, glass, brass, copper, and bronze.
A Safavid-era mill, powered by water from qanats, used to grind wheat and other grains. Its geometric interior decorations, brickwork, and underground structure make it unique globally.
Also known as the Dome of Ali, this Seljuk-era tomb is constructed from stone and sarooj (traditional mortar) and remains one of the best-preserved structures from that time.
Dating back 180 years to the Qajar era, this reservoir features six windcatchers (three old, three new) and is located at Shahid Beheshti Square.
The world’s only mud-brick shaking minaret, dating back to the Sassanid era. It moves with a gentle push of the hand and has three floors connected by separate staircases. Located 75 km east of Ardakan.
Part of a vast historic complex including a school, observatory, library, mosque, and Sufi lodge, its construction was completed in 527 AH. Located on Jameh Mosque Street, it was registered in 1314 SH.
Located in Chahar Menar neighborhood, this mausoleum is adorned with plaster inscriptions, inlaid tiles, floral patterns, and stucco reliefs, showcasing Yazdi architectural mastery.
An eight-century-old school built in 631 AH, with a central courtyard well leading to a 5-meter-deep basement. The dome reaches 20 meters in height. Some accounts suggest it was once used as a prison during Alexander the Great’s era. Registered in 1346 SH.
Yazd’s year-round attractions—from desert architecture and ancient gardens to sacred sites and unique engineering marvels—offer travelers a rich journey into Iran’s historical and cultural heart.
