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Kashan is a historical city located in the north of Isfahan Province, 244 kilometers away from Tehran and 218 kilometers away from Isfahan, and is the second populous city of the province after Isfahan. According to the 2017 census, the population of this city was 396,828. Kashan is located in the heart of the Dasht-e Kavir (Central Desert) and is the city of wonderful desert architecture related to the surroundings, eye-catching traditional and historical houses, rose water, and Persian carpets. With numerous historical attractions and more than 7000 years of antiquity, Kashan is one of the most touristic cities of Iran and attracts thousands of visitors who are interested in Iran culture tours every year.
The oldest evidence of life in Kashan are some stone-made tools related to the prehistoric and Paleolithic Era, which show that Neanderthal lived in this area. Kashan is also home to one of the oldest civilizations of the historic era in the world which is named Sialk Civilization. The Sialk ancient area which is located close to the city of Kashan includes two ancient hills and dates back to 5000 to 8000 years ago and is believed to be the first and oldest ziggurat constructed in the world. Being located at the center of Iran and on the main strategic roads, caused Kashan to grow as an important industrial city during the Islamic Era. This city was ruined when the Mongols invaded Iran. but got reconstructed a few years later. Kashan got even more important and civilized during the Safavid Dynasty as the Safavid kings and governors spent a lot of their time in this city.
Located in the heart of the Central Desert (Dasht-e Kavir), Kashan has a hot and desert climate with low rainfall during the year (about 128 mm). Kashan passes its hottest days during July with an average temperature of 33.2 °C, while the temperature is at its lowest during January, 5.0 °C(41°F).
Fin garden is one of the nine Persian Gardens which are registered as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This garden was built in 1590 during the kingdom of Shah Abbas I and is the oldest garden existing in Iran. With tall trees, turquoise water canals, and the beautiful construction at the center, this lush garden is a must-see in Kashan.
The historical houses of Kashan are the most famous attractions of this city, which reveal a lot about the Persian architecture and the lifestyle of Iranians during the 18th and 19 centuries. Tabatabaei House is one of the best examples of Persian houses in Kashan which exhibits excellent architectural design and decorations like delicate stuccowork, stunning stained glass windows, etc.
Borujerdi House is another luxurious residential house in Kashan dating back to the 19th century, which was built for the bride of the family, who was the daughter of the Tabatabaei family. Borujerdi House has the best samples of stucco dome and superb wall paintings, inlaid mirror work, and the best-surviving wind towers.
Although Tepe Sialk is not a touristic attraction, it is one of the most important ancient sites, which dates back to 6000-5500 B.C., has provided so much information about the ancient civilizations in Iran. The most significant objects found in this area are the pieces of pottery.
Founded by Mr. Mulla Mehdi Naraghi, a generous man known as Agha Bozorg, during the Qajar Dynasty, the Agha Bozorg Mosque and Madrasa is one of the fascinating constructions of Kashan. This mosque was built by the great architect Ustad Haj Shaban Ali, and was used for prayers and religious education. Agha Bozorg Mosque is a two-story building with a central courtyard and a great dome based on eight foundations, and stylish ornaments like stucco works, wood works, and paintings.
Bazaar of Kashan is one of the famous traditional bazaars of Iran. This bazaar is located in the center of the city and was built during the Seljuk Dynasty. Timche-ye Amin od-Dowleh, which is one of the highlights of this bazaar, shows amazing architecture and ornaments.
The city of Kashan has been one of the most important centers of producing carpets throughout history. Most Kashan carpets follow a medallion-and-corner pattern (Lachak and Toranj), with floral motifs and arabesques. The traditional colors used in Kashan rugs are rich reds, blues, ivory, yellow, burnt orange, and sometimes green.
Besides Persian carpets, Kashan is known for producing very fine traditional and handwoven textiles made with silk, wool, etc.
Pottery is one of the oldest industries in Iran and Kashan is one of the centers for creating pottery dishes and ceramic crafts.
Being home to vast gardens of rose, Kashan is famous for producing rose water and rose oil. Rosewater is an essential element in Persian cooking, especially for making desserts and sweets.
