Persia: Wonders of Great Empires

THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART

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P ERSIA: W ONDERS OF G REAT E MPIRES A DV A N CE I N FO RMATI ON

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A p r i l 2 3 t o May 4 , 2 0 1 6

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THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART

Dear Members and Friends of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Great kings and one of the world’s most ancient civilizations—for two-and-a-half millennia, Persia has had much to offer the world. Many dynasties and two religions have left their imprint on this land where monuments, carvings, and paintings abound.

Our exploration of fascinating Iran begins in the capital of Tehran, where exceptional museums preserve the country’s oldest and most precious artifacts. Fly to Shiraz—city of poets, roses, and wine—to see spectacular mosques and the tombs of two famous Persian poets. Devote a full day to nearby Persepolis, the vast ceremonial capital of the Persian Empire during the Achaemenid Dynasty. Continue to Yazd, one of most attractive cities in Iran and also the country’s last Zoroastrian center. Discover Na’In, known for its handicrafts and ancient aqueducts, before arriving in Isfahan, the magnificent 17th-century capital of the Safavids. Conclude in Tehran to visit the lavish Golestan Palace Complex, dating from the 18th to early 20th century.

I hope you will join us on this remarkable journey through millennia and across exceptionally beautiful landscapes.

Sincerely,

TRAVELING WITH YOU JOAN ARUZ is Curator in Charge of the Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Having begun her career at the Metropolitan Museum as a curatorial fellow in 1978, she joined the staff in 1989 and has held her current position since 2002. Dr. Aruz has curated numerous exhibitions, most recently Assyria to Iberia at the Dawn of the Classical Age (2014) which was received to great acclaim.

Dr. Aruz received her Ph.D. from the Institute of Fine Arts. An expert on ancient Near Eastern art and archaeology, she has wide knowledge of Iran from prehistoric beginnings through the Achaemenid, Parthian, and Sasanian eras. u

Nina McN. Diefenbach Vice President for Institutional Advancement

TRAVEL HIGHLIGHTS u

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T HE M ETROPOLITAN M USEUM

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UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as the Zoroastrian fire temple in Yadz, Tehran’s Golestan Palace complex, and tomb of Cyrus the Great at Pasargadae The museums of Tehran, including the National Museum, Carpet Museum, and National Jewels Museum Isfahan, with its splendid Friday Mosque and Maidan-e Naghsh-e Jahan Square A full-day in Persepolis, the ceremonial city founded by Darius the Great.

Lunch at a caravanserai and a visit to the village of Na’In, whose ancient underground aqueducts are still in use

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P ERSIA:W ONDERS

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April 23 to May 7, 2016 ________________________ u ________________________

TEHRAN

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SHIRAZ

Tuesday, April 26

Caspian Sea

This morning fly to Shiraz and continue to the Homa Hotel for lunch and check-in. Spend the afternoon in Shiraz touring some of the celebrated gardens of this “city of roses and nightingales.” Begin at the Eram Garden; then visit the pink-tiled 19th-century Nasir al-Mulk Mosque and the Qajar-period Naranjestan Palace.

Tehran

IRAN Isfahan

Yazd

SHIRAZ Wednesday, April 27

Pasargadae Persepolis

Spend the morning learning about two of Persia’s most famous poets, with visits to the tombs of Hafez and Sa’di, both located in beautiful gardens. Then see the Muzeye-Sang (Stone Museum). In the afternoon, explore the 18th-century citadel of Arg-e Karim Khan, the elegant Pars Museum, and the Masjid-i-Vakil, or Old Mosque.

Conclude the day at the lively Vakil Bazaar.

Shiraz

Persian Gulf

SHIRAZ

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PERSEPOLIS EXCURSION Thursday, April 28

Persepolis, the “City of the Persians” and the ceremonial center of the Persian Empire, remains one of the most important sites of the ancient world and is the focus of a full-day excursion. Explore the remains of the palaces of Darius the Great, Xerxes, and Artaxerxes. Continue to Naqsh-i- Rajab, a nearby grotto with Sassanian reliefs, and to Naqsh-i-Rustam to see the Ka’bi-Zardusht “fire temple” and the Persian Royal Tombs. Return to Shiraz to stroll in the Musalla Gardens, site of the tomb of Iran’s greatest lyric poet Hafez. Dinner is at the hotel.

NEW YORK Saturday, April 23

Depart New York on an overnight flight to Iran via Dubai.

