Persepolis

The mightiest monument of Fars province, the one that really indicates the honor and greatness of Iran is undoubtedly Persepolis and its landscape, the capital of the Achaemenid Empire. It is situated 70 Km northeast of Shiraz, in the Fars Province, at the foot of Kuh-i-Rahmat (Mountain of Mercy) in the plain of Marv Dasht.
Fars became a major power in the 5th century BC. Persepolis was also constructed during this period. It has been proved that It was Darius I the Great, who ordered the construction of Persepolis, particularly the terrace and the main palaces inspired by Mesopotamian models between 518 and 516 B.C. The construction of Persepolis was followed during the reign of his son, King Xerxes the Great.
The Persepolis platform indicates that the Audience Hall of the Apadana, the Throne Hall, and the Gate of Xerxes, were located at the northern part of the Terrace, representing the official section of the Persepolis complex. On the other hand, the Palaces of Darius and Xerxes, the Harem, the Council Hall are situated at the other part of Terrace.
The Persepolis was finally destructed by Alexander the Great, who sent the main force of his army to Persepolis in the year 330 BC through the Royal road.