Safiabad Palace

Safiabad Palace is located in the city of Behshahr in Mazandaran Province and is one of the most important historical monuments surviving from the Safavid era in northern Iran. This historic complex stands on a hill at an elevation of about 650 meters above sea level, and thanks to its strategic position it commands a wide view over the plains, the surrounding forests and even the coastal areas of the Caspian Sea. The palace was built on the orders of Shah Abbas the Safavid, and it was named "Safiabad" because of Shah Abbas's affection for his grandson Shah Safi. Today the building lies within a military base, which has restricted public access to its interior.

Historically and architecturally, Safiabad Palace is a valuable example of the Persian palace-garden, built amid mountain scenery and combining Safavid architecture with the natural landscape. The complex consists of a two-story building set in a rectangular garden, with its entrance on the northern side and a short flight of steps leading up to the main building. The palace was expanded during the reign of Shah Safi and continued to attract the attention of rulers in later periods. Over the course of history, including the Afghan invasion and the Afsharid and Pahlavi eras, it suffered damage and was restored, and part of its interior decoration and paintings has been lost with time. The Palangkhil spring near the complex and the system that carried its water into the palace also show the importance of water engineering in the design of this historic site. The building was registered as one of Iran's national monuments on 15 Dey 1310 (Solar Hijri) under registration number 58.

Safiabad Palace can be reached from inside the city of Behshahr, via its southern and western routes, and visitors can usually see only the exterior of the complex. The best times to visit the area around the palace are spring and autumn, when the weather is milder and the natural scenery of the region is at its most beautiful. Because the monument lies within a military zone, it is essential to fully respect the security perimeter and the regulations of the area, and visits are permitted only from an authorized distance.