Cemeteries role in the development of Religious Tourism in Islamic Cities. Case study: Takhete Foolad Cemetery of Isfahan

Shia religion is the apex of the development of cemetery spaces. Throughout history the holy places, shrines of imams and their relatives in Karbala, Najaf, Mashhad, Qom and Samarra are Spontaneous associations of religious tendencies in the Shia population and this causes was the cemeteries spaces development. As a result early tomb building known as a symbol of Shia religious and political demands. For example Takhte Foolad Cemetery in Isfahan can be regarded as a prominent cemetery space. Although Takhte Foolad is a cemetery environment and associated the meaning of death and grief but its appearance is along with architectural and urban decorations and coordinated with the meaning of life. This cemetery is due to a variety of urban and architectural works such as the monument and Tekie, cisterns, carvansaraa, mosques, museums, libraries and art works such as reliefs and carvings there are three levels of sensory, form and symbolic beauty. In fact Takhte Foolad is index symbol of Iranian identity in Isfahan that displays share of past achievements, cultural, scientific and even urbanism and architecture from the past. So it is essential that this cemetery protected from modern urban changes to be able enrichment esthetic sense of disoriented man in modern time.