The other destinations in northwest Iran are Soltaniyeh , Solomon Throne (Takhte Soleyman), and Prison of Solomon. Soltaniyeh, the greatest brick dome in the world was built by order of Sultan Muhammd Khoda Bande (Uljayto). This great building is about 48.5 meters high and the diameter is over 25 meters. It was constructed from 1303 to 1313 A.D. Soltaniyeh in the ranking of largest domes in the world (not necessarily brick domes), is the third right after Santa Maria church in Florence, Italy and Hagia Sofia Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey. Soltaniyeh DomeThe start of journey is a drive of less than 2 hours from Qazvin towards Zanjan. About 30 kilometers before reaching to Zanjan, you can see the dome on your left from the highway. Then it is a trip of around 20 minutes from the highway to the dome. When you reach there, at the entrance of the monuments, you can see two main souvenirs of Zanjan in two very small shops; Knives and Copper dishes.We do not use knives that much on our food tables, but here in Zanjan there are a lot of shops selling these knives.Different kinds of knives in ZanjanCopper dishes of ZanjanThe dome itself from inside is drown in some hundreds of scaffolds and you can not see the dome from inside! But if you can pay the 5 euro entrance and walk up to the third floor which is the floor before the dome, there is this nice view of Soltaniyeh town beneath your feet. Otherwise, stick to the view from the outside.Soltaniyeh DomeThe dome from inside.The dome from inside.The view from the third floor.Now time to continue to Solomon Throne. It is a 2.5 hrs adventurous drive to the fire temple from Soltaniyeh.We pass incredibly huge vallies , spectacular mountains and mud-brick villages from a very dried region in Iran.The huge valley of ZanjanYou feel an air balloon would be perfect here!In one hour or so, the time arrives and we have it in the shades of quite scattered trees of apples or Armenian plum / apricots.Tea time in next to apricot trees.We finally arrive to the fire temple of Sassanian and Illkhanid . This UNESCO world heritage is an 8-hectare monument that some parts are half ruined but the other parts parts are still alive. There is so much to see and you will have a good time sitting at the edge of the volcanic lake. The water is so much mineral and it is really deep inside, so WATCH OUT!The combination of Fire, Wind and Water at this Pre-Islam monument would amaze you! (Of course the fire is out for some years.).The introduction tablet of Solomon ThroneOne of the entrance gates.One of the long corridors of Solomon Throne.The view to Solomon Prison from Solomon ThroneSome ruins but reconstructed parts.One step backwards, You are done, bro! 🙂After this long visit, the stomach says now it`s my time!One of the special dishes of the region is called Koofteh - i.e. Meat balls. There is a small restaurant between Solomon Throne and the Prison which is called after the monument and is owned by Ebrahim. He can prepare this Koofteh on pre-announcement. You would`nt forget the taste of this home-made dish here.Koofteh is normally served by bread not by rice.It can also be a vegetarian food.In ten minutes from Solomon Throne, we reach to Prison of Solomon; Zendane Soleyman. It`s a volcanic mountain and the legend says the prophet Solomon used to imprison the devils here if they disobeyed him. But the reality says when the Arabs conquered Iran and they believed in prophets, the Iranians used this philosophy as a means to protect the monument. It looks really deep from the top.Nice people from Italy and Belgium.daily tours to solomon Prison - tours of solomon throne - takhte soleyman tours - trip to takhte soleyman - day trip to solomon prison - day trip to takhte soleyman - northwest iran daytrips