DUBAI

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TEHRAN

Sunday, April 24

Arrive in Dubai in the afternoon and connect with the flight to Tehran. Arrive in Tehran in the evening and transfer to the centrally located Hotel Espinas.

TEHRAN Wednesday, April 25

Morning visits begin with the National Museum of Iran’s collection of antiquities including priceless vessels in precious materials, and statues of Darius the Great and other Persian kings. Following lunch, see the Treasury of National Jewels, housed in the vaults of the Central Bank of Iran, to marvel at the dazzling collections of crown jewels and the legendary Peacock Throne. Gather this evening for welcome remarks prior to dinner. u

Persepolis P ERSIA

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Portal (detail), Shah Mosque, Isfahan

SHIRAZ

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YAZD

ISFAHAN

Friday, April 29

Monday, May 2

Depart this morning for Yazd, stopping en route at ancient Pasargadae to explore the ruins of the capital and palaces of Cyrus the Great, including his majestic tomb. After lunch en route, stop in Abarku to see the massive ancient cypress tree before a late afternoon arrival in Yazd. Accommodations are at the lovely Moshir Garden Hotel.

Isfahan, the 17th-century capital of the Safavid Dynasty, is referred to as Nesf-e-Jahan, or “Half of the World.” See three of city’s famous eleven bridges, and the Armenian Quarter, including the Cathedral of Vank and the nearby museum. Visit the breathtaking square, Maidan-e-Naqshi-Jahan, a World Heritage Site. The square (maidan), is flanked by the Ali-Qapu Palace with its royal balcony, where the kings watched polo games on the maidan below; and two of the world’s greatest mosques: the Sheikh Lotfollah and the Shah. Conclude at the Qeisarieh Bazaar to browse the hundreds of shops displaying the arts and handicrafts of Isfahan.

YAZD Saturday, April 30

Today begins at the Zoroastrian Fire Temple, whose sacred flame has burned for 1,500 years. Then see the Friday Mosque, boasting the tallest minarets in Iran, and the Amir Chakhmaq complex. Following lunch, visit the gracious 18th-century Dowlat-Abad Garden, also know as the Governor’s Pavilion, surrounded by pomegranate orchards and with a feudal hexagonal house featuring a badgir, or wind tower. Pass the Seljuk shrine dedicated to the Twelve Shi’ite Imams before returning to the hotel for dinner.

YAZD

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ISFAHAN Tuesday, May 3

Today explore the magnificent Friday Mosque of Isfahan, considered a museum of a thousand years of Persian religious architecture. Then drive to the Palace of Chehel Sotun, built by Shah Abbas II in the 17th century. Twenty wooden columns reflected in the surface of the garden pool give the palace its name, “The Palace of Forty Columns.” Conclude the day at the 17th-century Hasht Behesht pavilion, a small but intricate building set amongst tree-lined alleys, a reflecting pool, and water rills.

ISFAHAN

Sunday, May 1

Drive to Isfahan today, stopping en route in Na’In, where ancient underground aqueducts, quanats, still provide much of the city’s water. After lunch at a caravanserai, see the Jame Mosque, dating from the 8th century. Then visit the Pirnia House, a desert house from the Safavid Period.

Continue to Isfahan, arriving in the late afternoon at the Hotel Abbasi. u

W ONDERS

ISFAHAN

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TEHRAN

Wednesday, May 4

Depart for Tehran, with a stop in Natanz to visit the 12thcentury Masjed-e Jame built with a four-ivan courtyard plan. In Kashan see the historic Garden of Fin, first planted during the Safavid period and expanded by the Zand and OF

G REAT E MPIRES

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Qajar monarchs. We will also see Tabatabai House, a 19thcentury merchant residence with a beautiful stucco dome and inlaid mirror work, and some of the best examples of existing badgirs. Arrive in Tehran in the late afternoon and check in to the Hotel Espinas.

TEHRAN Thursday, May 5 Relief detail, Golestan Palace

Spend the morning at the Golestan Palace complex, dating from the 18th to early 20th century. Visit the Marble Hall and the Hall of Mirrors, used as a coronation room, and view the ornate tile-covered walls in the garden.

Following lunch visit the Carpet Museum where a fine array of carpets from ancient to contemporary is on display.

Continue to the Glass Museum, housed in an elegant mansion from the Qajar period.

