Golestan Palace: A Jewel of Persian History and Architecture

The lavish Golestan Palace, located in the heart of Tehran, stands tall and proud in its country’s rich historical and cultural tradition. While most of the important old structures in Iran highlight its rich Islamic tradition and spirituality, the Golestan Palace is a silent witness to its vibrant political heritage.

When the Qajar dynasty picked Tehran as its capital in 1794, its rulers began the construction of its new residence in a 16th-century Safavid citadel. The resulting structure is the Golestan Palance, an opulent complex that showcases 17 grand structures. It’s built around a garden featuring pools and boasts stunning mirror work, a marble throne, and towers overlooking the city.

The palace became the center of Qajari arts and architecture and has been the inspiration source for many Iranian architects and artists until today. So, it’s not surprising to know that the Golestan Palace Iran is also part of UNESCO’s World Heritage List, a historical structure worth preserving for its contributions to promoting Iran’s rich cultural and historical heritage.

Golestan Palace- Seat of power, a center of arts and culture

The Golestan Palace is one of the oldest complexes in Tehran, first constructed during the Safavid dynasty. Throughout its history, the palace received several extensions and additions. It received much of its defining characteristics in the 19th century when it was selected as the seat of power for the Qajar family.

As the seat of power at the time of the Qajari rule, it’s only natural that it reflects much of the time’s cultural, artistic, and architectural traditions. Specifically, it carries the artistic touches of Naser ed-Din Shah. In addition, the Golestan Palace Iran also boasts styles that blend Persian arts and architecture with European styles, and European building technology, like cast iron for load bearing. The blending of Persian and European art styles and the use of Western construction technology is one of the reasons why UNESCO values it.

Once you enter and explore the Golestan Palace, you’ll start not just an exploration of the facility but also an understanding of its artistic history. As an influential and prominent monument in Tehran regarding social, cultural, and political significance, the Palace features seventeen buildings of different ages, with halls and museums to keep guests and students of history busy. It also features ornate marble, paintings, mirrors, and tile works that capture Iranian themes. Guests and art students should pay attention to Golestan Palace’s impressive tile works in terms of style, themes, and compositions. When it comes to the themes for these tile works, you’ll find designs that depict legends, storytelling, and personification. Also, the tile works at the Golestan Palace stand out because of the choice of materials and their craftsmanship. In short, the Golestan Palace has become the showpiece of Iranian artists and artisans, showcasing locals’ artistic and creative side.

Eight main structures, different stories to tell

There were 17 sites constructed during the Qajar, and eight main structures at the Golestan Palace feature their museums. Its impressive structures include the Marble Bed Mansion, the Pool Museum, Mansions Shams al-Amara, Windbreak Mansion, the House Photo Museum, the Diamond Museum, the Museum of Anthropology, and the Main Museum. Let’s take a look at three of these structures on the palace grounds:

Diamond Mansion

The Diamond Mansion is one of the oldest structures in the complex and boasts an outstanding museum for its design and architecture. It was founded during the time of Fat’h Ali Shah, but it was Nasser al-Din Shah who changed its appearance and decors. During his time, he changed the mansion’s architectural designs to match Roman architecture; thus, it boasts a more European construction style with minimal Persian influences.

Windbreak Mansion

Another beautiful structure that you don’t want to miss inside the complex is the Windbreak Mansion. This mansion was also built during the time of Fath Ali Shah, and its main room is one of the highlights of a traveler’s visit to Golestan. If you’re in the area, check out its impressive construction and its use of intricate mosaics in the main room. This mansion gets its name from the windbreakers you can find in the pool house near the mansion. If you visit this part of the Golestan Palace, you’ll find these four tall windbreakers around the mansion, which’re made of tiles. They say that the pool house were the summer residence of kings, and the windbreakers bring and circulate the cooler air in the rooms and halls of the mansion.

Museum of Anthropology

It’s also called the White Palace and features precious treasures and several works of art. Some of the treasures and attractions in this museum were gifted to the Qajar family by the Ottoman King Sultan Abdul Hamid. Some magnificent attractions and treasures include Louis XVI’s steel sofas, bronze and gold statues, velvet curtains, and Turkish carpets. Some say that the White Palace was constructed to store these gifts. The museum was constricted later, during the time of Reza Shah Pahlavi. During his time, museums were built, and he instructed experts to search for artifacts across the country that could be displayed in the museum.

Mansion Shams al-Amara

The Mansion Shams al-Amara is one of the gems at the Golestan Palace complex and features a must-visit museum, too! This five-story building was ordered to be built by Nasser al-Din Shah and was the tallest in the country at its construction. According to historians, al-Din was impressed with the skyscrapers of Europe, so he decided to construct one that also showcased the growing urban development in the country. Because of its height and decorations, this complex was called the Edifice of the Sun, combining traditional Iranian design elements and European architecture. The construction of the Mansions Shams al-Amara started in 1865 and was finished two years later under the guidance of Dost Ali Khan Nizam al-Dawlah. Still, many historians say that Ali Mohammad Kashi designed this.

These are just three of the eight museums you’ll find on the Golestan Palace grounds. Although we only highlighted three, it doesn’t mean that these are the only suggested museums to visit, as the guest may choose to visit all or prioritize one over the other.

Here’s how you can enjoy your visit to the Golestan Palace

The Golestan Palace Iran sits on a sprawling complex with several structures and museums. As such, we recommend you allocate at least two hours to explore and discover the palace. Your stay at the grounds may vary since museums sell tickets separately, but they’re located close to each other. Whenever possible, you can also check out one of the guided tours in the area. Don’t worry; the museums are within walking distance of each other, so you can easily plan out your activities.

Speaking of guided tours, it’s always better to explore the Golestan Palace with the help of a professional tour guide. While exploring it on your own is exciting, working with a local who understands its history and the ins and outs will make your visit more meaningful. You can work out a special tour of the city with the help of an experienced travel and tour operator from the Philippines.

You can start your exploration of the grounds by checking out its lush vegetation, and when you enter its walls, you’ll appreciate the decors of traditional Persian architecture. Specifically, you’ll find colorful tilework, stucco, marble carvings, and mirror and lattice windows. Explore as many areas as possible since the Golestan Palace doesn’t just give you impressive visuals. Still, it can also tell stories about Iran’s rich culture and heritage. Visitors and guests are advised to set aside at least two hours to explore, tour, and appreciate the Golestan Palace in Iran.

After exploring the Golestan grounds, we recommend continuing your day by checking out the Grand Bazaar. The Tehran Grand Bazaar is just a few minutes away from the palace, and it’s one of the best destinations in the country. Think of the Grand Bazaar as a huge marketplace and can be chaotic, too. But its immense size and the diversity of options here are the things that make it special.

Tour guides and operators from the Philippines and other parts of the world say that it offers an ultimate market experience, and they aren’t exaggerating. With the bazaar extending for more than 10km and nearly 200 stores selling various products like clothes, spices, and antiques, visiting this place will offer a thrilling Tehran experience. And because of its size, it’s easy to get lost in the colorful labyrinth of stores and shops. Aside from shops and stores, there are cafes and food stalls here, and we highly recommend stopping by to get a taste of authentic Persian food!

Book a travel to Iran and discover the grandeur of the Golestan Palace

Golestan Palace occupies an important place in Iran’s culture and history. Its impressive architecture and use of artwork and artifacts aren’t just visually impressive; exploring the grounds also informs and educates, guiding guests about the rich history of Iran. If you’re a student of the arts or world history student, or you want to appreciate man’s genius in art and construction. In that case, we highly recommend adding the Golestan Palace in Iran to your next bucket list!