Azadi Tower

About this place

Azadi Tower, meaning Freedom Tower, is a monument on Azadi Square in Tehran, formerly known as the Shahyad Tower. It is among the main landmarks of the capital and once marked its western entrance. It stands about 45 m tall and is completely clad in cut marble. It is part of the Azadi Cultural Complex, which includes an underground museum, and it is easy to spot from far away. It was commissioned by the last Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, to mark the 2,500-year celebration of the Persian Empire, and was completed in 1971. The architect Hossein Amanat won the design after a competition. Its form blends pre-Islamic and Islamic Iranian architecture, with curved arches combining modern strength and old memory. You see the tower in the middle of a broad square, with sloping ribs and a web of geometric patterns under the arch that grow finer as you approach. Gardens and a pool spread around it. Going up to the roof and museum may be possible when they are open, so check in advance. The tower is lit at night and takes on quite another look. It is about 8 km in a straight line from Golestan Palace and easy to reach by metro. The square is huge and traffic around it is heavy, so use the pedestrian crossings. The UK Foreign Office currently advises against all travel to Iran and warns that British nationals risk detention, so check official guidance before making any plans. We could not confirm the current state of this site.