Iran is a fascinating mix of modern and ancient, of East and West, of the exotic and the mundane. It’s far more developed than you’d imagine, and far less dangerous. And the people are Persians, not Arabs. In fact, spending a few weeks with the Iranian people will probably redefine hospitality as you know it. The key is to open up to the people and just go with it. When someone you’ve barely met asks you to eat in their home, accept the invitation. You will be in their care, and that care is warmer than you can imagine – and yes, that includes the kindness shown towards Americans. Food and drink in Iran
While the rich and ancient Persian culture and art will ensure you are treated well, it also provides a stunning architectural and archaeological backdrop. The wonders of Persepolis, Esfahan and Yazd are the big-ticket items, but wandering through labyrinthine bazaars, shopping for carpets and just sitting, sipping tea and chatting with ordinary Iranians are just as memorable. There is also some good trekking and skiing in the northern mountains. Art in Iran

In 550 BC 29-year-old Cyrus the Great defeated the Medians and within a century he and his successors, Darius I and Xerxes, had made the Achaemenid empire (550–331BC) into the greatest the world had seen. The Persians expanded their rule all the way to India in the east and the Aegean Sea in the west, but Xerxes’ defeat by the Greeks at Marathon began a slow decline. The end came in 330 BC when Alexander the Great invaded Persia and sacked the greatest of all Achaemenid monuments, Persepolis.
After Alexander’s death his empire split, with Persia being controlled by the Mace-donian Seleucids who gradually introduced a Hellenistic culture. The Parthian, under King Mithridates, took over in the 2nd century BC and in turn was replaced by the Sassanid’s, a local dynasty from the Fars province. The Sassanid’s ruled from AD 224 to AD 638 but suffered continuing conflict with the Roman and, later, the Byzantine Empires.

Beginning in 1502, the Safavid era heralded a great Persian renaissance. Under the rule of Shah Abbas I (1587–1629) foreign influences were purged from the country, and architectural works such as those in Imam Sq (p213) in Esfahan have left a permanent reminder. The Safavid decline was hastened by an invasion from Afghanistan in 1722. A few years later Nader Shah, a tribal leader from the northeast, threw out the Afghans and went on to antagonize Persia’s neighbors until he was assassinated in 1747.
The brief Zand period, in which Karim Khan-e Zand ruled from Shiraz, was followed by a longer period of decline under the corrupt and incompetent Qajar rulers (1779–1925). It ended in 1925 when RezaKhan Pahlavi, an officer in the imperial army, founded the Pahlavi dynasty. Foreign influence – and oil – soon became an important element in Iran’s story. During WWII, Iran was officially neutral, but Reza Khan was exiled to South Africa because he was thought to be too friendly with the Axis powers. His 22-year-old son, Mohammed Reza, succeeded him. The government of Shah Mohammed Reza was repressive, but Iran was rapidly modernized. Illiteracy was reduced, women emancipated, land holdings redistributed, health services improved and a major industrialization program embarked upon.

The one newspaper headline you won’t read about Iran is ‘Iranians Redefine Hospitality!’ But for the vast majority of Iranians that’s the truth. They are deeply curious about foreigners; their welcome is warm and even the most religiously conservative is generous hosts. Through long experience, They are adept at differentiating the actions of governments from those of individuals; Americans are at least as welcome as anyone else. Iranians take their role as hosts very seriously, and ta’arof (right) notwithstanding, heir generosity is usually genuine. Throughout their history, Iranians have managed to maintain their own culture By subtly assimilating those of the many foreign invaders who have come and gone. Iranians are proud of their Aryan roots and hate being classed as Arabs.
The Iranian way is to bend to the prevailing wind only to spring back in time with regained poise. Ever-changing fortunes have also taught Iranians to be indirect people, unwilling to answer with a bald negative and unable to countenance rudeness or public displays of anger.

Iran is the Muslim country .There is some Christians, Jews and Zoroastrians in Iran. Most Iranian Christians are Armenians, predominantly members of the Gregorian Church; the rest are mainly Assyrians. Iran is a centre of Zoroastrianism, and followers are found mainly in Yazd, Tehran and Kerman. Freedom of worship is guaranteed in the constitution, but the 300,000 or so Baha’is are routinely persecuted and discriminated against; the religion is not recognized by the Iranian authorities.

Iran covers 1,648,195 sq km, with the two great deserts, Dasht-e Kavir and Dashte Lut, occupying most of the northeast and east of the central plain. There are three dominant mountain ranges: the volcanic Sabalan and Talesh ranges in the northwest; the vast, ancient and virtually insurmountable Zagros range in the central west & the Alborz range, which skirts the Caspian Sea and is home to Iran’s highest peak, Mt Damavand. more information about north of Iran
Most Iranian rivers drain into the Gulf, the Caspian Sea, or one of a number of salty and swampy lakes, such as Orumiyeh,Iran’s largest lake. More information about western Iran

Getting a visa can be a hassle, which contributes to Iran being relatively undiscovered by travelers – making it all the more worthwhile to visit. JustPersia.net can handle all your visa procedures with the cost of 55 Euro per passenger. You can pick the visa form, fill out for and send it for us with all required documents. It will be ready in 7-10 working days. More visa information