This historic Iranian city, 190km south of Tehran, houses the 16th-century Fin Garden and the country's first ice factory. Local artisans create carpets, textiles, and pottery.
In central Iran, Kashan welcomes visitors with its 18th and 19th-century merchant mansions, where you'll walk through rooms decorated with thousands of mirror fragments and colored glass panels. You can wander through the city's bazaar, stopping at small teahouses beneath centuries-old brick domes, or climb the minaret of Agha Bozorg Mosque for views across the desert city. In spring, the scent of Damascus roses fills the air as local families harvest flowers for rose water production, while throughout the year, you'll hear the rhythmic sounds of looms as carpet weavers create intricate Persian rugs.
Exploring Kashan's Merchant Houses
Step inside the Khan-e Boroujerdi and Khan-e Tabatabai houses to discover what lies behind their simple mud-brick walls. Each mansion centers around several courtyards with pools and gardens, surrounded by rooms where light streams through stained-glass windows onto walls covered in tiny mirror pieces and detailed frescoes. Different sections of these houses served specific purposes - summer quarters faced north to catch cool breezes, while winter rooms faced south to maximize sunlight.
Walking Through the Historic Bazaar
Walk beneath the mud-brick domes and arches of Kashan Bazaar, where merchants sell spices, nuts, and textiles from small shops. Take a break at one of the teahouses tucked away in quiet corners, or climb to the rooftop for a view of the old city's skyline. As you explore the bazaar's corridors, you'll discover small mosques and bathhouses built into its structure.
Visiting Agha Bozorg Mosque
At Agha Bozorg Mosque, descend into the sunken courtyard to see how 18th-century architects created this two-level structure. The ground floor houses the main prayer hall, while the upper level contains study rooms for religious students. Look up to see geometric patterns in blue and yellow tiles covering the dome, and examine the precise calligraphy that runs along the prayer hall's walls.
Carpet Making in Local Workshops
Visit carpet workshops where weavers use the Farsi knot technique to create detailed patterns on their looms. Watch as they work with wool dyed using natural ingredients - red from madder root, brown from walnut skins, and yellow from pomegranate rind. Many weavers learned their craft from parents and grandparents, following patterns passed down through generations.
Rose Water Production
From April to May, fields around Kashan turn pink with Damascus roses. Local families pick the flowers before sunrise when their oil content is highest. Visit a distillery to see how producers use copper stills to extract rose water, following methods unchanged for centuries. The finished product adds flavor to Persian sweets and plays a role in religious ceremonies.
Getting Around
Regular buses connect Kashan to Tehran, Isfahan, and other major cities, and trains stop at the city's railway station. If you're driving, you'll find Kashan on the freeway between Isfahan and Qom. The old town's compact layout means you can walk between most historical sites in 15-20 minutes.
