Saint Stepanos Monastery is a long day from Tabriz, but it is important enough to justify the distance. Set in a canyon near Julfa and the Araxes River, the monastery is part of the UNESCO-listed Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran, a reminder of the deep Christian history of the northwest.
The architecture is the draw: patterned stone, carved reliefs, a drum and dome framed by dry hills, and a fortified enclosure that makes the complex feel both sacred and defensive. Go with transport arranged in advance, and combine it with other Julfa-area sights if you can.