Golestan Palace Garden

A large, lush, rambling garden with many trees around the 18th and 19th century main royal palace in the heart of Tehran. The garden, which is being restored, white marble fountains, iwans, loggias and pavilions leading on to the garden with a great variety of highly original ornament in colourful tilework, mosaic, mirrorwork, stained glass, stone latticework, and sculpture. A marvellous mirror-tiled iwan with a huge alabaster throne for open air royal audiences overlooks the garden. Inside the palace there is a display of 19th century Persian portrait paintings. The shady Park-e-Shahr with restaurant and teahouse is nearby.