Blue Mosque, Tabriz Mosque

Address: Blue Mosque (Masjed-e Kabud), Tabriz, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran

Admission: Free to enter (historic mosque)

The Blue Mosque of Tabriz, often called the Kabud Mosque, is a 15th-century religious and architectural monument in Tabriz, East Azerbaijan province, Iran. It is renowned for its glazed blue tile decoration.

Construction dates to the 15th century under the Qara Qoyunlu ruler Jahan Shah; the mosque suffered heavy damage in the 18th-century earthquake of 1779 and has undergone various restoration and conservation efforts since. The surviving tile decoration is the principal element used to assess the monument’s original ornamentation.

The mosque is located within the urban fabric of Tabriz in northwestern Iran, situated in the city’s historical quarter and accessible from local streets and squares.

• Tilework and condition: Noted for its extensive blue-tile decoration and intricate glazed mosaics, much of the original tilework was damaged by an 18th-century earthquake and subsequent neglect.

• Go in the morning light to see the mosque's remaining tilework and glazed mosaics most clearly before crowds and harsh afternoon sun obscure details.
• Approach the site from the Tabriz Bazaar area and combine both visits - the historic bazaar is nearby and helps place the mosque in its urban and commercial context.
• Check the mosque's opening status before you travel: the Blue (Kabud) Mosque has undergone restorations and sections can be closed to visitors during conservation work.