Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The sightseeing highlight of our time in Iran was Persepolis. Back when the Persian Em-
pire reached from Greece to India, Persepolis was its dazzling ceremonial capital. Built
by Darius and his son Xerxes the Great around 500
B.C.
, this sprawling complex of roy-
al palaces was—for nearly two hundred years—the awe-inspiring home of the “King of
Kings.” At the time, Persia was so mighty, no fortifications were needed. Still, 10,000
guards served at the pleasure of the emperor. Persepolis, which evokes the majesty of Giza
or Luxor in Egypt, is (in my opinion) the greatest ancient site between the Holy Land and
India.
My main regret from traveling through Iran on my first visit, back in 1978, was not
trekking south to Persepolis. And I wanted to include Persepolis in our TV show because
it's a powerful reminder that the soul of Iran is Persia, which predates the introduction of
Islam by well over a thousand years. Arriving at Persepolis, in the middle of a vast and
arid plain, was thrilling. This is one of those rare places that comes with high expecta-
tions…and actually exceeds them.
We got to Persepolis after a long day of driving—just in time for that magic hour be-
fore the sun set. The light was glorious, the stones glowed rosy, and all the visitors seemed
to be enjoying a special “sightseeing high.” I saw more Western tourists visiting Persepol-
is than any other single sight in the country. But I was struck most by the Iranian people
who travel here to savor this reminder that their nation was a mighty empire 2,500 years
ago.
