Maragheh is one of the largest garden cities of Iran, and also the second largest city in the province of East Azerbaijan after Tabriz. It was once capital of Iran and it is situated at the southern part of the beautiful Sahand Mountain foot and on the bank of Sufi Chay River. The city enjoys pleasant weather throughout the year with ravishing green mountains. Maragheh is surrounded by extensive vineyards and orchards, all well-watered by canals led from the river, and producing great quantities of fruit. The hills west of the town consist of horizontal strata of sandstone covered with irregular pieces of basalt.
The city has long history which dates back to pre-Islamic era and it has had important roles after Arab’s invasion and during Islamic era.
Among the long list of its famous historical monuments are Observatory of Maragheh, Red Dome, Blue Dome, Ghafari Dome, Circular Tower, Temple of Maragheh, Ohadi Maragheyi Tomb, Pigeon Cave and Huvans Church are part of the city’s historical monuments. Maragheh entitled as paradise of fossils of the world, the universe of history and the ancient Persian land has always served as a focal point in the studying and teaching of science, literature and art. Numerous elites have been cultivated in Maragheh and introduced to the Islamic world and Iran. Abdul Qadir Maraghi, Khaje Nasiruddin Tusi, Ohadi Maraghi were among the city’s great figures. Maragheh also holds great professors and scholars in his heart now. Maragheh has been the gateway to the Iranian Culture since the ancient millennia.
The Maragheh observatory, was an astronomical observatory established in the mid 13th century under the patronage of the Ilkhanid Hulagu and the directorship of Nasir al-Din al-Tusi, a Persian scientist and astronomer. The observatory is located on the west side of Maragheh, It was considered one of the most advanced scientific institutions in Eurasia because it was a center for many groundbreaking calculations in mathematics and astronomy. Most parts of the observatory has been destroyed over centuries and today only base of it has been remained.
The Red Dome is the oldest of the 5 existing tombs in the city of Maragheh. The Red Dome is a rectangular-shaped building with a domed roof that is placed on a number of moqarnas. This building has a shabestan, which is located on a hill and a kind of crypt that has been built inside and under it. There is a door to the east that connects the crypt to the outside. The four windows of the building have been placed on the main octagonal roof.
There are strip-shaped inscriptions on the west, south and east sides of the building, which were created later. The base of the building is made of carved stones. Similarly, the capitals of the columns that support the small bases of the arches of the second dome of the building are all made of stone. The rest of the building is entirely made of bricks and turquoise tile blocks are used on top of the bricks. Some geometric inscriptions and motifs carved from red brick and colored enamel tiles are placed above the entrance of the building.