Yazd - One of the oldest city in the world

Brief description

Source : Tito Dupret / 1001wonders.org

Yazd is One of the oldest city in the world. Because of its remote desert location, it had remained largely immune to the ravages of wars. It was visited by Marco Polo in 1272 who remarked on the city's fine silk weaving industry. Yazd is of foremost importance as a centre of Persian architecture. Because of its climate, it has one of the largest networks of qanats (irrigation system) in the world. To deal with the extremely hot summers, many old buildings have magnificent windcatchers, and large underground areas. Yazd is also one of the largest cities built almost entirely out of adobe. Yazd's heritage as a centre of Zoroastrianism is also important.