Soltaniyeh Dome
Built in the early fourteenth century, the Dome of Soltaniyeh is a masterpiece of Ilkhanid architecture. Its vast double-shell brick dome and turquoise decoration influenced later dome construction across the region.
North-western Iran
Zanjan
Soltaniyeh’s dome and the artisans’ bazaars
In north-western Iran, Zanjan lies among mountains, high plains and historic routes of exchange. Turquoise domes, covered bazaars, metalworking traditions and natural wonders bring past and present into close conversation. Still refreshingly underexplored, the province links monumental architecture with intimate human stories and an extraordinary subterranean landscape.
Province highlights
Where is it?
North-western Iran
- Capital
- Zanjan
- Location in Iran
- North-western Iran
- Best season
- Spring & summer
- Suggested stay
- 2–3 days
- Best for
- History · Nature · Architecture
05
5 essential places
Rakhtshooy Khaneh
Zanjan’s Rakhtshooy Khaneh was built in 1928 as a covered, secure place where women could wash clothes and household vessels. Its columned hall, basins and carefully directed water offer a tangible glimpse of women’s social history; the unusual building now serves as an anthropology museum.
Katale Khor Cave
In Khodabandeh County, the limestone chambers of Kataleh-Khor unfold through vast halls, corridors, stalactites and stalagmites, with parts of the cave formed on several levels. The public route reveals only a portion of this subterranean world, where limestone columns and clear water create a mysterious stillness.
Salt Men Museum
Zanjan’s Zolfaghari Mansion houses bodies and objects discovered in the Chehrabad salt mine. The saline environment preserved parts of ancient miners’ bodies, clothing and tools with exceptional clarity, allowing the museum to tell a precise and moving story of their work and lives.
Zanjan Bazaar
The Zanjan Bazaar is among Iran’s longest covered markets, with origins in the Qajar period. Its specialised lanes, caravanserais, courtyards, brick vaults and coloured tiles remain animated by trade and craftsmanship, making it an inviting place to discover the province’s local arts and flavours.
