Afif Abad Garden in Iran is one of the original and old gardens in Shiraz that has remained since the Safavid era. This beautiful garden of 127 thousand square meters is also known as the Golshan Garden and today it houses one of the largest military museums in the Middle East. This garden can be said to be one of the perfect examples of Iranian flower art. Join us on the Hey Persia blog to get interesting information about this Iranian garden.
History of Afif Abad Garden in Iran
If we want to talk to you about the history of Afif Abad Garden, we must go back to the Safavid era and the time of its construction. During the Safavid era, this garden belonged to the Persian ruler “Aqoub Khan Zulqadar”. The Safavid kings used this garden for sightseeing and accommodation when they came to Shiraz. In the middle of the Golshan Garden, there was a stone castle called the Golshan Castle.
During the Qajar era, Mirza Ali Khan Qavam-ol-Molk purchased this garden and ordered its renovation. To irrigate the Afif Abad Garden, he purchased a qanat 15 kilometers away. In 1284 AH, Mirza Ali Khan Qavam-ol-Molk renovated the Afif Abad Garden and demolished the Golshan Castle, which had been badly damaged, and built a beautiful mansion in its place that still stands in the garden. At the end of the Qajar era, this garden was entrusted to his niece Afife Khanum. Afife Khanum made many changes to the garden. For this reason, the Golshan Garden was renamed the Afif Abad Garden. After several years, the heirs of the Afif Abad Garden gifted it to Farah Pahlavi.
But finally, this garden was purchased by the army through an auction in 1340 AH. After being given to the army, the Afif Abad Garden in Shiraz took 7 years to restore. Afif Abad Garden was reconstructed based on the Palace of Versailles.
After the Islamic Republic Revolution, this garden remained in the possession of the army until the Army Day 1370, the Army Military Museum No. 2 was opened in Afif Abad Garden.
Different parts of Afif Abad Garden, Shiraz
Afif Abad Garden is one of the gardens in Shiraz that has a historical and recreational aspect. This garden consists of different parts, which we will mention in this section:
The main royal palace of Afif Abad Garden
The main palace of the garden is a 2-story building that is very similar to the Eram Garden building in Shiraz. This garden was built with a combination of 30 nested halls and architecture of the Achaemenid, Sassanid and Qajar eras. The entrance to the building consists of 4 columns with capitals similar to those of Persepolis. If you look up, you will see the wooden ceiling of the building covered with oil paintings.
Just enter the mansion through the main door located on the northern side of the building. After passing through a few stone stairs, you will enter a large and spacious mansion with tall columns surrounding its entire space. An interesting point is that all rooms on the second floor have access to this porch.
What you see from the exterior of Afif Abad Palace is the eastern part of the mansion, which has a large, all-round porch with two spring terraces and eight columns on its sides.
Afif Abad Garden Military Museum
The first floor of Afif Abad Palace is for the military museum. In the Afif Abad Garden Museum in Shiraz, you will see various war tools from different historical periods of Iran. As mentioned, this museum is one of the largest museums in the Middle East, where you can see all kinds of cold and hot weapons, swords, armor, rifles, pistols, and more.
In the Afifabad Military Museum, you can see the personal weapons of Fathali Shah, Naser al-Din Shah, Mozaffar al-Din Shah and the weapons of the Pahlavi dynasty, Reza and Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi up close. In the Afifabad Palace Military Museum, you can see the personal rifle of Fathali Shah, Naser al-Din Shah, Mozaffar al-Din Shah, Reza and Mohammad Reza Shah, the weapons of the Jungle Movement and the water tank machine gun of Rais Ali Delvari up close.
Ebrat Museum, Afifabad Garden
The Ebrat Museum is located on the second floor of the palace and has a long corridor and interconnected rooms. In the center of this museum is a very magnificent hall with a wooden ceiling. The ceiling of this complex has 2500 different images of flower and bush motifs, hunting grounds and feasts, none of which are similar to the other.
In this complex, 2 marble fireplaces are also located in the northern and southern parts of the floor. The personal belongings of the Pahlavi dynasty are in the Ebrat Museum. The original and expensive carpets of the room, along with Farah’s personal piano, are among the most important items on this floor.
Afif Abad Palace Traditional Bath
The traditional bath is located in the western part of the garden, and its architecture is similar to traditional Iranian baths. However, famous old stories are in relief on its walls. In the bath, you can see images of Joseph’s entry into the Egyptian women’s group, Farhad on Mount Bisotun, the people’s meeting with Khosrow Parviz, and so on.
The traditional bath of the garden has two hot and cold water tanks. Its hot water supplied by a large copper pot on the floor of the tank. In the past, they would gradually heat the water by lighting it under the pot and use it.
Afif Abad Garden Coffee House
Another part of the Afif Abad Garden is its coffee house, which is located next to the traditional bath in the western part. The coffee house was by Qajar princes in the past as a place to rest and smoke hookah.
The coffee house has 6 rooms with designed tiles. The tile designs are with important stories from the Shahnameh such as Zahhak and Kaveh the Blacksmith, Zal and Simorgh, the battle of Rostam and Esfandiar, the battle of Tahmatan and the White Demon, the battle of Rostam and Sohrab, and …
Where is Afif Abad Garden?
If we want to be precise, where is Afif Abad Garden in Shiraz? This beautiful 127,000 square meter garden is located at the end of Afif Abad Street, close to Sattar Khan Street. The nearest metro station to this garden is around Zargari Intersection Station and Avini Station. After getting off at these two stations, take a taxi to the garden. If you want to take a bus, you should take the buses on Esteghlal Boulevard and get off at Zerhehi Station. After a few minutes of walking, you will reach the garden. The architecture of Afif Abad Garden is a combination of Achaemenid, Sassanid and Qajar era architecture.
When is the best time to visit Afif Abad Palace in Shiraz?
The city of Shiraz has an extraordinary beauty in spring. Spring, especially Ordibehesht, is the best time to visit this city and Afif Abad Garden.
Afif Abad Garden Shiraz Visiting Hours and Afif Abad Garden Entrance Fee
This garden is open every day from 8 am to 5 pm and the entrance fee for this garden is different for Iranians and foreign tourists.
Afif Abad Garden in Iran
Afif Abad Garden is one of the most attractive Iranian gardens in Shiraz and one of the sights of Fars that Shirazis also love very much. This beautiful 127 thousand square meter garden was in the list of national monuments of Iran in 1351. Golshan Garden or Afif Abad Garden is a perfect example of Iranian floriculture art.
If you are planning to travel to Shiraz, the city of spring oranges, just join us at Hey Persia Travel Agency. Hey Persia is a safe and different choice for middle-aged people that helps them experience a desirable and different trip with different interests. Just join us once on your Iran tours to become our regular companions. So register and join us.
