Qazvin Things to Do

I was attracted by this statue on the roundabout near to the Rah Kushk gate. (it became a part of my trip spotting the statues, sculptures etc that appear as you enter each town - some where quite strange, others such as in Tabriz and Hammadan were great pieces of craftsmanship)

Majid, my guide explained that it was Omar Khayyam (1047 - 1123), Who was a great mathematician, astronomer and historian. He was also known for his poetry, some of his work being translated into English including 'The Rubaiyat'. He is buried in a mausoleum near Mashad

I was later to find out how seriously Iranians of all ages, take their poets, as I listened to cd's during our journeys, that contained much of the works of Sa'di and Hafez - (whose mausoleums I would later visit in Shiraz). in traditional and modern songs.

UPDATE -I've been informed by someone recently, who lived in Qazvin, that this statue isn't Omer Khayyam and "is in fact Mir Emad Qazvini a very famous calligrapher of the country from Safavid era".

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The second floor of chehel soton is now used as a museum of Calligraphy.
They hold collection of exquisite Calligraphy.

Chehel Soton is the only edifice left from the royal palaces of Shah Tahmasb I times.
The wall paintings of the first floor are a typical work of Qazvin Painting School.

It’s open from 8 am to 1pm and from 5 to 8 pm daily except Monday.
Admission is IR2.000 (86/2007)

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First Established in Chehel Soton in 1968,
& moved to new place in 2004.

Holds ceramics, woodcarvings, Gold ornament, Painting & .... objects from 6th mill. BC until Qajar You won't find some of such object like those in other museums in Iran

It’s open from 8 am to 1pm and from 5 to 8 pm daily except Monday.
Admission is IR2.000 (86/2007)

about pix:
1.
I think it's most significant object that they hold
Sumerian Man,
Khark, Marble, 3rd. mill. Bc

2.
Earthen Spindle Whorl
Tape Zaghe, 6th. mill. Bc

3.
Ceramic Rhyton, decorated by button relief
1st. mill. Bc

4.
Ceramic Rhyton
1st. mill. Bc

5.
Ceramic Rhyton
1st. mill. Bc

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Qazvin contains few buildings from the Safavid era, when it was capital of Persia. Perhaps the most famous of the surviving edifices is the Chehelsotoon (Kolah Farangi) mansion, today a museum in central Qazvin. See more pic for night view.

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The al-Nabi mosque (Masjed al-Nabi in Persian) also known as Masjed e Soltani is a famous mosque in Qazvin. Inscriptions indicate Fath Ali Shah of the Qajar dynasty to be the founder of the mosque, however sources indicate the mosque to have been existing since the Safavid period. In particular, it is now believed that the architect of the structure was Ustad Mirza Shirazi with the date 1787 as date of construction.

It's double layered dome measures 15m in inner-diameter, with the top of the inner layer positioned at 20.83m above ground level, while the external apex is 23.25m high.

There formerly used to be an elevated minaret flanking the dome to which the French explorer Madame Dieulafoy has written of. The mosque has four iwans in its courtyard.

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The Masjid Jami is one of the oldest mosques in Iran. The oldest part of the mosque is said to have been constructed by the orders of Harun al-Rashid in 807CE. Later additions were made, the last being during the late Safavid era. The double layered main dome of the mosque is from the Seljuk era, and is locked to the public. It houses some precious examples of relief calligraphy from medieval times. Renovations have also been carried out on many sections of the mosque.

The foundation of the mosque is laid on a Zoroastrian fire temple. In spite of the devastating Mongol invasion, the mosque still stands today in its full glory. It is still in use. Parts of the mosque have been turned into a public library. The mosque also contains a Shabestan and Ab anbar, both now under the protection of Iran's Cultural Heritage Organization.

Before entering the shrine, I had to put on a chador.

Prior to my trip I was well aware that I wasn't required to wear a chador during my travels in Iran, but while visiting some Shrines and Mosques etc, this might be expected.
I knew that if ever there was a rack of chadors at a place I was visiting, I was expected to wear one.

I was expecting to attire myself in the all -encompassing black tent! Chador translates as tent in Farsi.
So, I was surprised to find large, floral pastel coloured rectangular pieces of nylon material

Majid selected one for me - a fetching nylon lilac flowered creation. He then instructed me how to wear it- to cover my head and body - easier said than done when you're a 1.57 metre shortie, with a daysac over one shoulder. He pointed me in the direction of the womens entrance, and I was off, tripping over my chador at every step!

The chador had an unpleasant odour - a mix of stale urine and joss sticks! I later found out during my trip, that all 'borrowed' chadors smell the same!!)

I was trying so hard not to fall over, or become uncovered, that this was my memory of visiting the shrine, rather than the actual sight of the tomb.

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This was the place that for me was quite impressive - I tried to imagine how the craftsmen ever fitted each mirrored tile, how long did it take, how did they do it. Was there men who cut the pieces, then others who painstakingly placed the pieces exactly, and others who'd worked out the design- also others who'd made the glass, and Who nowadays polished this masterpiece, and how!

I had the chance to see this 'pavillion', initially from the courtyard, then closer, as I entered the shrine of Imamzadeh -ye- Hossein. I took my photos before entering, but was told there was no photography allowed inside.