The Tomb of Saadi in Shiraz is a remarkable cultural, as well as historical, beacon honoring the great 13th-century poet Sheikh Muslih al-Din Saadi Shirazi. Architect Mohsen Foroughi redesigned it in 1952, and his plan included the Persian elements of white marble domes and blue tiles, as well as fragrant rose gardens and cypress trees.
The tomb is known for its peacefulness, with the mirror-like pool adding to its meditative quality. Being a UNESCO site, the Tomb is a perfect representation of a country’s vast literary legacy, thus it encourages people to come and discover its past and beauty.
Tomb of Saadi History
The Tomb of Saadi history reflects the development of Persian culture. A small tomb was built after the death of Saadi in 1291, but it was destroyed by the invasion of the Mongols. In 1773, Karim Khan Zand, the founder of the Zand dynasty, built a great mausoleum with plaster and brick and resurrected the poetic culture of Shiraz.
The Pahlavi also welcomed change. The site was restored by French architect Andre Godard in the 1920s. It lies on a mix of modern and traditional design.
The current building was designed in 1952 by an Iranian architect named Mohsen Foroughi, who put forward an impressive dome and elaborate details. The 2024 restorations have been recently done to preserve it and cement its position as a cultural landmark.
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Architecture of the Tomb of Saadi
The Tomb of Saadi is a fine example of Iranian-Islamic architecture and is covered with eight arches, with a white travertine dome that rests on the eight arches, which are lined with geometric tiles and poetic texts.
Its symmetrical lines and floral patterns make the Tomb of Saadi Shiraz a harmonious interior, which reveals the poetic genius of Saadi and invites people to experience a unique spiritual reflection. Here are more details about the satisfying architecture of the Saadi Tomb:
Tomb of Chamber of Saadi
The Tomb of Saadi Shirazi is an octagonal chamber of the tomb, and an artistic masterpiece. The walls are glossy with blue and turquoise tiles that display the life of Saadi, and the ceiling is painted with calligraphy and mosaics, making it possible to think about his great wisdom in a peaceful environment.
Courtyard & Green Area
It has a large courtyard that is richly decorated with Kufic calligraphy and colorful mosaics on four iwans or vaulted portals. The adjacent Persian garden, comprising cypresses, roses and fountains, reflects the ideologies of the paradise garden, which provides a relaxing haven for visitors to fully enjoy nature and intricate architecture.
also read : Visit the Delgosha Garden in Shiraz
The Mosque & Library
Prayers are done in an eastern mosque with vaulted ceilings and cobalt tiles on the mihrab, which is a sign of devotion in Islam. The neighboring library, where Saadi kept his manuscripts and Persian books, has arched designs, which provide an academic refuge to complete the beauty of the Tomb of Saadi Shirazi.
The New Building of Saadi Tomb
The 1950s design by Foroughi incorporated reinforced concrete to make it long-lasting and maintained Persian ratios. Contemporary improvements, such as better illumination and accessibility, have made the tomb a classic and a modern landmark that cuts across historical and modern times.
Unique Features of Saadieh Complex
The Saadieh complex is very attractive with some elements that harmonize tradition, history and artistry. The following are some of the reasons that this place is an exclusive place to visit:
The Coin Pond (Fish Pond)
There is a fish pond close to the entrance that encourages people to throw coins to gain good luck, which is connected to the kind heart of Saadi. It has colorful koi swimming in its waters, which symbolize prosperity as well as giving beauty to the calm environment.
also read : Discover the Hafezieh
Saadiyeh Qanat (Aqueduct)
The Saadiyeh Qanat is an ancient, underground aqueduct, which supplies courtyard pools and inscribed on the wall is a quote in praise of Saadi. This is an engineering wonder that waters gardens and evokes literary contemplation and demonstrates the hydraulic resourcefulness of Iran.
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Tomb Stone & Calligraphy
The marble tombstone that was built by Ali-Akbar Khan Ghavam in the 19th century to be placed at the tomb of Saadi has Nastaliq calligraphy with verses of Bustan and Gulistan. The walls and the ceiling of the chamber are decorated with more than 300 lines of poetry, forming a living collection of the works of Saadi.
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The Works of Saadi Shirazi
The literary works of Saadi Shirazi continue to shape Persian culture to this day and have impacted poets and philosophers around the world. Let’s see the fantastic works of this popular Persian poet:
Gulistan
The Gulistan prose collection (1258) is a mixture of tales and maxims on morals, political matters and religion. The moral lessons contained in its garden metaphor are delivered in an easily understandable language and across cultures.
Bustan
Bustan (1257) is a poetic epic presented as a masnavi, which dwells on virtues such as justice and humility using 4,000 couplets. Its parables treat of human nature and redemption rhythmically in superb style.
