Wednesday, 13 May 2020

The “glassy” Golestan Palace in Tehran, Iran

*WS 156A – The “glassy” Golestan Palace in Tehran, Iran*

This is the old royal palace mostly developed from 1750-1779 when the Qajar Dynasty selected Tehran as the new capital of the land. The palace was rebuilt to its current form in the 1865s. They are the oldest historic monuments in Tehran. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We made our visit in 2018. 

The main buildings are two storey high, made up of many function halls. The exterior are mostly decorated with mosaic with floral patterns. The more famous halls include the Hall of Brilliance, Talar-e Berelian, where glass-mirrors are extensively used, 3rd and 4th photos. The next 2 photos show the main Reception Hall, Talar-e Salam. 

One famous cosy corner in the palace is Karim Khani Nook, a small terrace with a small fountain for the king to relax, 7th and 8th photos. A prominent building is the Edifice of the Sun, Shams-ol-Emareh, with 2 high towers. This building is the tallest one in the complex, more for the king to have a panoramic view of the city. This is also a stunning structure, being a fusion of Persian and European architecture, rather rare at that time. Last 2 photos.











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