TEHRAN

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DUBAI

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Friday, May 6

This morning visit the former residence of the Pahlavi Dynasty, the Niyavaran Palace complex. There will be leisure time after lunch. Following an early dinner at the hotel, transfer to the airport for the evening flight to Dubai.

DUBAI

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NEW YORK

Saturday, May 7

Upon arrival in Dubai, connect with the flight to New York, arriving in the morning. u

PROGRAM RATE PER PERSON $8,995 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT $985 RATE INCLUDES u u

Thirteen nights hotel accommodations, as per itinerary Buffet breakfast daily, twelve lunches and twelve dinners; bottled water and coffee / tea with meals

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Program of lectures by Joan Aruz

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Airport / hotel group transfers

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Escorted sightseeing and entrance fees

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Internal, economy-class flight: Tehran / Shiraz

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Gratuities to guides and drivers

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Taxes, service, and porterage fees for one suitcase

NOT INCLUDED IN RATE International airfare; passport and visa fees; transfers for those not on suggested group flights; personal items and expenses; trip insurance; baggage in excess of one suitcase; optional prelude in Dubai; any other items not specifically mentioned as included.

THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART Persia: Wonders of Great Empires

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April 23 to May 7, 2016

ADVANCE RESERVATION APPLICATION To reserve a place, please return this form along with your deposit of $2,000 per person (of which $350 is non-refundable for administrative fees) payable to Academic Arrangements Abroad, 1040 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10018-3721. ____________________________________________________________________________________

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TERMS & CONDITIONS

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AIRFARE Academic Arrangements Abroad (AAA) will be pleased to assist with air travel arrangements for this program, including specially negotiated group airfare when available, suggested group flights, or your own individual requests, for a processing fee of $40 per person. Complete details will be provided in your confirmation mailing.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE A deposit of $2,000 per person, payable to AcademicArrangements Abroad, of which $350 is non-refundable for administrative fees, is required with the reservation application. Final payment, by check or wire transfer only, must be received by December 18, 2015,.

HEALTH All participants must be in good health. This program involves extensive walking over uneven surfaces and climbing stairs at monuments and other locations not handicapped accessible. Any condition that may require assistance or special medical attention must be reported at the time of your reservation.

PHOTOGRAPHY Photographs or, in some cases, videotapes of participants of Travel With the Met trips may be used for educational and promotional purposes

by The Metropolitan Museum of Art. INSURANCE T RIP C ANCELLATION / E MERGENCY M EDICAL E VACUATION / B AGGAGE / A CCIDENT A ND S ICKNESS I NSURANCE I S S TRONGLY R ECOMMENDED. C ANCELLATION PENALTIES ARE STRICTLY ENFORCED. AAA will send an insurance application upon receipt of deposit, although you may select an alternative insurer of your choice. Please note that as of January 2015, the U.S. Department of State updated the travel warning for Iran. For the most up-to-date information, please visit www.state.gov.

CHANGES IN ITINERARY & COSTS The itinerary is subject to change at the discretion of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met) and AAA. All prices quoted are based on prevailing fuel prices, airfares and currency exchange rates in effect at the time of brochure printing and are subject to change without notice. Deviations from the scheduled itinerary are at the expense of the individual.

RESPONSIBILITY CLAUSE The participation of the Met is limited to educational sponsorship of the program described in this brochure (The Program). AAA acts only as an agent for the participant with respect to transportation, accommodations and all other services, relating to The Program. AAA, the Met and/or their agents assume no responsibility or liability for any act, error or omission, or for any injury, loss, accident, delay or irregularity which may be occasioned by reason of any defect in any aircraft, ship, train, bus or other carrier, or through neglect or default of any subcontractor or other third party, which may be used wholly or in part in the performance of their duty to the participants of The Program. The passage ticket issued by the carrier is the sole contract between the participant and the carrier. Nor will AAA or the Met and/or their agents be responsible for loss, injury, damages or expenses to persons or property, due to illness, weather, strikes, local laws, hostilities, wars, terrorist acts of nature or other such causes in connection with The Program or anything beyond their reasonable control. AAA is not responsible for transportation or other program delays and changes, nor additional expenses or loss of time that may be incurred. In the event it becomes necessary or advisable for the comfort or well-being of the participants, or for any reason whatsoever, to alter the itinerary at any time, without notice to the participants, such alterations will be made without penalty to AAA or the Met. Additional expenses, if any, shall be borne by the participants. Baggage and personal effects are the sole responsibility of the participant at all times. The Met and AAA reserve the right to accept or decline any person as a participant at any time, or to require any participant to withdraw from The Program at their own expense when such an action is determined by AAA or the Met to be in the best interest of the participant’s health and safety, or the general welfare of the other participants.

