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video of yazd

yazd

Yazd is a relaxed city surrounded by a lot of desert. The city has numerous interesting sights. Too bad, the first day we were here the only thing I've seen was the toilet in my hotel room.

The second day, I was feeling alright again and eager to see the other sights of Yazd. We started with a visit of the Mashed-é Jameh or Friday Mosque. This mosque has the highest minarets of Iran, which can be seen from far away.

We've seen quite a lot of mosques in Iran, but we can say that this is one of the most beautiful. The mosaics are superb in their dazzling colours.

In the middle of the court is a stairway which leads down to the qanat-system. Unluckily, the caretaker of the mosque was away and the man who replaced him couldn't find the key. The key to the roof also happened to be missing, so we didn't see the pretty view over the old city.

Yazd is the center of present day Zoroastrian religion. There are about 150.000 Zoroastrians in the world, of which 65.000 live in Iran and 20.000 in Yazd. The Atashkadeh is the most important fire temple. Zoroastrians from all over the world come here to see the sacred fire that has been burning without interruption for 1500 years.Very close to the Friday Mosque we found this Internet Café. So we thought, let's send an email.

As a matter of fact, this turned out to be impossible at first, because of a power failure. A few minutes later power was restored, so we could send a very short message: "Hello, we are in Yazd. We have to go now, the bus is leaving".

A year after we returned form Iran, we received an entry in our guestbook from Mozi, who works in the Internet Café. Great to hear from him. Keep up the good work, Mozi !

friday mosque

Friday Mosque
The crowned by a pair of minarets , the highest in Persia , the portal’s facade is decorated from top to bottom in dazzling tile work , predominantly blue in color. Within there is a long arcaded court where , behind a deep-set southeast Ivan , is a sanctuary chamber. This chamber , under a squat tiled dome , is exquisite decorated with faience mosaic: its tall faience Mihrab , dated 1365 , is one of the finest of its kind in existence. The Mosque was largely rebuilt between 1324 and 1365 , and is one of the outstanding 14th century buildings in Persia.The timework has recently been skillfully restored and a modern library built to house the mosque's valuable collection of books and manuscripts.

wind towers

wind towers

The heat is blistering in the south , on the edge of the Great Desert. High chimneys acting as air-vents bring some comfort to these dwellings.

Fire Temple

Fire Temple

This is Yazd's "Fire Temple". The intimates meet there , but nobody apart form the Grand Priest , a descendant of the Magi , reciting the Avesta , has access to the Saint of Saints where for the past 3000 years a fire burns in a brazen vessel. The fire itself is a representation of what is good

Bazaar Entrance

Bazaar Entrance ,

This incredibly imposing bazaar entrance was an excuse for a magnificent display of ostentation. The bazaar itself is comparatively small , but the entrance is undoubtedly the grandest in Iran.

The twin minarets rival those of the Jami' Mosque , while the entire facade is decorated with glazed titles and plaster stalactite vaulting. The wooden framework is decorated and carried during the procession for the mourning for Imam Husayn.