Shiraz is the capital of Fars province and is geographically located in the central part of this province. The area of Shiraz is 1,268 square kilometers. The seasonal river of this city is called “Khashk” or “Heft Polyi” which after passing through the city flows into Maharlu Lake. Shiraz is bordered by Marvdasht and Sepidan from the north, Firozabad and Jahrom from the south, Neyriz, Estehban and Fasa from the east, and Kazerun from the west. Mountains surround Shiraz from all four sides.
The population of Shiraz in solar year 1395 was 1,565,572 people, which is 1,869,001 people including the population living in the outskirts of the city, and it is also the 322nd most populous city in the world and the 20th most populous city in Western Asia. Shiraz metropolis is also the 20th most populated metropolis in the Middle East.
According to historical findings, the first time people settled in the city of Shiraz dates back to the Sassanid era; But the most evidence about this city is related to the early Islamic era. There are different traditions about the construction of Shiraz city. One of the most reliable traditions narrates that this city was founded by Abdul Malik Marwan in the first century of Hijri. After the official religion of Iran changed to Islam, Muhammad, the brother of Hajjaj Ibn Yusuf, began to rebuild the buildings of Shiraz.