Afif Abad Garden

Afif Abad Garden, also known in the past as "Golshan Garden", is located in the city of Shiraz, in Fars Province. This historic garden covers about 127,000 square metres. It was an important estate in the Safavid era and was later restored and expanded by the Qavam al-Molk family. A two-storey mansion stands in the middle of the garden, reflecting the architecture of several periods of Iranian history, including the Safavid, Zand and Qajar eras. The complex was added to Iran's National Heritage List in 1972 (1351 in the Solar Hijri calendar) under registration number 913. Today, besides its historical value, it offers visitors a living experience of Persian garden design and royal architecture.

The Afif Abad Garden clearly combines the typical elements of Persian gardens: towering trees, fountains, intersecting pathways and a central mansion. Its architecture has remarkable historical and artistic features. The garden's entrance gate has four plain plaster columns with capitals inspired by Persepolis, and a relief of two lions on its lintel. The central mansion contains halls and rooms; the "Military Museum" is housed on the first floor and the "Ebrat Museum" on the second, so visitors can also explore Iran's past cultural and military heritage here.

To reach the garden, head to the Afif Abad district at the end of Afif Abad Street, near Sattarkhan Boulevard in Shiraz. The best time to visit is spring, especially the month of Ordibehesht (late April to May), when the bitter orange blossoms, the flowers and the greenery of the garden are at their most beautiful. While visiting, keeping relatively quiet, respecting the historic setting and sticking to the designated visitor paths are an important part of "responsible nature tourism" in this complex.