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Tabriz (Persian: تبریز, Azerbaijani: تبریز) is the largest city in northwestern Iran – (38°04′N 46°18′E). It is situated north of the volcanic cone of Sahand, south of the Eynali mountain. It is the capital of East Azarbaijan Province. Tabriz lies at the junction of the Komur River (Mehran River) and the Aji River.

The founding of Tabriz is shrouded in mystery and myth. Various sources name the city as the possible site of the Biblical Garden of Eden.

According to some sources, including Encyclopedia Britannica, the name Tabriz derives from “tap-riz” (“causing heat to flow” in Iranian languages), from the many thermal springs in the area. Other sources claim that in A.D. 246, to avenge his brother’s death, king Khosraw I of Armenia defeated Ardashir I of the Sassanid Empire and changed the name of the city from Shahistan to Tauris, deriving from “ta-vrezh” (“this revenge” in Grabar). In A.D. 297, it became the capital of Tiridates III, king of Armenia.

Tabriz was the city where the Constitutional Revolution of Iran started in 1906 and where its leaders, Sattar Khan and Bagher Khan came from. An American who died defending the Constitutional Revolution, Howard Baskerville, is buried in Tabriz.

Tabriz City Hall, built in 1934, by Arfa’ol molk

Because of the location of Tabriz (as a gate to the west for Iran), many signs of modern life in Iran have first appeared in this city. Because of this, Iranians have described Tabriz as a “City of firsts”.
These include:

• The first printing house of Iran was founded in Tabriz (1811).
• The first modern school of Iran was founded in Tabriz by Hassan Roshdieh (1888). The language of instruction was Persian and Azari Turkish.
• The first Iranian special school for deaf children was founded in Tabriz by Jabbar Baghcheban (1924).
• The first Iranian special school for blind students was founded in Tabriz by a German mission (1926).
• The first Iranian kindergarten was founded in Tabriz by Jabbar Baghcheban (1923).
• The first modern-style municipality and city hall in Iran were founded in Tabriz.
• Tabriz Chamber of Commerce was the first of its kind founded in Iran (1906).
• The first public libraries in modern Iran were founded in Tabriz.
• The first movie theater in Iran was founded in Tabriz (1900). Also the first movie theater in Tehran was founded by a Tabrizi (1921).
• Tabriz was the first city in Iran that got a Telephone system (about 1900).

The famous Iranian historian, Ahmad Kasravi, was born in a nearby village called Hokmavar.
Samad Behrangi, a famous writer and musicians, as well as Ali Salimi, Vahid Houseini, and Bigjeh-Khani were Tar (lute) specialists from this city.

Constitutionalists of Tabriz.
The two men in the center are Sattar Khan & Bagher Khan

After World War II, the communist Azerbaijan People’s Government in North Western Iran established with its capital at Tabriz. The new communist government, under the leadership of Jafar Pishevari, held power for a year from 1946 to 1947.

With a population of 1,600,000, Tabriz is Iran’s Fourth largest city, after Tehran, Mashhad and Esfahan.

Iranian digital map provider IWM released their latest database that includes more than 40000 new POI (Point Of Interest). The company released also new GPS map for Iran with corrections and more cities.

Iran GPS map features voice guidance and instructions in English and Persian (Farsi).
The company also publishes its GPS map activities daily on IranGPSmap web site.

Kashan (Persian: کاشان) is a city in the province of Isfahan, Iran. it is located about 250 km (150 miles) south of Tehran or 100 km (60 miles) south of Ghom (Qom) on the secondary road to Isfahan.
The city name comes from Kasian, the original inhabitants of Kashan whose remains are found at Tapeh Sialk dating back 9,000 years over millennia this changed to kashian and the town became Kashan.

Kashan is one of the oldest, most attractive and prosperous oasis town in Iran with a rich history. It is famous for manufacturing carpets, silk and other textiles.

With 183 historical buildings Kashan is registered as national heritage.
Fin Garden (a 16th-century garden with natural springs, constructed by Shah Abbas),
Agha Bozorg Mosque (Famous for its architectural and constructional techniques) and
House of Borujerdi, where a velvet-weaving workshop exists are famous tourist attractions.

Kashan is famous for its annual harvest of roses (in the middle two weeks of May) from which rose water & rose oil are made.

Agha Bozorg Mosque

Khashan carpets are counted among the world’s finest carpets. With Kerman and Tabriz, Kashan has been the principal source for the collector of special pieces—personage rugs, symbolic rugs, and ornate prayer rugs. Kashan carpets are asymmetrically knotted on silk or cotton foundations, depending upon the fiber of the pile.

Kashan has an estimated population of 300.000.