[su_photo_panel background=”#e4e4e4″ border=”2px solid #cccccc” shadow=”3px 3px 6px #e1dede” radius=”4″ text_align=”left” photo=”https://www.irancultura.it/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Zanjan-Map.jpg” target=”self”]Zanjan Region | ♦ Capital: Zanjan | ♦ Surface: 21 841 km² | ♦ Inhabitants: 942 818[/su_photo_panel]
Geographic context
The Zanjan region is located in the north-western part of Iran, it is a mountainous area with high peaks, but appears in the typical configuration of a plateau. The capital of the region is the city of Zanjan and the major population centers are: Abhar, Ijrud, Khorram Darre, Khoda Bande, Tarem and Mah Neshan.
In the Zanjan region there are numerous rivers, among which the most important and water-filled is the Qizil Uzun River.
Climate
This region has a climate that, overall, is very cold and full of snowfall in the winter season, while it is temperate in the summer.
History and Culture
The findings found in the Zanjan region indicate the presence of human settlements in an age from prehistoric times to the Islamic era. Until the beginning of the first half of the first millennium a. C. there is no trace of a specific domination in this region and, because of the long distance, not even the power of the Urartu was able to assert itself completely. Later, the Medi subjugated that population and gave a more stable government to this area.
In the texts of the associations of 'Ara' and 'Anand Raj' it is stated: "Zanjan was a large city between Rey and Azarbayejan, its name derives from the diminutive of 'Zandgan', that is to say 'the people of the Zand book '. "(Exegetical text of Zoroastrianism) It seems that, with the evolution of language throughout history, this term has been transformed into' Zangan 'and in the Islamic era has taken the current form of' Zanjan '.
The most important archaeological discovery of this region consists of a type of black ceramics obtained with ash that dates back to the period of the arrival of the Arians in the Iranian plateau. In the city of Khoda Bande some coins have been discovered, called 'darico', and rython belonging to the Achaemenid period. Among the most important works of the epoch of the Parthians and Sassanids we can mention the Tashvir Temple of Fire. The Islamic age - from the 7th to the 19th century d. C. correspond to the I until the fourteenth century dell'egira - begins with the conquest of Iran at the time of the caliphate of Osman. At that time, Zanjan was considered as one of the most prosperous cities in Iran.
Other tourist destinations in this region include the following: the Sanctuary of Emamzade Hazrat Seyyed Ebrahim, the historical bridge of Mir Baha-od-Din, the historic bridge of Seyyed Mohammad Zanjan, the historic bridge of Sardar-e Zanjan, the Castle of Anguran, the Caravanserai and the historical complex of Nik Pey, the Great Mosque of Zanjan, the Ethnological Museum, the Museum of the Martyrs' Works, the Mausoleum of Orghun Khan, the Wildlife Ecosystem of Anguran, the Lake of Peer, the Miynej Hot Water Source, the Yanagje Mineral Water Source and the Qushqar Glacier.
Souvenirs and handicrafts
The traditional artifacts and souvenirs typical of the Zanjan region are: simple and composed knives, different types of coffee cups, craft trays and cutlery, ceramic containers and vases, photo holders with gold and silver threads, carpets, handmade shoes of leather, silver and different types of kilim and jajim.
Ardak bread, Terebentine resin, Gol Aqa vegetable, Qaz Yaqi vegetable, Matar vegetable, Chi Dan mountain onion and local dessert Angosht Pich are part of other regional souvenirs.
Local cuisine
The local cuisine of the Zanjan region is colorful and has an ancient culinary culture. The traditional dishes are related to the way of life of the nomadic populations and villagers, also finding a certain diffusion in the city areas. Among these dishes we can mention: different types of soups, rice and meat, traditional Shirin omelette, Nargesi, spinach dish with whey, roasted potatoes, Kalle Jush, milk rice, Biyazu, flour halva, Moshkofi, Golanag, Galas and Baqilu.