Soltaniyeh Dome

The Soltaniyeh Dome is one of the sights of Soltaniyeh in Zanjan Province and a National Monument of Iran. It is the mausoleum of Sultan Mohammad Khodabandeh (Oljeitu), the eighth Mongol ruler, and is regarded as one of the most important works of Iranian and Islamic architecture. The dome was built between 1302 and 1312 CE (703 to 713 AH) on the orders of Sultan Mohammad Khodabandeh, under the supervision of Rashid al-Din Fazlollah Hamadani, in the city of Soltaniyeh (the Ilkhanid capital). In 2005 it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and it is known as the third largest brick dome in the world after the dome of Hagia Sophia and the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.

The Soltaniyeh Dome stands five farsakhs east of the city of Zanjan, inside the walls of the old city of Soltaniyeh. The building is octagonal, and each side is 80 gaz long. Eight minarets surround the dome, and the dome itself is covered with turquoise tiles. The building is 48.5 metres high, and the diameter of its inner span is 25.5 metres. The ceilings of the rooms above the dome are decorated with stucco work and colourful bricks, and Quranic verses and the names of Allah are written in large calligraphy along the edges of the arches. Carvings can also be seen in the bricks of the walls and ceilings, which give the building a special beauty. The decoration and structure of this mausoleum are considered a turning point in the architecture of its era, creating a new style that broke away from Seljuk architecture. This change of style has made the Soltaniyeh Dome one of the most outstanding examples of Islamic architecture in Iran.

The climate of Soltaniyeh is colder than that of other parts of central Iran. The city has freezing, snowy winters and pleasant, cool summers. The best time to travel to Soltaniyeh and visit the dome is during the Persian months of Ordibehesht, Khordad, Tir and Mordad (roughly late April to mid-August). You can also visit in Mehr and Aban (roughly late September to mid-November) to enjoy the autumn scenery and magical views. Travelling to Soltaniyeh in winter is not recommended at all, because besides the cold weather, the roads freeze and become slippery at that time of year.