The mosque was completed in 1888 and took about 12 years to build. It is famous for two things: the thousands of rose-pink tiles on its facade that give it its nickname, and the extraordinary stained-glass panels that line its main prayer hall. The glass panels are arranged so that when the low morning sun hits them at just the right angle, the coloured light fans out across the interior like a kaleidoscope.
Visitors typically arrive just after sunrise to see the light show at its most intense. For about an hour, the whole space transforms - columns glow amber, the floor becomes a carpet of coloured patches, and the geometric tile patterns on the walls seem to come alive with moving light. As the sun climbs higher, the effect gradually fades. It only happens naturally, with no lamps or electricity involved, just the clever positioning of the windows.
The city of Shiraz is itself famous for being the city of poets, gardens and roses. The great Persian poets Hafez and Saadi were born here, and their tombs are still visited by people who come to read poetry aloud in the beautiful garden surroundings. Walking through Shiraz, you often see people carrying small books of poetry to read under the orange trees.