Saed News: Our country, Iran, has many beautiful cities, each with its own unique and interesting nickname, which you will get to know in the following.
According to the Saed News analytical news outlet, quoting Namnak, Iran is a vast land with a 7,000-year-old civilization, home to numerous beautiful cities. Among these cities, some have gained fame through unique nicknames derived from their culture, nature, industry, products, and traditions. Do you know the famous nicknames of Iran’s cities and the reasons behind them?
🌇Shiraz – The City of Flowers and Nightingales, The City of Secrets, Joy, and Orange Blossoms
Shiraz, home to Hafez and Saadi, is a stunning city filled with world-famous gardens. The intoxicating scent of orange blossoms spreads throughout the city, attracting many visitors, earning Shiraz its title as the "City of Flowers and Nightingales" and the "City of Orange Blossoms." Historically, it was called the "City of Secrets," and it is also known as the "City of Joy and Elegance" and "House of Knowledge."
🌃Sistan and Baluchestan – The Land of Palm Trees and Sun, Desert and Sea, and Legends
Located in southeastern Iran, Sistan and Baluchestan is one of the country's vast provinces and the birthplace of many legendary Persian figures, including Rostam, Kay Qobad, and Ya'qub ibn al-Layth al-Saffar. This province, situated between the desert and the sea, is adorned with beautiful palm groves and brilliant sunlight, earning it the nickname "The Land of Palm Trees and Sun, Desert, and Sea."
🏙Abadan – The Brazil of Iran
Abadan is famously known as the "Brazil of Iran." This nickname likely stems from the city's deep passion for football, its historic teams, and even a slight resemblance between Abadanis and Brazilians. The reputation of this city has reached such heights that even the Brazilian ambassador to Iran visited Abadan to attend a local derby. If you watch a match in Abadan's stadiums, you'll see green and yellow Brazilian flags waving.
🌁Chabahar – The Land of Eternal Spring
Chabahar is a scenic, pleasant-climate region where the weather remains spring-like all year round. Its name originates from "Chahar Bahar" (Four Springs), eventually becoming "Chabahar."
🌇Urmia – The City of Water, The City of Religions
Urmia is known as the "City of Water" due to the presence of Lake Urmia and its abundant water resources. It is also called the "City of Religions, Sects, and Ethnicities," as Kurds, Turks, and Christians live harmoniously together. Another historical nickname from the Qajar era is "House of Joy" (Dar al-Neshat), reflecting the city's moderate climate, lush fruit gardens, and peaceful coexistence of various groups.
🏞️Damghan – The City of a Hundred Gates
About 330 BCE, Alexander the Great stopped in Damghan, which later became part of the Seleucid Empire and one of the first Parthian capitals. The Greeks called cities with more than four gates "Hecatompylos," meaning "City of a Hundred Gates," which became Damghan's nickname.
🏩Ardabil – The Holy City, House of Peace
Ardabil, one of Iran's most beautiful cities, is known as the "House of Peace" and the "Paradise of Beekeepers" due to its renowned Sabalan honey. The name Ardabil comes from the ancient Avestan words "Arta" (sacred) and "Vil" (city), signifying a holy place. Historians believe Zoroaster spread his teachings from this region. During the Safavid era, it was called the "House of Peace" (Dar al-Aman), and in the Timurid era, it was known as "House of Guidance" (Dar al-Rashad).
🌳Ramsar – The Bride of Iranian Cities
Ramsar, a breathtaking city in northern Iran, is called the "Bride of Iranian Cities" due to its lush green landscapes, pleasant climate, and stunning coastal and forested areas.
🎢Isfahan – The City of Turquoise Domes, Half of the World, The Beautiful City of God
Isfahan, one of Iran’s largest cities, is known as "Half of the World" due to its 6,000 historical monuments, including palaces, gardens, mosques, churches, minarets, and traditional houses that showcase Iran's grandeur. The city’s magnificent architecture has also earned it the name "The Beautiful City of God." Another famous nickname is "The City of Turquoise Domes," attributed to its stunning mosque domes adorned with vibrant blue tiles. In earlier times, Isfahan was called "House of the Sultan" (Dar al-Saltaneh).
🌲Rasht – The City of Silver Rains, The City of Rain
Rasht, Iran’s third most visited city and the largest metropolis in northern Iran, is called "The City of Rain" and "The City of Silver Rains" due to its frequent and heavy rainfall.
🏜️☀️🐫🌵Ahvaz – The City That Never Sleeps, The City of Bridges
If you’ve visited Ahvaz, you know why it’s called "The City That Never Sleeps." Due to its hot climate, life in Ahvaz thrives at night, with its riverside parks, fast-food joints, and falafel shops bustling long after sunset. Ahvaz is also known as "The City of Bridges," boasting the highest number of bridges in the Middle East—around ten in total.
🧆Rafsanjan – The City of Green Gold
Rafsanjan is famously known as "The City of Green Gold" because it is home to the world's largest artificial forest and the world's largest pistachio orchards, covering 120,000 hectares.
🌞Ilam – The Land of the Sunrise, The Bride of the Zagros
Ilam, a picturesque city, is called "The Bride of the Zagros" due to its scenic beauty. It is also known as "The Land of the Sunrise" because ancient Babylonian inscriptions referred to it as "Alam" or "Alamto," meaning "mountainous land" or "the land of the rising sun."
✨🌅🧡Chenashat Village – The Land of Colors
Located in South Khorasan, Chenashat Village is called "The Land of Colors" due to the vibrant traditional clothing of its residents. Women wear bright, cheerful outfits, such as green, red, or blue dresses with floral scarves and silver-embroidered hats, while men wear long coats and head wraps.
🗼Borujerd – Little Paris
Borujerd is a small, beautiful city surrounded by lowlands, resembling the geographical layout of Paris, earning it the nickname "Little Paris." If you stand on the Borujerd Heights and look westward, you’ll see village landscapes reminiscent of Europe. Similarly, Bojnord in North Khorasan is called "Little Paris" due to its orderly streets, European-style gardens and streams, and early industrial advancements, such as Iran’s first power plant.
🧙♂️Makhunik Village – The Land of Lilliputians
One of Iran’s most astonishing villages, Makhunik, is in the easternmost part of South Khorasan. It is known as "The Land of Lilliputians" because its inhabitants are short in stature, and its houses are tiny, built from stone, clay, and tree branches with low entrances.
🏖️Borujen – Little Greece
Located at 2,197 meters above sea level, Borujen is known as "The Roof of Iran" and "Little Greece" due to its high number of intellectuals and cultural figures.
🌅Saravan – The Birthplace of the Sun in Iran
Saravan, Iran’s easternmost city, shares a border with Pakistan and is known as "The Birthplace of the Sun in Iran" because it is the first city in the country where the sun rises. The time difference between sunrise in Saravan and the westernmost city of Iran is one hour and 17 minutes.
🧿Bastam – The City of Mystics
Bastam is known as "The City of Mystics," as it was home to famous Persian Sufis like Bayazid Bastami and Sheikh Abolhassan Kharaghani. Another city with the same title is Shabestar, birthplace of the renowned mystic Sheikh Mahmoud Shabestari.
💧Sarein – The Land of Heavenly Springs
Sarein, located near the Sabalan volcano, is called "The Land of Heavenly Springs" because it has 12 mineral hot springs. The name "Sarein" itself means "source" or "spring" in Persian.
