Imam Reza Shrine, Religious mausoleum in Mashhad, Iran
The Imam Reza Shrine is a mausoleum in Mashhad, Iran, that spreads across numerous courtyards with tilework, mirrored halls, and gold-plated minarets. The central dome rises 31 meters (102 feet) above the main prayer hall and gleams with blue and turquoise tiles that reflect light into the space below.
After Imam Reza was buried in 818, only a small tomb stood on this site. Rulers from the Seljuk, Timurid, and Safavid dynasties expanded the site over centuries, adding towers, courtyards, and new prayer halls.
In the courtyards, families often spend entire days and share meals on spread carpets, while pilgrims tie fabric strips and whisper wishes at the gilded gates. Before the main shrine, worshippers move in long lines and touch the silver grilles before kneeling down to pray.
The entire complex is open to visitors, though some areas near the main shrine are reserved for specific groups. Those who want to orient themselves can follow signage or ask helpers stationed in the courtyards for directions.
The site houses the Astan Quds Razavi Library, which holds over 1.1 million printed volumes and thousands of manuscripts, some dating to the 9th century. A separate museum displays ancient coins, textiles, and calligraphy pieces drawn from royal collections of multiple dynasties.
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