The Blue Mosque, known as Goy Masjid in Turkish language, still bears the scars caused by a massive earthquake that struck Tabriz in 1779. Only the iwan of the entrance remains from the original structure, but much of the mosque has been reconstructed in the past 50 years. Dating back to 1465, the iwan demonstrates the intricate blue tile work after which the mosque derives its name, as well as some fine Islamic calligraphy. The patchy remains are an unnerving reminder of Iran’s vulnerability to earthquakes, sitting atop many major fault lines.
Tabriz is the capital city of South Azerbaijan.
