Shiraz, city in southwestern Iran, capital of Fars Province. Located in the Zagros Mountains, Shiraz is a commercial center of the surrounding region, which produces grapes, citrus fruit, cotton, and rice. The chief products are Shiraz wine, which has been famed for centuries; inlaid articles of wood; metalwork, especially silver; rugs; brocades and other textiles; cement; and fertilizer. Points of interest in Shiraz include the tombs of the celebrated Persian poets Hafiz and Sa'di, both natives of the city, and the 9th-century mosque of Masjid-i-Jama. The city is also the site of a university (1945). Shiraz was founded in the 7th century and was the capital of Iran during several periods of its history. Population (1996) 1,053,025.
