Mashhad

Iran's holiest city, Mashhad - literally meaning 'the burial place of the martyr' - is found in the Kashaf River valley. It is known this way because, as the story goes, in the 9th century, Imam Reza was said to have been poisoned by the caliph, and then buried in Mashhad. It is currently one of the holiest sites for Shiite Muslims to visit.

Even though, Mashhad started out with humble beginnings - as being nothing but a pit stop for travelers, it soon became one of the holiest cities in Iran - and was also named as Iran's spiritual capital. Another interesting fact about Mashhad is that it is also said to be home to the famous Persian poet, Ferdowsi. This poet is known to be the 'saviour of the Persian language' because he wrote the poem, Shahnameh - which does not contain any words of the Arabic language. Today, Mashhad has so much to offer travelers, from its rich culture and heritage to its incredible restaurants and museums - it is truly a delight for any traveler. Each year, over 20 million pilgrims visit this city, thus possessing a vast variety of visitors aside from the pilgrims who come to pay homage to the Holy Shrine. This is why there is something for everyone there. Mashhad is also home to one of the oldest libraries existing in the Middle-East today. This library holds over 600 years worth of documents and manuscripts - an absolute treat for any history buff!