Travel Guide Rey

At 12 km south of the capital, Rey (also called Ray, Rayy, Rai, Shahr-e-Rey) was an important stopover on the silk Road. The origin of this historic and holy city, named Ragha in the Bible, dates back to 6 000 years, from where its nickname sometimes used by ancient Persia. Formerly distinct from Tehran, Rey was joined by urbanization. The small town is among the religious towns of the country attracting many Shiites due to the presence of shrines, tombs and cemeteries. The most attractive monument remains the shrine of Shah Abdol'azim and its mosque. Rey also houses the splendid Toghlor tower, the mausoleum of the Imam Khomeini, and, in close proximity, the Behesht-e Zahra cemetery, dedicated to the soldiers dead during the Iran-Iraq war. The city is also the headquarters of the Islamic University Azad. Despite these attractive riches, it has a population with rather modest, even very modest, incomes, including many Afghan refugees and immigrants.