Azadi Tower

The inverted-Y-shaped Azadi Tower, built in 1971 to commemorate the 2500th anniversary of the first Persian empire, is one of Tehran’s visual icons. Designed by Hossein Amanat, it ingeniously combines modern architecture with traditional Iranian influences, most notably the iwan-style of the arch, which is clad in 8000 pieces of white marble. It’s worth going inside to see the complex structural engineering that forms the bones of the design and for the view from the gallery at the top.
You can reach the top by stairs or lift. At the base are galleries with changing exhibitions and a cafe.
To reach the tower, which sits in a large oval park, you’ll need to tentatively negotiate the maelstrom of traffic that is an almost constant feature of the square.
Azadi Sq was the scene of much protest during the 1979 revolution and remains a focal point for demonstrations today, in-cluding some huge demonstrations during the post-election crisis in 2009.

Azadi Museum

The Azadi Museum is located on the basement floor. Inside the floor, there are black austere walls and proportions, and a concrete mesh forms the ceiling. Heavy doors open onto a crypt with subdued lighting issuing from showcases, each containing an object. The museum houses a number of gold and enamel pieces, painted pottery, marble and paintings. Approximately fifty pieces have been selected, each representing a particular period in Iran’s history.Among the earliest items on display were square flagstones, gold sheeting, and terracotta tablets from Susa covered with cuneiform characters. Before the 1979 Revolution, the main display was occupied by a copy of the Cyrus Cylinder, the original being kept at the British Museum. A translation of the cylinder’s cuneiform inscription is inscribed in golden letters on the wall of one of the galleries leading to the museum’s audio-visual department.