Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Azadi Tower (Borj-e Azadi)يدازآ جرب
(Freedom Tower;
Click here
;
Azadi Sq; admission US$2.50; 9am-noon &
1.30pm-5pm Sun-Fri; Meydan-e Azadi)
Way out west at the end of Azadi Ave is the
inverted Y-shaped
Azadi Tower
, built in 1971 to commemorate the 2500th anniversary of
the first Persian empire. After being closed for years, the tower reopened in 2006.
Like the City Theatre, Carpet Museum and Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, the
50m-high structure is a mix of '60s modern architecture with traditional Iranian influen-
ces, most notably the
iwan
-style of the arch. The exterior is clad with more than 8000 cut
stones, while inside you can see the complex structural engineering in concrete that forms
the bones of architect Hossein Amanat's design. The park surrounding the monument is a
relative oasis compared with the maelstrom of traffic beyond. It was the scene of much
protest during the 1979 revolution and remains a focal point for demonstrations today, in-
cluding some huge demonstrations during the post-election crisis in 2009.
You can reach the top by stairs or lift, and will probably be accompanied. To get here,
take Metro line 4 (light blue) to Meydan-e Azadi (don't confuse it with the other Azadi
station).
MONUMENT
Milad Tower (Borj-e Milad)دایم جرب
( 8436 1094;
www.tehranmiladtower.ir
;
admission from US$8; 9am-9pm, last entry
8pm)
Totally dominating the low-rise skyline of Tehran's western suburbs,
Milad Tower
finally opened in 2008 after 13 on-again-off-again years of construction. Standing 435m
high, including 120m of antenna, in 2012 it was the world's sixth-tallest freestanding
tower. The tower bears a striking resemblance to Toronto's CN Tower, with the octagonal
concrete shaft tapering slightly up to a pod with 12 floors. The pod is home to an observa-
tion deck, a revolving restaurant, a 'sky dome' and various TV, radio and traffic control
functions. Authorities insist the tower is built to withstand a large earthquake. For us,
whether you come to the tower or not depends largely on the weather; on a rare clear day
the views are worth it, but otherwise probably not. You need a taxi to get here.
TOWER
Tours
For personalised tours or advice from private operators, the following options are recom-
mended:
GUIDE
Ali Taheri
