Ardabil

Ardabil (also Ardebil, Persian: اردبیل, Azeri: Ərdəbil, Old Persian: Artavil) is a historical city in north-western Iran. The name Ardabil comes from the Zoroastrian name of "Artavil" (mentioned in Avesta) which means a holy place. Ardabil is the center of Ardabil province. Its population is estimated to be around 340,386, the majority of whom are ethnic Azerbaijanis.

Famed for its silk and carpet trade tradition, the ancient Ardabil Carpets are considered some of the best of the classical Persian Rug creations. Ardabil is also known as the seat of the sanctuary and tomb of Shaikh Safî ad-Dîn, eponym of the Safavid Dynasty.