Located in between Isfahan and Tehran, Kashan represents today one of the top touristic destinations of the country, illustrating some of the finest examples of Qajari aesthetics.
Kashan has always been an important centre of the Persian territory. In fact, along with archeological discoveries that demonstrated how the city was inhabited since prehistoric ages, Kashan was an important centre for both the Seljuk, the Safavi and the Qajar dynasties over the centuries. In addition, according to some local legends, Kashan was the origin of the three wise men who followed the star that guided them to Bethlehem to witness the nativity of Jesus.
Today Kashan, thanks to its traditional houses, its bazaar and Fin garden, maintains most of its original beauty and it’s a “must” for whoever comes to Iran.
The traditional houses, dated around the XVIII and XIX century, may deceive visitors due to their normal appearance from the outside but, once you get in, you I’ll be surprised and amazed by their beauty. The original owners of the houses wanted to maintain the contrast between the inside and the outside of the buildings in order to keep strangers far from their houses and don’t show their richness…I don’t think today’s influencers would agree with that!
In addition, as often happens, wealthy Iranians had beautiful communal baths, don’t miss them when you visit the houses! With a cumulative tickets you can visit all these attractions but be careful, at some ticket office they may try to make you pay more…why? We don’t know!
The bazaar in kashan is probably one of, if not the, best bazaar we visited in Iran. Its magnificent vaults, along with the internal caravanserais, mosques, tombs, baths and fountains make this place unique. Another good reason to visit it is the ice cream! Any bazaari will be able to indicate where to go, since the ice cream maker in the bazaar of Kashan seems to be one of the most popular in Iran.
On the back of the bazaar, Cafe Kargah is also strongly recommended. We ended up there following a random guy through creepy streets trying to watch a football game. This hipster bar serves amazing coffees and teas and Hossein and his twin will make you feel at home!
Finally, do you want a break from the noise and the chaos of the city? Then you should go to Fin garden. Located a bit far from the city centre (unless you want to walk for over an hour, you will need a taxi and be prepared to negotiate the price), Fin park is a beautiful example of historical Persian garden. Just its beauty would be enough to make it one of the top destinations in the city but it also has a historical importance. In fact, in Fin-bath Amir Kabir, a Qajarid chancellor, was murdered by an assassin sent by the king in 1852. You will find a couple of statues, whose beauty is debatable, showing how it happened. Apparently Iranians really love statues representing real life scenes…
