Pasargad, Pasargad

Admire the simplicity of the purported tomb of Cyrus the Great at Pasargad, a World Heritage Site containing the ruins of an ancient Persian capital. A six-tiered stone pedestal makes a stairway to the sepulcher of the Achaemenid emperor. Explore remnants of ancient columns in the audience hall of Cyrus' private palace: stone carvings and steles not so dissimilar to those of their arch-rivals in the Acropolis. Built in 559-530 BCE, the complex features a garden of Cyrus' son Darius--the earliest known example of this Persian fourfold design--and the remains of a stone wall dubbed the "Prison of Solomon." Hire a guide to get the most out of this 1.6 sq km (0.6 sq mi) site. Choose to start, finish, or center your holiday on a trip to Pasargad by using our Pasargad route maker tool.