Tabriz lies at northwestern Iran, about 600 km northwest of Tehran, at the foothills of Sahand mountain. To the south the silent volcano of Sahand, and to the west Lake Urumiyeh, stretch farms and vast plains. The city stands at an average elevation of 1340 meters above sea level.
The Tabriz bazaar has been an important trading center in Middle East for centuries. Other historical places include the 15th century Masjed-e Kabud (Blue Mosque), the 8th century Masjed-e Jameh (Friday Mosque), the 13th century citadel of Alishah (Arg-e Alishah) and the 19th century IllGoli pavilion.
The Poets’ Mausoleum is the resting place for a number of Iranian poets. The Azarbaijan Museum contains various Islamic objects found in the Tabriz plain. City of Tabriz has a population of around 1,400,000.
Tomb of Sheikh Safi in Ardebil, Gonbad-e Sorkh (The Red Cupola) in Maragheh, Kandovan village in the district of Osku and St. Stephanous church in Julfa, are other attractions in northwestern Iran.