The Role of Family Tombs in Developing and Strengthening Spiritual Tourism (A case study of Isfahan Takht-e-Foulad Cemetery)

The cemetery has been used as an indigenous urban space, a place for social interactions, the memories of survivors, and the cultural identity of the legibility of urban areas in the past. For example, Takht-e-Foolad Cemetery is one of the most valuable cemeteries in the Shiite world. Takht-e Foulad Cemetery is one of the successful architectural examples of the attitude towards spiritual tourism. The tomb’s architecture shows the depth of the Iranian spirit of belief in the spiritual dimension of life. In most parts of Iran, this type of architecture, mostly in the form of shrines (Imamzadeh) or the tombs of people with honors, and sometimes family tombs, can be found. Tomb architecture in Iran has been different according to time and place. One factor that has had a significant impact on the type of architecture is each period's cultural, social, and spiritual conditions. Despite their socio-historical importance, family tombs are among the buildings that have been less studied and considered in tomb architecture. Family tombs have different functions according to different definitions. Although they have gradually lost their function and importance over time, recognizing them seems necessary. The difference in the performance of these buildings (family tombs) in each period creates the motivation to study and analyze them from a historical and cultural perspective. With a qualitative research approach, analytical-comparative research method, and field research with studies, the present study is a library to address the role of family tombs in the development of spiritual tourism that is part of tomb architecture. It should be acknowledged that the spatial and temporal realm of this research includes the family tombs of Takht-e-Foolad Cemetery in Isfahan.

Keywords:

cemetery , Family tomb , Takht-e-Foolad , tomb architecture