When most people hear ‘Shiraz’ they think wine, but that’s only because the full-bodied Syrah grapes that are fermented into reds and whites from Australia to California are rumoured to have first come from the Persian heartlands of southern Iran, where the romantic and regal city of the same name now stands in all its glory.
Eulogised by poets and painted by artists ad infinitum, Shiraz is primarily famed for the wealth of majestic medieval Persian architecture that graces its centre. This ranges from the tombs of the country’s greatest literary luminaries (think Saadi and Hafez), to the opulent gardens of its former religious masters, while all around the sprawling bazaars and bathhouses stand as a testimony to a city that was once at the political and cultural heart of Iran as a whole.
Outside of the old town middle, Shiraz tourist guides are quick to recommend the modern shopping centres and food streets. Here, spots like the Haft khan and old Vakil Bath offer up regional salads and kebabs to the tune of Arabic live music, while international cuisines are available in the food courts of the Setareh-e-Fars Mall and Zaytoon Shopping Centre.