Nasir al-Molk: the mosque where morning turns to colour
In Shiraz, sunlight pours through stained glass and paints a Qajar-era prayer hall in every colour of the spectrum.
Built in Shiraz in the late 19th century during the Qajar era, the Nasir al-Molk Mosque is often called the “Pink Mosque” for the rose-coloured tiles that cover its façade and courtyard.
A hall of light
Its best-known feature is the winter prayer hall. Early in the morning, sunlight passes through tall windows of coloured glass and spreads patterns of red, blue, green and gold across the Persian carpets, the twisted stone columns and the walls.
When to visit
The effect is strongest in the first hours after sunrise, particularly in the cooler months when the sun sits lower in the sky.
