Each of Iran’s vast provinces is known for a specific symbol. Isfahan is usually recognized by its Si-o-se-pol Bridge or Khaju Bridge. The beautiful city of Hamedan is famous for the Ali Sadr Cave. For each province, you can find a well-known symbol that reminds any tourist of that city. Tehran Province is one of the most populous provinces in Iran. It has many structures, each with a long and historical background. One of these famous structures, and a symbol of Tehran, is the Azadi Tower. In this article, we aim to familiarize you with everything you need to know about the Azadi Tower. Join us!
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The Story of Azadi Tower’s Construction
In 1960, the Pahlavi government, which was then ruling Iran, decided to build a magnificent monument in western Tehran to commemorate Shahanshah Aryamehr
Initially, the plan was to build a magnificent triumphal arch for the memorial, but ultimately the decision changed due to budget limitations, as they did not consider a triumphal arch to be a sufficiently grand symbol.
In 1966, the government decided to launch a call for submissions, requesting architects to send their designs for a magnificent structure to the court. The best design was meant to be chosen from among the submissions. Among the submitted designs, the design of a 24-year-old student named Hossein Amanat was selected.
Hossein Amanat was a fine arts student at the University of Tehran. He was born into a Baha’i family and completed his studies at universities in Canada. After Hossein Amanat’s design was accepted, he was entrusted with the construction and architecture of this historical building.
The construction of this historical building began in 1969 under the management of Mohammad Pourfathi, a civil engineer and graduate of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Tehran, and a renowned engineer of civil projects. The construction of Azadi Tower took 28 months, finally being completed in 1971. The tower, which we know today as the Azadi Tower, was initially opened as the “Shahyad Tower”. Interestingly, the Cyrus Cylinder was unveiled for the first time on the opening day of the Azadi Tower. On this day, the connection between the various 2500-year-old monarchical governments was symbolically displayed.
Where is Azadi Square Located?
Azadi Square is located near Mehrabad Airport and the West Bus Terminal of Tehran. If you want to go to Azadi Square, you should be aware that the surrounding streets include Azadi Street, Mohammad Ali Jenah Street, Lashkari Highway, and Ayatollah Saeedi Street. You can use these routes to reach Azadi Square in Tehran.
How to Get to Azadi Tower
If you want to witness the stunning beauty of the Azadi Tower, you can get there by metro. To do this, you just need to take Line 4 of the metro (Kolahdooz-Bimeh). This line will take you to your destination.
If you don’t want to take the metro, there is no need to worry because the West Bus Terminal of Tehran is near Azadi Square, making your journey easier. You can choose from lines such as 415 (Sadeghieh Metro Terminal-Shahrak Darya), 253 (Azadi Terminal-Shahrak University), 370 (Vanak Square to Tehran Mehrabad Airport), and other lines leading to Azadi Terminal and reach the Azadi Tower. Due to traffic, we suggest that you do not use a personal vehicle.
A Showcase of Iranian Architectural Art
If you wish to visit this magnificent work, you must carefully and meticulously examine all the details of this historical monument to appreciate the grandeur of Iranian art.
The Azadi Tower, or Shahyad Tower as it was known in earlier times, was considered the gateway to Iran.
At the Azadi Tower, you can observe a beautiful collection of Achaemenid, Sasanian, and Iranian art.
The four arches of the Azadi Tower showcase Sasanian art, forming the foundations of the tower.
If you look closely under the arches, you’ll see a feather-like symbol, these beautiful decorations are a remnant of Median art.
The beautiful, turquoise-colored, religious tilework used in the construction of the Azadi Tower represents the concepts of multiplicity and unity. This beautiful, concept-filled design is a display of Islamic architecture, visible in the decorative patterns used in the tower. On the top floor of the Azadi Tower, a turquoise dome hides like a sparkling diamond. This building alone is a memento of the genius of Iranians in the fourth century Hijri (Islamic calendar).
Floors of Art and Beauty
The Azadi Tower has four floors, each displaying symbols of Iranian art.
The First Floor of the Azadi Tower
You might assume that the first floor of the Azadi Tower is a level reached by elevator. However, contrary to your expectation, the main floor of the tower is actually in the basement.
The Second Floor
This floor is not a visually engaging space, it solely serves as an elevator transfer point.
The Third Floor of the Azadi Tower
The third floor of this beautiful tower is approximately 33 meters above ground. If you look up, a beautiful concrete dome will captivate you. A ceiling that displays beautiful rosettes. Sunlight beautifully streams through the center of the rosettes, creating a rainbow of colors for visitors. Individuals with some understanding of architectural principles can enjoy a beautiful combination of modern and traditional design.
The Roof of Azadi Tower
The top floor of the Azadi Tower is the highest internal part of the tower. Here, you can imagine being a bird overseeing Tehran from east to west and north to south. You can observe and enjoy Tehran through the honeycomb-like windows of the Azadi Tower.
