Bam

in

Bam lies in south-eastern Iran, where date palms and irrigated fields form a green oasis against dry mountains and desert. Its defining monument is a vast fortified citadel built largely from earth, containing walls, towers, houses and public buildings. Much of the complex was destroyed by an earthquake in 2003, but extensive reconstruction has restored its overall form.

The citadel explains how people once lived, traded and defended themselves in an arid environment, with different quarters arranged inside successive walls. Palm groves and traditional irrigation systems provide important context beyond the monument itself. The modern town is practical rather than tourist-oriented, and extreme summer heat makes the desert setting especially apparent.