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In this tour, you will first visit a UNESCO World Heritage Site called the Shrine of Sheikh Safi al-din Ardabili. The site has several different parts, one of which is the mausoleum of Sheikh Safi.
You will visit the whole complex including the grave of Shah Ismail I, the hall where dervishes used to gather together (now called Chini Khaneh), Haram Khaneh (where the wife of Sheikh Safi and the daughters and wife of his master, i.e. Sheikh Zahid, were buried), Chele Khaneh (where dervishes used to pray to God for 40 days), and many more. Then, we will walk to the traditional bazaar of Ardabil to shop and get familiar with the culture and customs of Iranians living in this part of the country.
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We can start this tour at your preferred time. Just keep in mind that Sheikh Safi’s Shrine is open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. in spring and summer, and from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in fall and winter.
Walking to Ali Qapu Square of Ardabil, we can find the main entrance of the shrine on the east side of the square. Going through the door, we will enter the exterior yard of the complex.
We will move to the interior yard where the shrine of Sheikh can be found. It’s a masterpiece of Iranian art! In this building, you can see amazing tilework, calligraphy, muqarnas (stalactite vaulting), woodcarving, inlay, stucco, illuminated manuscripts etc. Noticed can be the famous dome of Allah-Allah among the other domes.
Then we will visit the tomb of Shah Ismail I, the founder of Safavid Dynasty and a descendant of Sheikh Safi. There is also a museum in this complex where the gifts of Chinese empire to Shah Abbas are kept and that’s why it is called Chini Khaneh today. However, it is said that it was the place where dervishes gathered together at the time of Sheikh Safi. We will visit this hall as well.
After visiting other parts of the complex, we will leave for Ardabil traditional bazaar. It is said that the bazaar was first built at the time of Seljuq Dynasty, but it had its flourishing days during the Safavid era. Like all Iranian traditional markets, Ardabil market also has different alleys each of which belongs to a specific profession.
(Depending on the time of the day/year and the weather conditions, the tour guide may change the order of activities.)
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