The upper part of this floor is called the roof of Shahyad, which is not open to the public. However, if you ever get the chance to visit the Shahyad roof, a sky with beautiful blue tilework will amaze you.
Hidden Treasures in the Basement of the Azadi Tower
You might be interested to know that the main section of the Azadi Tower hides in the depths of its basement.
In this section, we aim to introduce you to the beauty concealed within the basement.
Cinema Room in Freedom Tower:
There is a cinema room with 51 seats inside the Freedom Tower, in the basement. Due to its small size, it cannot accommodate many people. The cinema room in Freedom Tower is usually used for film critique and artistic film screenings and reviews. It was established in 1988.
Mirror Hall:
One of the most beautiful parts of Freedom Tower is the Mirror Hall, which has 12 sections, and artistic mirror-works can be seen in all of these 12 sections. In the Thousand Color Mirror Hall, artistic images of the environment, oil industry, wildlife, abstract and symbolic designs of sports, urbanization and… can be seen. This place is designed for holding various exhibitions such as handicrafts and artworks of artists.
Iran Hall:
In another part of the underground basement of Freedom Tower, there is a 1100 square-meter area called Iran Hall where you can get familiar with various parts of our dear country. Iran Hall is very important for foreign tourists, as they can get to know Iran’s cities and their special features there.
In this part, different cities of Iran are displayed with their specific features. The beautiful aquarium and waterfront have added to the attraction of Iran Hall.
Vitrin windows in the basement:
In another section of the first basement of Freedom Tower, you can get familiar with the museum of nations. This section is a semi-circular shape with 8 vitrin windows, displaying symbols of Iran’s provinces. These symbols, including wedding models with traditional and local clothes that are indicative of the old traditions of Iran’s cities, are very attractive and attract the attention of viewers. The creator of these wedding models is “Behruz Gharibpur”.
Main Hall of Freedom Tower or Old Museum:
The main part of Freedom Tower is the Old Museum where the main museum of Freedom Tower is located. In this section, 25 vitrin windows have been installed where you can see artworks from the Achaemenid, Sassanid, Parthian, and ancient Islamic periods and become familiar with the art of those times. This section attracts those who are interested in history and culture.
Some of these vitrin windows are dedicated to displaying jewelry of Qajar women that were previously kept in Saadabad Palace. This hall is known as the main hub for connecting to other floors of Freedom Tower. There are elevators and escalators in this section for accessing other floors. The northern part of the Old Museum leads to the Mirror Hall and its southern part leads to the central facilities of Freedom Tower. If you are interested in cultural products, you should know that the cultural products store related to Imam Khomeini Square and handicrafts is located in the western part of the hall.
Multipurpose Hall:
Another important part of Freedom Tower is the Multipurpose Hall, which is important for art enthusiasts. Various ceremonies such as concerts, film screenings, theater, and… are held in this hall. Artworks from before and after Islam can be seen on the ceiling of this hall.
This hall has a capacity of 300 people.
Library:
There are 11,000 books in the Freedom Tower Library, many of which are reference books. Some of them are related to architecture and literature. In this library, you can see a large number of books in English, French, Arabic, and…
Azadi Tower Gallery
The Azadi Tower Gallery is a large, well-lit hall located next to the library. This section of the main hall of Azadi Tower is used for displaying visual art exhibitions and hosting art workshops. The gallery offers a peaceful and cozy atmosphere where you can spend some time enjoying tranquility, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Other sections of Azadi Tower include the Ceremonial Hall, which is used for hosting events and press conferences, and the Technology Hall, which showcases advancements in the field of technology.
In the Technology Corridor, you will find humanoid robots that can answer your questions about Azadi Tower. Additionally, there is a robotic pianist that is programmed to play the piano.
This tower is a symbol of Iranian artistry. If you plan to visit Azadi Tower, you need to purchase tickets in advance. The visiting hours are from 9 am to 5 pm.
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FAQ
What is the Azadi Tower?
The Azadi Tower (formerly known as the Shahyad Tower) is a prominent monument located in Azadi Square in Tehran, Iran. It’s a striking piece of architecture embodying a synthesis of pre-Islamic and Islamic styles. It was built to commemorate the 2500th anniversary of the Persian Empire.
When was the Azadi Tower built?
Construction of the tower began in 1969 and was completed in 1971. It was inaugurated in October of 1971.
Why was the Azadi Tower originally built?
The tower was originally built to commemorate the 2500th anniversary of the Persian Empire under the name “Shahyad Tower,” meaning “King’s Memorial Tower.” After the Iranian Revolution in 1979, its name was changed to Azadi, meaning “Freedom” in Persian.
Who designed the Azadi Tower?
The tower was designed by the renowned Iranian architect Hossein Amanat.
What architectural style is the Azadi Tower?
The tower is a blend of pre-Islamic Sassanian and Islamic architectural influences. It combines elements of both, creating a unique, modern yet distinctly Persian structure.