The largest adobe city in the world including the citadel, 67 towers, houses, Hamam, bazaar, mosque, caravanserai, located in Bam a city in Kerman. The giant 23ft high walls with a length of 5.955ft surround the total city with an area of 180,000 square meters. The Bam and its Cultural Landscape is chosen as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. The entire fortress is a Heritage site but because of the citadel which forms the highest point and its great landscape, it is known as the Arg e Bam or Bam Citadel. the exact date of the construction of the city is unknown but the first settlement of humane traced back to the Achaemenid Empire (6-4 BC.). it was at the crossroad of the important routes and was known for the production of silk and cotton garments.
the large gate and outer walls surrounded by a moat supply the safety of the city.fortress has all the elements of a developed city and if there was a war the could close the gates and live for a long time because of the well and a Persian water transition system, by underground irrigation canals, called Qanat and agricultural area that was well designed Different part of the city was added in different times but the planners had overseen the entire needs and final form of the city at the beginning. the city has two distinguished part: the ruler part including the citadel, well, mill, barracks, four season houses, and ruled-over part consist of 400 houses, public building, and bazaar all made in mud bricks.
Unfortunately, a large earthquake struck Bam and caused large damage. About 26.200 persons were killed thousand was injured and part of the Arg was destroyed because its hypocenter was located just below the city. the restoration started immediately and you can visit the different part of the citadel and see its greatness.
