Persepolis (all images)

Persepolis is the ancient capital of the Achaemenid Empire which lasted from 550BC until 330BC, when it was overrun by the Alexander the Great. Construction of Persepolis started in 515 BC, with the major structures being completed by 485BC. Persepolis was destroyed when Alexander conquered the Persian empire in 330BC. What remains today are ruins spread over an area of 300x200m, located 70 km northeast of Shiraz in the Fars province. Perspolis was a walled city, accessible via a large staircase and the gate of all nations. The largest palace in Persepolis was the Apadana palace completed under Xerxes I in 485BC. Inside the palace are well preserved bas-reliefs with scenes of soldier and nobles arriving at the city. Due to its small size the Persepolis site can be visited in a few hours. Persepolis has been a UNESCO world heritage site since 1979.
In 2012 the entrance fee for the Persepolis site has been increased from 5000 IRL to 150000 IRL (which is about 4 USD at the current exchange rate).