Sheikh Safi World Heritage, the first choice of tourists in Ardabil
Sheikh Safi al-Din Ardabili World Heritage Site in the center of Ardabil is one of the main tourist destinations in the province, which these days is the first choice of travelers to visit in Ardabil. This World Heritage Site, which was registered with the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in 2010, is one of the 26 World Heritage Sites in Iran. Each of these works, in turn, are part of the very valuable culture, history and nature of our country. These days, in addition to the main sections, the Sheikh Safi complex also houses 9 museums with different themes, which can take interested tourists in the heart of history for up to six hours.
The exquisite collection of Sheikh Safi al-Din named after the ancestor of the Safavid sultans was built in 735 AH by his son, Sadr al-Din Musa. This building was completed over the decades and due to the interest of the Safavid sultans in their ancestors during their time, it was decorated by the best masters and various sections were added to this collection. Sheikh Safi al-Din Ardabili complex is built so beautiful and huge that now, after centuries, it is still considered as a valuable world heritage. There are very valuable works of Safavid artists in this collection, many of which were looted during the Russian invasion of Iran and are now on display in Russian museums. Ardabil carpet is also one of the most famous works in this collection, which is now in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
World registration and revival of Sheikh Safi’s tomb
After the world registration in 2010, this collection attracted the attention of more tourists and, of course, the country’s cultural heritage officials. Special attention to this complex made the tomb of Sheikh Safi known in the world so that every year a large number of tourists from around the world travel to Ardabil to see this complex. Renovating the perimeter of the complex, renovating the entrance gate and adding several museums to the complex is a recent event that the complex is a good choice for time travel and review of part of our country’s history.
Today, there are 9 museums in this world heritage and works in different branches are displayed in these museums for public viewing. Eini, the head of museums in Ardabil province, referring to the museums created in the Sheikh Safi World Collection, says: “The glaze and the museum of historical photographs are important treasures that can be visited in the Sheikh Safi World Collection.”
An hour in the heart of the historical context of Ardabil
Tourists in Ardabil province have many choices. They can go to the city of springs of paradise quickly and use the God-given gifts in this beautiful city. They can visit new man-made attractions such as suspension bridges in the cities of Meshginshahr and Hir, or they can enjoy the pristine nature in every corner of the province. In addition to all these tourist attractions, the presence in the historical context of the provincial capital and interaction with urban life has its own charm for tourists. Travelers in Ardabil go to the historical and traditional indoor bazaar in the center of the city and spend happy hours among the scents and colors left from history, they walk through the historical context of Ardabil and prepare Ardabil souvenirs on the Esferis sidewalk. Where Gonbadullahullah Sheikh Safi al-Din Ardabili World Complex is more prominent and invites travelers to attend this world complex.
According to the Director General of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts of Ardabil Province, attending the Sheikh Safi World Heritage Complex can be entertaining for visitors for up to six hours and make them more familiar with the complex, Safavid sultans and the history of our country. “The steps that have been taken in recent years in this world heritage have led to the development of this collection, the increase of museums and existing works and the organization of the whole collection, and it can encourage more interested people to attend the collection than before,” says Nader Fallahi.
Architectural and historical masterpiece in front of domestic and foreign visitors
The monastery and tomb complex of Sheikh Safi al-Din Ardabili is a masterpiece of Iranian art and architecture, which is the burial place of Sheikh Safi al-Din Ardabili, Shah Ismail I and a number of Safavid officials. This historical masterpiece in the field of Islamic Iranian tiling and architecture is the choice of many foreign and domestic tourists to visit. The dome of Allah Allah, which has a unique tile and beautifully depicts the word “Allah”, can be considered the main building of this complex. . The porcelain house is another important part of this world heritage, this part, which has a unique architecture, in the Safavid period, was responsible for the maintenance of gold, silver and custom utensils of Shah Abbas I of China. Qandilkhaneh, Jantasara, Shahidgah, Haramkhaneh and Chelehkhaneh are other important parts of this world complex.
“This is very pure and real here, I think it is more real and what I saw in Isfahan was made after this and it is the second version of this collection,” said a Dutch tourist during his visit to the Sheikh Safi World Collection on Nowruz 1401.
This Dutch tourist, who seems to specialize in architecture and art, says that he has come to this world complex for the second time and will come again. He considers the architecture, tiling, carpets in the collection and the available chinaware unique.
* Report from Tawhid Seif