Themes and Style of Saadi’s Poetry
The themes of love, justice and humanity that are interwoven in the poetry by Saadi are criticized through humor and irony to denounce hypocrisy. His approach to the conversation simplifies complicated concepts and makes them easy to relate to, making his works relatable across different cultures.
Significance and Influence on Persian Literature
Hafez and modern authors are influenced by the Persian poet Saadi. His works have been translated all over the world and are registered by UNESCO, preaching tolerance and wisdom and solidifying his role in world literature.
Who Was Saadi Shirazi?
Before talking about the Tomb of Saadi, let’s talk about the great poet himself. Saadi Shirazi was born in 1210. He was a Persian literary titan, traveler and sage who impressed the world with his brilliance. He lost his parents when he was very young, and his trip from Baghdad to India brought him not only experiences but also stories that he used to enrich his writing.
Golestan (1258), a collection of prose and poetry, is one of the most explicit examples of his lecturing on the subjects of justice and kindness through moral tales. Bustan (1257), on the other hand, is a work in rhymed verse that allegorically presents the virtues through orchards of allegory.
Both of these works have been translated into many languages which made Saadi the “poet of humanity” and he was even a source of inspiration to Voltaire and Obama. The Mausoleum of Saadi honors this legacy, echoing his plea: “All human beings are limbs of one body”.
Tomb of Saadi Directory
There are facilities in Tomb of Saadi that will make it very easy for you to plan your visit. Multi-language audio guides are on-site along with a café, bookstore and other amenities. Here is information about ticket prices and opening hours:
Tomb of Saadi: Hours and Ticket Prices
The site is open from 8 AM to 8 PM every day, and it is the place for everyone. The price of tickets is 250,000 IRR for foreign visitors and 50,000 IRR for local visitors; combo passes with Hafeziyeh save 20% off the regular price. The use of apps for cashless entry has made the process of queuing much quicker.
Where is the Tomb of Sheikh Saadi?
The Tomb of Saadi Shirazi occupies hilly scenery in northeast Shiraz, adjacent to Saadi University. The easiest way to get there is a 10-minute drive lasting 10 minutes through Saadi Boulevard to the downtown.
Hotels are plentiful and Shiraz Airport has plenty of taxi services (20 km) that have GPS that helps self-drivers find parking. Tours bundle it with poetry tours. It is situated 1 km from Delgosha Garden and 3km from Hafeziyeh, making it ideal for twin-tomb treks.
Tomb of Saadi Weather
Shiraz has nice temperatures throughout the year, but summer heat (40°C) and winter cold (5°C) are still areas to be avoided. The warmest months are spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November), when the daily temperatures are around 20-25°C, and the gardens are in bloom which attracts photographers.
The Tomb of Saadi, Shiraz, looks wonderful either with flower hues in spring or with golden leaves in autumn; rain makes it look even more poetic and mysterious.
To explore more breathtaking places across the country beyond the Tomb of Saadi, make sure to check out our guide to Iranian Tourist Attractions, where we highlight the top must-see destinations in Iran.
Tomb of Saadi Reviews
In Tomb of Saadi reviews, the travelers are very enthusiastic about the tranquil place: A soul-soothing escape, one visitor from Tripadvisor gushes, one more time revealing the feelings of ethereal peace amid poetic carvings.
Local people admire the cultural pilgrimages; on the other hand, the non-local ones appreciate the harmonious blend of old and new in the architecture.
The gardens peacefulness together with the recitations under the stars firmly establishes it as a top attraction in Shiraz, mixing respect with beautiful Instagram shots.
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FAQs
When was the Tomb of Saadi Built?
The Tomb of Saadi Shirazi was constructed in the 13th century, rebuilt by Karim Khan Zand in 1773 and reconstructed by Mohsen Foroughi in 1952 in mixed styles of Persian and modern designs.
What parts does the Saadi complex consist of?
It also has the tomb chamber, courtyard and gardens, mosque, library, coin pond and Saadiyeh Qanat, which are full of the Iranian-Islamic architectural beauty.
What are the visiting hours and ticket prices?
Open 8:00 AM to 8:30 PM, 200,000 IRR foreigners, 50,000 IRR locals and includes all the complex services.
How to get to the tomb of Saadi Shirazi?
Located in Saadi Street, Boostan e Shiraz, it is a 30-minute taxi ride from Shiraz Airport (200,000 IRR) or take a bus if you are on foot in Shiraz to reach the tomb of Saadi Shirazi.
What is the significance of the fish pond?
The coin tossing in the fish pond is a sign of luck and Saadi was a generous soul, as koi is a sign of good fortune in Persian culture.
