2. Ruins of Persepolis
You might think this is the remnants of Pompeii, but that Roman town buried in 79 AD seems downright modern next to this ancient “city of Persians”. It was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire from 550 to 330BC, founded by Darius the Great and destroyed by Alexander the Great. The astounding complex of palaces, tombs, gates and statues are surprisingly well-preserved. This phenomenal archaeological wonder has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a must see if you visit Iran.