CANCELLATION POLICY AAA must strictly adhere to its cancellation policy to offset costs incurred prior to the commencement of The Program, which may include but are not limited to: advance payments to land operators; ship charters; communication expenses; development/promotional expenses and the loss of time that might have permitted resale of reserved space. All cancellations must be made in writing to the offices of AAA and are subject to a $350 non-refundable administrative fee. All refunds are limited to amounts actually received by AAA and are the sole responsibility of AAA; the Met shall have no liability for refunds. At the time AAA receives written notification of cancellation, the following cancellation charges will apply: cancellations received between 150 and 91 days prior to departure, 20 percent of the program cost per person; those received between 90 and 61 days before departure, 50 percent of the program cost per person; no refunds will be given for cancellations received within 60 days of departure. No refunds are given for cancellation on or after the day of departure, or for unused portions of the tour, for any reason. Air cancellation charges, if any, will be assessed in accordance with airline regulations. All group fare tickets must be issued no less than 30 days prior to departure. NOTE: Neither AAA nor the Met shall be liable for any airline cancellation penalties incurred by the purchase of a non-refundable ticket. In the case of a cancellation due to shortage of participants, AAA will attempt to notify all participants at least 45 days prior to departure. However, AAA reserves the right to cancel The Program prior to departure for any reason and, in such case, reimbursement of refundable costs of the trip by AAA shall constitute full settlement with the participant. In the unlikely event that a dispute arises between a participant and AAA or the Met, the following conditions will apply: (a) the dispute will be settled by binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association in New York, NY; (b) the dispute will be governed by New York Law; (c) the maximum amount of recovery to which a participant shall be entitled under any and all circumstances will be the sum of all monies actually received from the participant

by AAA. The participant agrees that this is a fair and reasonable limitation on the damages, of any sort whatsoever, that a participant may suffer. Upon payment of the deposit to AAA, the participant agrees to be bound by the above terms and conditions.

Copyright © 2016 Arrangements Abroad, Inc.

CST 2059789-40

On the front cover: Plate with a hunting scene from the tale of Bahram Gur and Azadeh. Silver, mercury gilding. Iran. Sasanian period, 5th century A.D. Ex coll.: The Guennol Collection. Purchase, Lila Acheson Wallace Gift, 1994 1994.402

OPTIONAL DUBAI PRELUDE April 20 to 24, 2016 Discover a captivating part of the globe. Tour Dubai’s Burj al Khaleef, the world’s tallest building, with one of the architects. In the Bastakiya Quarter, admire the wind-towered houses built in the 19th century

by Persian merchants. Drive to nearby Abu Dhabi to see the spectacular Sheikh Zayed Mosque—with its gleaming domes and massive Persian carpet. Visit Saadiyat Island, where five major museums are being designed by Frank Gehry, Jean Nouvel, Tadao Ando, Zaha Hadid, and Norman Foster.

Accommodations are at the Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, one of Dubai’s most elegant luxury hotels, situated on Palm Island.

OPTIONAL DUBAI PRELUDE $1,995 double occupancy. Single supplement $710. Includes three nights at hotel Jumeirah Zabee Saray, two lunches and one dinner, sightseeing as noted.

Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Abu Dhabi

A NO TE A B O U T T RAVE L I N I RAN Driving is often the most efficient way to access the cities and villages we will visit. Long drives are to be expected during this program, however the remarkably varied landscapes of Iran will offer a scenic panorama along the way.

Iranian people are warm and hospitable towards visitors. They enjoy engaging foreigners in English conversation and are especially curious about life in America.

Certain rules of dress and conduct are strictly observed in Iran and all trip participants are expected to adhere to local laws and customs.

Women are required to cover their heads with a scarf whenever outside the privacy of their hotel room and to wear loose clothing that covers their arms and legs.

Loose trousers or a long skirt, with a top that reaches mid-thigh, are recommended. Except for shorts, which are discouraged, men may wear the same clothes as when traveling in any western country—although we suggest you leave your ties at home! (Ties are rarely seen and never necessary.)

Alcohol is forbidden at all times.

After a brief period of adjustment to these regulations, western travelers should feel quite comfortable and at ease. u

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