May 4, 2004, 3:54 PM

Maragheh, Home to Wonderful Historical Monuments

TEHRAN May 4 (MNA) –- Maragheh, located in East Azerbaijan, enjoys a great number of historical monuments and ancient heritage and is now a tourism magnet of the country.

Maragheh is among the 12 cities with its background of being a capital in older times, being recognized as the first 10 cities with its old historical monuments by the Cultural Heritage Organization (CHO).

 

Experts say the city is home to over 250 historical mounds, and works dating to pre-and post Islamic civilization era such as works of Seljuk era, and the  works of Orartu kingdom being unique in the country.

 

According to the head of Maragheh Cultural Heritage Department, only in the previous year, over 57 works were discovered in Maragheh and Ajabshir. They include mosques, bathhouses, bridges, dovecote, Imamzadeh, port and graveyard.

 

Naser Zavvare’i added that over 30,000 Iranian and foreign tourists visit the historical monuments as well as Ilkhanid Museum every year. The foreign tourists mostly come from Italy, Germany, Austria, China, Japan, the Netherlands, Switzerland, U.S., and England.

 

 

They mostly visit the Ilkhanid Museum, Ohadi Mausoleum, Observatory of Maragheh, as well as domes of Ghaffariyeh, Kabud, and Sorkh and the spherical tower. The old district of the city with 700 to 800 years as a rich historical complex attracts many tourists to the city.

 

The historical works represent the national and cultural identity, which need to be preserved. Historical castles of Chelan, Qizlar, Goyjeh Qal’eh, and Divrazm, are also among the most important castles in the country.

 

Sahand Castle with the height of 3,710m, Safi Chay and Mardaq Chay rivers, Hampul Cave, hot springs of Shur Su, and Sari Su, Qarah Palchiq, and Isti Bolagh are also drawing many tourists to the region every year.

 

Hampul Cave is also one of the wonders of the region with its many hot springs and fascinating landscapes.

 

RM/IS
END
MNA

 

News ID 5635

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