Fars

Fars (Persian: فارس) is a province of Central Iran. It is in the south of the country and its center is Shiraz. It has an area of 122,400 km². In 2011, this province had a population of 4.6 million people, of which 67.6% were registered as urban dwellers (urban/suburbs), 32.1% villagers (small town/rural), and 0.3% nomad tribes.

Nominally, Fars is the original homeland of the Persian people. The native name of the Persian language is Fārsi or Pārsi. Persia and Persian both derive from the Hellenized form Πέρσις Persis of the root word Pārs. Fārs is the Arabicised version of Pars. The Old Persian word was Pārsā.

• 29.61027852.5311111 Shiraz – the provincial capital and city of poets and roses, is the cultural heart of Iran, featuring magnificent gardens, small alleys, historic mosques, and the tomb of the great poets Hafez and Saadi.
• 31.16083352.6505562 Abadeh – a desert oasis in a high plateau valley, charms visitors with its traditional architecture and proximity to the ancient ruins of Pasargad, situated on the crossroads between Esfahan, Yazd and Shiraz.
• 29.12694454.0394443 Estahban – one of the oldest cities in Fars that is famous for its figs and other agricultural products, is nestled in a picturesque mountain landscape and offers a tranquil atmosphere.
• 28.84361152.5705564 Firouzabad – a small city in a fertile plain where once the ancient circular city of Gour was situated. There are still historic remnants of the Sassanid era in form of palaces and rock reliefs around the city that are listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
• 28.50140953.5695875 Jahrom – the province's second largest city is known for its traditional bazaar, citrus fruits and the world's largest hand-carved cave.
• 29.61666751.656 Kazeroon – the city itself is less interesting, but it is located near the World Heritage Site of Bishapur, an ancient city from the Sassanid dynasty.
• 27.68333354.3416677 Lar – capital of the Larestan region in the South of Fars, that has its own language and very hot and dry climate. Don't forget to eat some kebab and get some local dates when stopping here.
• 29.87629152.806298 Marvdasht – an unspectacular modern city not far from Shiraz, which serves primarily as a starting point for visiting the nearby ancient sites of Persepolis and Naqsh-e Rostam.
• 30.166667529 Sepidan – nestled in the mountains north of Shiraz, is a paradise for nature lovers, offering a cool climate, waterfalls, and skiing resorts.

• 29.93552.891 Persepolis — impressive ruins of a vast city-like complex built over 2,500 years ago, near the modern City of Shiraz. It was set on fire by Alexander of Macedon and further ruined by Arabs. Called TakhteJamshid in Persian, Persepolis is the symbol of Iranian nationality. UNESCO World Heritage Site
• 29.98888952.8747222 Naqsh-e Rustam — ancient necropolis 6 km north of the ruins of Persepolis. Rock-cut tombs of four Persian Great Kings of the Achaemenid dynasty. UNESCO World Heritage Site
• 30.253.1794443 Pasargad — the first capital of the Achaemenid Empire, and home to the Tomb of Cyrus. UNESCO World Heritage Site
• 29.77777851.5708334 Bishapur – Ruins of an ancient Sassanid city featuring rock reliefs, a temple, and the remains of a palace. In the adjacent valley, 29.78207151.5810095 Tang-e Chogan, alongside ancient rock reliefs, lies the 29.80777851.6119446 Shapur Cave , which contains a statue of the ruler of the same name. UNESCO World Heritage Site
• 28.92099752.5301367 Qal'eh Dokhtar – The ruins of this fortress, built by Ardashir I over 2,000 years ago, are located on a mountain ridge near the city of Firuzabad. UNESCO World Heritage Site
• 29.19555653.2308338 Sarvestan Palace – a building from the Sassanid era near Sarvestan, about 90 km southeast of the city of Shiraz. The palace was built in the 5th century AD, and its exact purpose is unknown. It may have been a royal residence or a Zoroastrian fire temple. UNESCO World Heritage Site

• 29.46666752.89 Maharloo Lake – In midsummer, this lake not far from Shiraz turns a bright pink due to the extreme dryness and high salinity.
• 30.4912151.8937210 Margoon Waterfall – Considered the largest waterfall in all of Iran, it plunges more than 70 meters down into a small valley in the Zagros Mountains.

There are three distinct climatic regions in the Fars Province. First, the mountainous area of the north and northwest has moderate cold winters and mild summers. Secondly, the central regions have relatively rainy mild winters and hot dry summers. The third region located in the south and southeast and has moderate winters with very hot summers. The average temperature of Shiraz is 16.8°C, ranging between 4.7° and 29.2°C.

Each day many domestic and international flights arrive from various air lines in Shiraz International Airport. Many flights originate in countries such as Syria, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia and in special cases Egypt, Russia, and Turkey.

Shiraz international Airport is identified as the second most reliable and modern airport in Iran (after Imam Khomeini International Airport of Tehran).

Domestic flights between Shiraz and other cities such as Tehran, Mashhad, Esfahan, Ahwaz, Abadan, Kermanshah, Boshehr, Baandar Lengeh, Lar, Lamerd, Bandar abbas, Kish, Qeshm, Siry islands, Lavan, and in urgency cases to other airports in Iran.

Shiraz is accessible via freeways to Isfahan, Kerman, Bushehr, Ahvaz and Yasouj, and accessible via road to Bandare Abbas.

Shiraz is connected by rail road to other cities such as Tehran and Isfahan.

• Persepolis ruins about 50km northeast of Shiraz.
• Naqsh-e Rustam stone reliefs near Shiraz.
• Pasargad and the tomb of Cyrus the Great.
• Abshare Margoon waterfall near Sepidan, 100km north of Shiraz.
• Sassanid Archaeological Landscape of Fars Region; a world heritage site made up of 8 individual sites in Firouzabad, Bishapur and Sarvestan.

• Alpine skiing - Sepidan ski resort is located near the city of Sepidan, in the northwest of Fars Province. It makes winter sport fans from neighbouring cities, regions and even countries to gather in this city over the weekends. The hills of the Zagros Mountains in this region have created a suitable space for different games and sports on their snow-covered slopes.
• Poolad Kaf is another ski resort. The pistes are served by a telecabin and 3 drag lifts. Skis can be hired and, in the summer, mountain-bikes. A snowmobile track runs around the perimeter. Outside of the ski season, discounts can easily be negotiated, especially if you are the only visitors.

Alternatively, camping is an option. Those who speak some Farsi may wish to speak to the nomads, who will likely offer you tea and perhaps even a place to stay.

• Faloodehye shirazi is a rose water sorbet that contains small pieces of cooked rice noodle. The dish is quite subtle, slightly sweet with just a hint of rose petals; the noodles add a chewiness to the sorbet but little flavor. Faloodeh is served with a wedge of lemon, which added a refreshing kick. It's an ideal way to end a meal on a searing day. You can order Faloodehye shirazi in Icecream shops and most tea houses (chai khaneh). Have tea or faloodeh in the tea houses of the world famous gardens of shiraz.

Tap water in Fars province is drinkable, but has a lot of chalk in it.