Shahreza () is a city in the Central District of Shahreza County,

Isfahan Isfahan or Esfahan ( ) is a city in the Central District (Isfahan County), Central District of Isfahan County, Isfahan province, Iran. It is the capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is located south of Tehran. The city ...

province,

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...

, serving as capital of both the county and the district. Shahreza was selected as the "National City of

Pottery Pottery is the process and the products of forming vessels and other objects with clay and other raw materials, which are fired at high temperatures to give them a hard and durable form. The place where such wares are made by a ''potter'' is al ...

" in 1997. The reason for this choice was the high skill of the artists and the unique soil of this city.

History

It was one of the ancient territories of northern Pars (Persia) Satrapy in B.C. In the north of the county there is canyon of Orchiny (Orchine) that the main Iranian north-south high way passes through. The huge castle of Qomsheh was the latest place constructed by the

Safavid Empire The Guarded Domains of Iran, commonly called Safavid Iran, Safavid Persia or the Safavid Empire, was one of the largest and longest-lasting Iranian empires. It was ruled from 1501 to 1736 by the Safavid dynasty. It is often considered the begi ...

before the occupation of the capital

in the last of Safavid ages when

Afghans Afghans (; ) are the citizens and nationals of Afghanistan, as well as their descendants in the Afghan diaspora. The country is made up of various ethnic groups, of which Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras, and Uzbeks are the largest. The three main lan ...

captured and destroyed it in 1722.

Climate

Demographics

Population

At the time of the 2006 National Census, the city's population was 108,299 in 30,368 households. The following census in 2011 counted 123,767 people in 37,113 households. The 2016 census measured the population of the city as 134,952 people in 43,478 households.

Overview

Shahreza is located 508 km south to Tehran and about 80 km south west to Isfahan and Zard Kooh mountain chain runs from north-west to south-east of the city, enjoying a cold climate. It is an old city which was first named Qomsheh, but later on its name was changed to Shahreza due to the existence there of the shrine of Shahreza. The most important tourist attractions are: Mahyar

caravanserai A caravanserai (or caravansary; ) was an inn that provided lodging for travelers, merchants, and Caravan (travellers), caravans. They were present throughout much of the Islamic world. Depending on the region and period, they were called by a ...

, Shahreza

, the Shah Ghandab caves, located south-east of Shahreza, the Poodeh mosque, and Shahreza Imamzadeh. Other tourist attractions include the Amin Abad

, a

structure in Amin Abad, a village 42 km south of Shahreza. Shahreza is a strategic city due to having large military bases, a rail transportation system, very fertile soil, having the second largest industrial town in Iran (Razi), and connecting the north to the south. It is interesting that a part of the old Silk Road passed through the Choghad Shahreza area.

Souvenirs and handicrafts

Shahreza is known for its unique souvenirs and

handicrafts A handicraft is a traditional main sector of craft making and applies to a wide range of creative and design activities that are related to making things with one's hands and skill, including work with textiles, moldable and rigid material ...

. Among the most popular items are pomegranates, raisins, dairy products such as yogurt and shallot, ''kashk'' (fermented whey), and ''qara'' (a local dried

yogurt Yogurt (; , from , ; also spelled yoghurt, yogourt or yoghourt) is a food produced by bacterial Fermentation (food), fermentation of milk. Fermentation of sugars in the milk by these bacteria produces lactic acid, which acts on milk protein to ...

). Shahreza's

pottery Pottery is the process and the products of forming vessels and other objects with clay and other raw materials, which are fired at high temperatures to give them a hard and durable form. The place where such wares are made by a ''potter'' is al ...

is especially famous throughout Iran, and the city is also known for its ceramics and handwoven carpets.

Cuisine

Shahreza has a rich culinary heritage, with local dishes like ''koofteh berenji'' or ''koofteh chi'' (a rice meatball made with rice, meat, fava beans, and herbs) and ''ash-e omaj'' (a thick soup) being popular among locals. Another beloved traditional food is ''mas poost'', a type of thick yogurt similar to strained yogurt but with a unique and delicious taste. Additionally, ''samanoo'', a nutritious and traditional dish, is often made as a religious offering.

Tourist attractions

Among the main attractions of Shahreza is the ''Shahreza Imamzadeh'', a shrine believed to be the resting place of the brother of Imam Reza. Due to the presence of ceramic shops and several parks around it, this site serves as a major tourist destination and is highly revered by the local population. The Jameh Mosque of Shahreza, located at the start of the historical covered

bazaar A bazaar or souk is a marketplace consisting of multiple small Market stall, stalls or shops, especially in the Middle East, the Balkans, Central Asia, North Africa and South Asia. They are traditionally located in vaulted or covered streets th ...

, is another attraction. Built during the Seljuk era in 739 AH (1338 CE), the mosque boasts a large prayer hall, a beautifully painted mihrab, a stone pulpit, and a high dome and minaret.

Notes

References

{{Shahreza County, state=collapsed Cities in Isfahan province Populated places in Shahreza County