Yazd is one of the oldest cities in the world and one of the main touristic cities of Iran which has a lot to offer to visitors from all over the world. Yazd is known as the capital of the Zoroastrians of Iran so you can visit the old Zoroastrian sites like the Fire Temple or the Towers of Silence. Yazd is known as the city of Qanats which is a genius invention of Iranians to transport water underground from mountains to cities and farms, and also known as the city of confectionaries so you can buy sweet souvenirs from this city. But the main touristic attraction is the historic city of Yazd which is the main reason Yazd was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017. In this blog, the PackToIran team is going to explain more about the historic part of the city, its architecture, and different parts of it to visit.
On this blog you'll read:
- The architecture of the Historic City of Yazd
- Badgir
- Mudbrick and adobe in the Historic City of Yazd
- The old houses in the Historic City of Yazd
- Different parts to visit in the Historic City of Yazd
- Tips for visiting the Historic City of Yazd
The Historic City of Yazd - Iran
The architecture of the Historic City of Yazd
Yazd is located at the edge of the central desert of Iran and is one of the hottest cities of Iran during the hot season, so escaping heat is one of the main factors in the old architecture of the city. Using mud bricks for the construction of buildings, using domes and arcs, covering walls with adobe as plaster, and using Badgir or windcatcher are the main elements of the architecture of the historic city of Yazd which makes it a unique, pleasant city.
The Historic City of Yazd - Iran
Badgir
Badgir or windcatcher is a tall tower constructed inside the buildings to create cool air ventilation inside them. This genius invention of Iranians has been used widely in the cities of Iran with a hot climate like Yazd, Kerman, Kashan, and cities around the Persian Gulf, but among all these cities, Yazd is known as the city of windcatchers. When walking in The Historic City of Yazd, you will see Badgirs in different heights and shapes and if you want to see how they work, go underneath the 34 meters tall Badgir in the UNESCO world heritage site of Dowlatabad Garden. When visiting the Historic City of Yazd, to get a good view of the Badgirs it's best to go on a rooftop.
The Historic City of Yazd - Iran
Mudbrick and adobe in the Historic City of Yazd
Another beautiful element in the architecture of the Historic City of Yazd is the material used for the buildings which is mud-brick covered by adobe which together work as very efficient heat insulation and this combination gives a homochromatic beauty to the old city. To make adobe, they use mud and straw and while walking in the old city you will most probably see people doing that because they renew this plaster at least once a year especially after rainy seasons.
The Historic City of Yazd - Iran
The old houses in the Historic City of Yazd
There are thousands of old houses in the Historic City of Yazd. Most of them are homes to the kind, hospitable people of Yazd but some are changed into hotels, hostels, art galleries, cafes, restaurants, museums, and shops. If you want to experience staying in one of these houses, book your hotel in one of these boutique hotels and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of them or you can choose your café or restaurant in one of them. Most of them offer a rooftop view too.
Different parts to visit in the Historic City of Yazd
Walking in the Historic City of Yazd is a pleasant experience, yet there are many places you can visit in this old city some of which are listed below:
The old Jaameh Mosque of Yazd:
One of the oldest mosques of Iran and the main mosque of the city. Visit it and enjoy its appealing tile works.
Bazaars:
There are many Bazaars in the old city of Yazd to visit and do some shopping. You can buy the main handicrafts of Yazd like Termeh and Shaal.
The Shrine of the Twelve Imams:
An octagonal brick made building dating back to the 11th century. It is believed that it was used for religious purposes.
Ziaeieh School:
Also known as Alexander prison, this building was built in the 11th century and was used for different purposes like a religious school, a gathering place for Sufis, and also a prayer place. There are several handicraft shops and a café at this place today.
Ab Anbar:
Ab Anbar is a water reservoir and there are many of these amazing buildings in the Historic City of Yazd. These were used to store drinking water for the locals and to keep the water cool, they were equipped with windcatchers.
Lariha Mansion:
There are many old houses in the Historic City of Yazd and Lariha mansion is one of the most beautiful ones which is open to visitors. There are different parts to visit including a museum of old documents of the city of Yazd.
Nakhl:
During your walk in the old city, you would come across some strange wooden structures with the shape of a cypress tree. These are called Nakhl and are used with Shia Muslims on special occasions during Moharram.
The Historic City of Yazd - Iran
Tips for visiting the Historic City of Yazd
- It takes at least two hours to visit the old city and some of the attractions. Make sure to visit the Jaame Mosque of Yazd too.
- A good route for the visit would be from the old Jaame mosque. First, visit the mosque and then start your Yazd old city walking tour from there.
- Yazd is one of the hottest cities of Iran during hot seasons so if you are visiting during hot seasons try not to visit during hot hours of the day and do not forget to drink enough water and wear sunscreen.
- A very pleasant experience would be watching sunrise or sunset in the old city on a rooftop. If you stay in a boutique hotel in the Historic City of Yazd, doing both would be easy. If not, try to plan your walk in a way to be on a rooftop at least half an hour before the sunset. You can go on the rooftop of most of the hotels, restaurants and some shops for free and some might charge you for that.
- When on a rooftop, watch your steps and avoid walking on the domes. Also, respect the privacy of other houses. Remember most of the houses are home to locals.
- You may easily get lost in the Historic City of Yazd, if so an easy way to find your way back is to look for the 52 meters tall minarets of the Jaame mosque of Yazd.
- There are many shops, restaurants, and cafes in the Historic City of Yazd. Try the ones which offer a rooftop view if it’s not hot.
The Historic City of Yazd - Iran
