Perhaps no other city bears a more explicit testimony to the depth, as well as the twists and turns of the long history of Iran, than Shiraz. The name of Shiraz is tied to the cultural history of Iran as this is the city of kings and poets. Shiraz is a city of mansions, house-gardens and resting places of great Iranian poets located in the state of Fars, southeast of Iran. In the vicinity of the city, you can trace the grandeur of the Achaemenid Empire by the remains of the ancient Persepolis and Pasargadae cities. In the city, you can find yourself in the presence of a great spiritual power inspired by the greatest Iranian poets, Hafiz and Saadi. Stepping in the historical house gardens takes visitors on a journey in time, filled with the colors of flowers and exquisitely decorated houses, scent of orange trees, and the sound of flowing water. After the days of the Empire, the city became the capital of Iran several times during the history, notably the Zand period (18th century), thus winning prosperity and progress for the city.