When
the Safavid dynasty adopted Islam as the state religion in the 16th
century, Mashhad came into its own as Iran's most important pilgrimage
center. The Imam Reza, the only one of the twelve Imams to be buried
in Iran, died in A.H. 817 at Sanabad, as poison was suspected, the
place of his burial was named Mashhad (the place of martyrdom) and
soon began to attract pilgrims - now estimated at over one million
per year. Much of the 9th century shrine over the Imam's grave was
destroyed in the next century. Rebuilt, damaged by Mongols in the
12th century and bombarded
by Russians in the early 20th, the shrine has been embellished
by most of Iran's
notable rulers. The dome, probably constructed in the early 14th
century was redecorated by command of Shah Abbas I at the beginning
of the 17th century, when the gilded copper tiles were renovated
by the court goldsmith from Isfahan.
Major attractions :
1-The Holly Shrine
of Imam Reza with related buildings & Mosque ( Gohrashad )
& Museums.
2-Tomb & Museum of Nadershah . 3-The
Tomb of Ferdowsi :( the Iranian epic poet , creater of Shahnameh)
.
4-The Tomb of Omar Khayyam ( 1486 A.D) – located Neishabour near
Mashhad the great Iranian Poet, Mashhad
the great Iranian Poet,
Mathematician & astrologer) .
