Zanjan Tourism Guide

位于赞詹省(Zanjan)的一个城市，14世纪时曾是蒙古伊尔汗国的首都，主要看点是蒙古统治者完者都(Oljeitu اولجایتو)的陵墓(Soltaniyeh Dome)，这座八角形的陵墓修建于1302-1312年，由蓝绿色瓷砖包裹装饰的穹顶高49米，建筑周长25米，周边还有8根宣礼塔，这是全世界最高的砖结构穹顶建筑。而从体量上来说，它的穹顶仅次于佛罗伦萨圣母百花大教堂穹顶和伊斯坦布尔圣索菲亚大教堂穹顶，是世界第三大
陵墓从2006年至今处于修复状态，但仍难掩其壮观，内部的伊斯兰风格装饰也非常漂亮，本来可以爬到第二层的，但现在装修，二层不定时对外开放。从建筑角度说，完者都陵墓创造了伊朗第一个双壳穹顶，成为伊朗式伊斯兰穹顶建筑的开端，为后来包括印度泰姬陵在内的建筑所广泛借鉴。2005年，陵墓被列入世界文化遗产。陵墓从2006年至今处于修复状态，但仍难掩其壮观，内部的伊斯兰风格装饰也非常漂亮，本来可以爬到第二层的，但现在装修，二层不定时对外开放。从建筑角度说，完者都陵墓创造了伊朗第一个双壳穹顶，成为伊朗式伊斯兰穹顶建筑的开端，为后来包括印度泰姬陵在内的建筑所广泛借鉴。2005年，陵墓被列入世界文化遗产。

Panorama by Sj Jamali

http://www.panorama-photo.net

This is picture I have taken from my trip to Zanjan. I like it, hope you like it too.

It was difficult to capture because of the people passing by but at the right moment I took the right shot.
By the way, the brief description of this dome is in the first photo I posted but I will repeat it for the people who have not read that post:
Soltanieh Dome, a splendor of the world, was built 700 years ago in an area of 156 hectares in western Zanjan province.
The 54-meter high dome is considered a marvel in architecture and dates back to the Ilkhanid era (1251-1335) and is a symbol of Iranian glory.
The dome was registered by UNESCO in its cultural heritage committee meeting in Durban, South Africa in June as the seventh Iranian cultural heritage site.

The dome, situated 30 km from Zanjan, is an octagonal structure made of mud brick and decorated with ornamental tiles using magnificent and unique architectural techniques.The octagonal splendor has eight verandas on each side and the dome’s diameter is 26 meters.
Soltanieh Dome has distinctive interior and exterior decorations with unique designs of colorful tiles and baked bricks, plaster works and paintings on plaster.
Mason Ali Shah Tabrizi, architect of the mausoleum, undertook the project to build the world’s most splendid mausoleum.
Sultan Mohammad Khoda Bandeh built the mausoleum for himself. Later, he converted to Islam under the influence of one of his wives. He went to Najaf and wanted to transfer the body of Imam Ali (AS), the first Shiite Imam, to Soltanieh given his deep faith in the first Imam of Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) infallible household, but, religious leaders in the holy city of Najaf did not allow him to do so.
On the background of Soltanieh Dome according to the inscriptions dating back to Assyrian kings, eighth century BC, Soltanieh was the abode of Sakaratiha warlords.
Before the Ilkhanid era, Soltanieh had been an important place for a civilization which can be traced back to 5,000 years BC.

http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Middle_East/Iran/West/Zanjan/Soltaniyeh/photo442818.htm