Yazd: The City of Yazd is located in the middle of the Iranian plateau, 270 km southeast of Isfahan, close to the Spice and Silk Roads. It bears living testimony to the use of limited resources for survival in the desert. Water is supplied to the city through a qanat system developed to draw underground water. The earthen architecture of Yazd has escaped the modernization that destroyed many traditional earthen towns, retaining its traditional districts, the qanat system, traditional houses, bazars, hammams, mosques, synagogues, Zoroastrian temples and the historic garden of Dolat-abad. With its winding lanes, forest of badgirs, mud-brick houses and delightful places to stay, Yazd is a unique destination. On a flat plain ringed by mountains, the city is every inch a city of the desert. With its atmospheric alleyways and centuries of history, Yazd entails a huge capacity to enchant.

Amir Chakhmaq mosque is a historical mosque in the complex from the Timurid era in Yazd. It was built on orders of Jalal ed-Din Amir Chakhmaq Shami, who was the governor of Yazd and a general of Shahrukh Mirza. The mosque was completed in 1438. From the viewpoint of aesthetics, dimension and importance, it is one of the most outstanding buildings in Yazd. There are inscriptions made of mosaic in Thuluth script of Mohammad al-Hakim on the eastern entrance. During the era of Fath Ali Shah, Hossein Attar added a part to its shabestan and restored some parts of the mosque

Amir Chakhmagh Complex: Built as a mosque, it served as a caravanserai, a tekyeh, a bathhouse, a cold water well, and a confectionery. This imposing structure fronts a square in the old town, opposite the water museum with good local views, including of a nearby badgir (water reservoir with wind towers).

 

Atashkadeh: Zoroastrian Fire Temple built in 1934. The fire on the inside has supposedly been burning since AD 470. It is believed to be one of the nine worldwide Atash Behrams or "Victorious Fires".

 

Yazd Water Museum: House converted to a museum with a lot of information about the Qanat water distribution system.

Yazd Tower of silence (Zoroastrian's Dakhmeh) - the name tower is misleading as they consist of huge circular walls on top of two hills, within those the dead were left to be picked clean by the vultures. This is done in accordance with Zoroastrian belief. However, the towers are not in use anymore and open to the public. A quiet, serene place.

 

Alexander's Prison: (Also known as Ziaiyyeh school). Neither built by Alexander the Great nor a prison, but a 15th-century domed school. Rumors say the deep well in the middle of its courtyard was built by Alexander the Great and was used as a dungeon although this is not confirmed.

 

Dowlat Abad Gardens: With a building and a beautiful large badgir. One of nine Persian gardens inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

 

Khan-e-Lari, a historical house , Its ground area is 1,700 meters and its foundation is 1200 square meters and is considered one of the largest historical houses. The house of Larrys includes six houses with a desert architecture. The house has two large courtyards and a small courtyard with a number of verandahs, a hall, a room and a head and octagon.

 

 

Jameh Mosque of Yazd is the grand, congregational mosque of Yazd city. Dating to the 14th century, it is an example of finest Persian mosaics and excellent architecture. Its minarets are the highest in the country and are admirable at night when the entrance is lit up.

The 12th-century mosque is still in use today. It was first built under Ala'oddoleh Garshasb of the Al-e Bouyeh dynasty. The mosque was largely rebuilt between 1324 and 1365, and is one of the outstanding 14th century buildings of Iran.

According to the historians, the mosque was constructed in the site of the Sassanid fire temple and Ala'oddoleh Garshasb commenced building the mosque. The previous mosque was constructed by order of Ala'oddoleh Kalanjar in 6th century A.H., however the main construction of the present building was done by order of "Seyed Rokn al-Din Mohammad Qazi".

The mosque is a fine specimen of Persian architecture. it is a great example of the Azari style of Persian architecture. The entrance to the mosque is crowned by a pair of minarets, the highest in Iran, dating back to the Safavid era and measuring 52 meters in height and 6 meters in diameter. The entrance is decorated from top to bottom in tile work. Within is a long arcaded courtyard where, behind a deep-set south-east iwan, is the sanctuary chamber. This chamber, under a squat tiled dome, is exquisitely decorated with tile mosaic: its tall tiled Mihrab, dated 1365, is one of the finest of its kind in existence. On two star-shaped sgraffito tiles are the name of the craftsman and the date of construction of the Mihrab. One of the amazing attributes of the Jame Mosque of Yazd is that the lighting system is obtained indirectly by the reflection of light from the white plaster of the dome and the walls.One of the greatest features of the mansion is the square shape of the mosque which makes it look like Kaaba. Kaaba is a holy construction in the Islamic world and is a prominent symbol in Islamic Architecture.

 

The Amir Chakhmaq Complex is a prominent structure in Yazd, noted for its symmetrical sunken alcoves. It is a mosque located on a square of the same name. It also contains a caravanserai, a tekyeh, a bathhouse, a cold water well, and a confectionery. At night, the building is lit up after twilight hours after sun set with orange lighting in the arched alcoves which makes it a spectacle.

The complex is located on a square of the same name, named after Amir Jalaleddin Chakhmaq, a governor of Yazd during the Timurid dynasty (15th–16th century CE).

The prominent structure has a three-storey elaborate façade of symmetrical sunken arched alcoves. It is one of the largest hussainia in Iran. In the centre are two very tall minarets. The spiral staircase in one of the two minarets is said to create a feeling of claustrophobia, while it provides views of Yazd. At night, the building is lit up with orange lighting in the alcoves which makes it a spectacle. The complex also contains a caravanserai, a tekyeh, a bathhouse, a cold water well, and a confectionery. The bathhouse, in the front of the building is around 600 years old. Arcades have been added recently on the flanks to provide safety from traffic. Only the first floor above the ground level is accessible.

The complex includes the three-storey tekyeh which used to commemorate the death of Hussein ibn Ali. In the corner of the tekyeh, there is a nakhl, described as a "strong, wooden object with very large metal fixtures and studs". It was venerated during the Shiite commemoration festival of Ashura.