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Photo: Safa.daneshvar, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The largest single-span vault of unreinforced brickwork in the world and the last remaining structure of the ancient Sasanian capital of Ctesiphon. The arch stands over 30 m high and dates to the 3rd–6th century CE. The site is uncrowded and the scale of the ruin is impressive — one of the most rewarding day trips from Baghdad.
Tāq Kasrā, also transcribed as Taq-i Kisra or Taq-e Kesra or Ayvān-e Kesrā are the remains of a Sasanian-era Persian monument, dated to c. the 3rd to 6th centuries, which is sometimes called the Arch of Ctesiphon. It is located near the modern town of Salman Pak, Iraq. It was the facade of the main palace in Ctesiphon, and is the only visible remaining structure of the ancient capital city. The archway is considered a landmark in the history of architecture, and is the second largest single-span vault of unreinforced brickwork in the world after the Gavmishan Bridge in Iran.
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كاتدرائية القديس يوسف
Seat of the Archdiocese of Baghdad, the current building dates back to 1866.
ساحة الفردوس
A public open space surrounded by several artwork monuments.
شارع أبو نواس
Baghdad's famous riverside promenade, named after the 8th-century poet. The street comes alive in the evenings with families, street food vendors, tea houses, and restaurants serving fresh masgouf (grilled carp). One of the best places to experience everyday Baghdadi social life.
صرح الجندي المجهول
Inspired by the glorification of a martyr from the Iran–Iraq War. The monument represents a traditional shield (dira¹a) dropping from the dying grasp of an Iraqi warrior. The monument used to house a museum which is now mostly empty. Ask the Iraqi soldiers who guard the monument for permission.
قوس النصر
A huge pair of triumphal arches celebrating the alleged victory over Iran. Also known as the Hands of Victory. It marks the entrances to a former parade ground. In Ba'athist times, lavish victory parades and commemorations were a common event, showcasing military power and Saddam Hussein's cult of personality. Two arches feature thousands of captured Iranian helmets, symbolizing victory over Iran in the 1980s.