The Darvazeh Quran — Quran Gate — straddles the road at the northern entrance to Shiraz, where the highway from Isfahan winds down through the Allahu Akbar Gorge. The original gate was built in the 10th century, with a small chamber above it holding two large Qurans. Travellers leaving or entering the city passed beneath the holy books for protection.
The current structure dates from a 1949 restoration after Reza Shah had earlier demolished the medieval gate to widen the road. The Qurans themselves are now in the Pars Museum. The park around the gate is a popular evening picnic spot for Shirazi families, especially in summer, and the viewpoint above gives a fine sweep over the city as the lights come on.