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Zanjan is located on northwestern Iran. It is the principal city of the Zanjan region and capital of Zanjan province. The population of zanjan is about 521,302 according to the last official census. This city lies in an open valley on an altitude of 1638 meters above the sea level and about halfway along the Tehran-Tabriz railway line.
Zanjan was located on the route of the ancient Silk Road, which effected this city in a lot of ways. The Mongols destroyed this city during the 13th century. Then during the 14th century the Ilkhanid king of Mongol Dynasty, named Oljaito chose the city of Sultaniey ( 32 Kms away from Zanjan) as his capital.
Zanjan has one of the coldest climates among the cities of Iran, with dry summers (average 31.6◦ C) and cold, moist winters with snowfalls (average 4.3◦C). This city experiences mild weather during spring and autumn.
Sultaniyeh Dome
The magnificent Sultaniyeh Dome, built in 1302 as the mausoleum of Oljaito, is one of the most outstanding examples of the achievements of Persian architecture and a key monument in the development of Islamic architecture with a 50-meter-tall dome covered with turquoise tile! This construction is registered as a UNESCO world heritage site.
Zanjan Bazaar
Zanjan bazaar is the longest historical bazaar in Iran, which was built little by little during the Qajar Dynasty and displaying the architectural ornaments and techniques of this period. This bazaar has 940 shops, which consist of two defined parts, namely Bazaar-e Bala (upper bazaar) and Bazaar-e Paieen (lower bazaar).
Saltmen Museum
6 mummified bodied were found in Chehrabad Salt Lake of Zanjan in 1993. These bodies were stuck in the mine in result of mine explosion. Some of these bodies are related to Achaemenid period. These naturally preserved bodies are available for visit in the Saltmen Museum of Zanjan, opened in Zolfaghari Mansion in 2009.
Rakhtshooy Khaneh
This is a construction built by two brothers named Mashadi Akbar and Mashadi Esmail at which locals used to wash their clothes. This building is now used as the Zanjan Anthropological Museum.
Zanjan is known for its attractive handicrafts such as handmade knives, traditional sandals, called Charoogh, and Malileh, the art of creating crafts like jewelries and dishes with delicate silver wires.
