Persia: Ancient soul of Iran

I went to Iran 2 summers ago to visit family and visited Isfahan and Persepolis, and it's incredibly breath taking.. I truly feel that if foreigners were given the opportunity to experience the beauty of the architecture and history then perhaps it would quill some of the hostility and resentment towards Iran.

It's a shame how a lack of cultural exchange breeds ignorance and disdain...

Amazing pictures. Thank you for sharing. I think the sharing of culture is a great way to build bridges.

Great pictures of Iran. It is great to see such a beautiful Country, Culture, and People.

Syria is beautiful too. Aleppo, Damascus. Truly breathtaking.

Yes, thanks much for sharing.

On edit: Those photos are AWESOME! The light painting is superb. But whadaya expect from National Geographic.

Just imagine if we go to other Countries to respect their culture and on missions of charity instead invading their land and calling them terrorists because they raises to defend it from invasion.

It would be a shame if Iran was destroyed. The people don't deserve to have their world destroyed because they elected a big mouthed idiot. Let us hope that isn't reason enough to be destroyed!

Agreed Marilynn. Their world, our common human history.

I've been to different parts of New England (U.S.) and have been wowed by 400-something-year old buildings.

These sites are eons old.

It should be a no brainer. But not for the current regime.

By the by, Marilynn, only 11-more days now, right?

beautiful indeed. although i dont agree with a lot of statements above hah. Theres as much wrong with irans government as everyone elses, at least thiers is telling the truth about international affairs. culture should also not be used for " building bridges " i mean isn't that patronising ?

Agreed entirely Kabimibi ... but should we bomb for such? (we being the US)>

What lovely photos! I hope no one bombs the ruins.

I have been to other middle east countries and have enjoyed seeing them and feeling thier culture, I would like to do the same in Iran and probably will.

shroomfairly/Robroy ... I wanna go too!

too bad Greyhound doesn't drive under the ocean, I'd so be there.

Truly Beautiful!

Afghanistan and Iraq were also breathtakingly beautiful with marvelous architecture, ancient cultures, etc., and we have reduced them both to rubble.

I suppose that anyone displaced by war is a "Gypsy" for different degrees of time. Outcasts, not by choice.
Excellent post. One HUGE Thank You to all who care enough to find such awe inspiring, spiritually moving and heartbreaking media to share.

Wouldn't it be awesome if there was a web site dedicated exclusively to Iran (Afghanistan, Darfur), showing the beauty of the country and the people? So people could see what we seem to be determined to destroy. That thought came to me the other day when looking at pictures of the beautiful children of Darfur. If people could see and know they couldn't allow it. Ignorance is bliss. It isn't hard to allow thousands of people you know nothing about to be collateral damage.

My senior architecture project in college was to design a cooperatively owned women's hostel in Isfahan (the design was drawn from vernacular construction methods).
The idea was to create an environment and a means to allow women (because it is very difficult for women to travel alone in Iran) to see the culture and splendor of the city and the rest of Iran by organizing tours run by local entrepreneurial women.. Inevitably, the goal would be to create jobs for women and bring tourism to a new level.

...Hearing everyone's eager and interested responses kind of really reinforces this dream.

These are beautiful and inspiring pictures thank you for sharing MM and the heads up! I hope much that Obama will bring peace to all in these regions. My family has friends from Iran ...a handsome son with a beautiful family...living in the USA. Their art is amazing. The detail is breathtaking.

If we can persuade the warmongers to back off and consider the evil they conjure by proposing the senseless bombing of Iran, then the rich cultural diversity and beauty of that region will be preserved for all of eternity and for the rest of the world to experience.

The beauty of the ancient architecture, the landscapes and the brilliant colors of the clothes are astounding... thanks to all for bringing this out... let's give it more exposure...for the people of Iran...they're the ones who will suffer if another illegal bombing takes place...it's a shame that we can't even trust our own government... the biggest part of the problem is that our gov thinks they know better than 'we the people'...

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