Fin Garden, or Bagh-e Fin, located in
Kashan,
Iran, is a historical Persian garden. It contains
Kashan's Fin Bath, where Amir Kabir, the Qajarid chancellor, was murdered by an assassin sent by King Nasereddin Shah in 1852.
Completed in 1590, the Fin Garden is the oldest extant garden in
Iran.
The origins of the garden may be anterior to the Safavid period.
The settlements of the garden in its present form was built under the reign of Abbas I of Persia (1571-1629), as a traditional bagh near the village of Fin, located a few miles southwest of
Kashan.
The garden was developed further during the Safavid dynasty, until Abbas II of Persia (1633-1666). It was highly recognized during the reign of Fat′h Ali Shah Qajar and was considerably expanded.
The garden covers 2.3 hectares with a main yard surrounded by ramparts with four circular towers. In keeping with many of the Persian gardens of this era, the Fin Garden employs a great many water features.
These were fed from a spring on a hillside behind the garden,
...see more and the water pressure was such that a large number of circulating pools and fountains could be constructed without the need for mechanical pumps.
The garden expresses a series of accentuated contrasts between the arid, inhospitable landscape outside the walls and the lush foliage within. Outside, water is scarce and precious.
The monotone of the landscape is replaced by the colors of foliage, of flowers, of blue tiles, of fountains, and of painted plaster and woodwork, Axial symmetry contrasts with areas of almost impenetrable growth.
The plan of Fin calls sharply to mind the Persian garden Carpet, for all elements of multiple channels, orchards, flowers, and pavilions are present in similar relationship.
At Fin, all the channels are lined, sides and bottom, with blue faience tiles so that the very water seems bright and gay until it flows into one of the larger pools, lined with great trees.
The garden subsequently suffered from neglect and was damaged several times until, in 1935, it was listed as a national property of Iran. On 2007, 8 September, Bagh-e Fin was submitted to the Unesco's Tentative List.
References:
www.en.wikipedia.org
http://www.gardenvisit.com
