Mashhad
Mashhad: Il santuario dell'imam Reza

Mashhad Facts and Figures
Geographical status:
Longitude: 47, 40
Latitude: 38, 24
Altitude: 990 m above sea level
Average annual temperature: 13/6 degree
Diagram for mean annual temperature(1994) of Mashhad
Hottest month: July with 28/4 degree
coldest month: January with 2/6 degree
Average annual precipitation: 256 mm
Maximum precipitation in one day: 46 mm
Average relation humidity: morning: %70 noon: %41
Average number of freezing day: 93 day
Population(1996): 2247996
Gohar Shad Mosque
Goharshad mosque and portico include some of the most beautiful historical monuments of Iran belonging to
the 15 th century A.D. The founder of this complex was Gohar Shad Agha, the spouse of Shahrokh of the
Timurid dynasty. The mosque is embraced by four porticos and on the sides of the main portico there are two
minarets decorated with glazed tiles. In this portico there is a large inscription which indicates the name of
Shahrokh Bahador and the date1418 . Part of this inscription has been written by Songhor Mirza, the Timurid
prince who was known for his fine writing skills. The other parts of the inscription belong to the time of the
Safavids written by Mohammad Reza Imami. The inscription also suggests that the architect of this grand
building has been Ghavamoddin Shirazi. Besides this historic inscriptions there are also numerous inscription
in evidence in the former portico, on the sides of the entrance , on the sides of the portico and other sections of
the building which suggest
that during the 17 th, 18 th and 19 th centuries A.D. some refurbishment work including
remodeling,redecoration and annexation has taken place. Gohar Shad mosque is on the whole considered as
one of the most beautiful masterpieces of architecture and tiling in Iran because of its onion_like dome, high
porches and beautiful glaze tiles and two exceptionally beautiful minarets.
Additional parts have been annexed to this building in the course of refurbishment work carried out by the
Safavid, Afshar, Qajar and Pahlavi kings.