Shiraz
Ancient Iranian city, trade center, and home to poets Hafez and Saadi.
Shiraz is the fifth-most-populous city in Iran and serves as the capital of Fars province, a region historically referred to as Persia proper. According to the 2016 national census, the city’s population stood at 1,565,572, while its built-up area, including the nearby town of Sadra, housed nearly 1,800,000 residents; a 2021 census recorded a further increase to 1,995,500. Located in southwestern Iran along a seasonal river, Shiraz enjoys a moderate climate and has functioned as a regional trade center for over a millennium. The earliest known reference to the settlement appears as “Tiraziš” on Elamite clay tablets dating to 2000 BCE. The modern city was established under the Sasanian dynasty and later restored by the Umayyad Caliphate in 693 CE, gaining prominence under the Saffarid and Buyid dynasties in the 9th and 10th–11th centuries. By the 13th century, it had emerged as a leading hub of arts and letters, fostered by its ruler and the presence of numerous Persian scholars and artists. The celebrated poets Hafez and Saadi both hailed from Shiraz, and their tombs lie north of the current city boundaries. Today, Shiraz is a top tourist destination, known as the city of poets, literature, and flowers, and is often regarded by Iranians as a city of gardens, exemplified by Eram Garden. It has historically hosted significant Jewish and Christian communities. Local crafts include inlaid mosaic work, silverware, pile carpet-weaving, and kilim weaving. Major industries produce cement, sugar, fertilizers, textiles, wood products, metalwork, and rugs. The city also houses a major oil refinery and is a key center for Iran’s electronics sector, hosting 53 percent of the nation’s electronic investment, as well as the country’s first solar power plant.
- province
- Fars
- country
- Iran
- known_for
- City of poets, literature, flowers, and gardens; major electronic industries
Lore & Background
Shiraz, the capital of Fars province in southwestern Iran, lies along the Rudkhaneye Khoshk seasonal river. The city enjoys a moderate climate and has functioned as a regional trade center for over a millennium. Its earliest known reference appears on Elamite clay tablets from 2000 BCE as Tiraziš. The modern settlement was established under the Sasanian dynasty and later restored by the Umayyad Caliphate in 693 CE. Shiraz rose to prominence under the Iranian Saffarid and Buyid dynasties during the 9th and 10th–11th centuries. By the 13th century, it had become a major hub for arts and literature, fostered by its ruler and the many Persian scholars and artists who gathered there. The renowned poets Hafez and Saadi both hailed from Shiraz, and their tombs lie north of the present-day city. The city is known as the city of poets, literature, and flowers, and is considered by many Iranians to be a city of gardens, with numerous gardens and fruit trees such as those in Eram Garden. Historically, Shiraz hosted significant Jewish and Christian communities. Its traditional crafts include triangular inlaid mosaic work, silverware, and carpet and kilim weaving. Modern industries produce cement, sugar, fertilizers, textiles, wood products, metalwork, and rugs. The city houses a major oil refinery and is a key center for Iran’s electronics sector, hosting 53 percent of the nation’s electronic investment, as well as the country’s first solar power plant.
Reader's Guide
Shiraz has historically been a major trade center for over a thousand years, with a moderate climate and a location in southwestern Iran. It is one of the top tourist cities in Iran, known as the city of poets, literature, and flowers, and is considered by some Iranians to be the city of gardens, such as Eram Garden. The city has historically had major Jewish and Christian communities. Its crafts include inlaid mosaic work, silverware, and carpet-weaving. Dominant industries include cement, sugar, fertilizers, textiles, wood products, metalwork, rugs, and a major oil refinery. Shiraz is a major center for Iran's electronic industries, hosting 53 percent of the nation's electronic investment, and is home to Iran's first solar powerplant. The city's name may derive from an ancient term meaning 'sunlit plain' or 'bright land,' reflecting its fertile terrain and favorable climate.
Did You Know?
- Two famous poets of Iran, Hafez and Saadi, are from Shiraz, with tombs north of the city.
- Shiraz hosts 53 percent of Iran's electronic investment and has the country's first solar powerplant.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Shiraz known for?
The city is celebrated as a haven of poets, literature, flowers, and gardens, most famously being the home of the medieval poets Hafez and Saadi. It also maintains a notable presence in electronic industries and remains a top tourist destination for its historic gardens and traditional crafts.
Why is Shiraz important to Iranian history?
As the capital of what was historically called Persia proper, Shiraz carried significant political and cultural weight for centuries. Its 13th-century golden age produced two of Iran's most beloved poets, cementing its reputation as the spiritual and artistic heart of the country.
More in Iranian Cities 1-21
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