The
Arg-e Bam, in
Kerman Province in southeastern Iran, is the largest
adobe building in the world and a UNESCO
World Heritage Site. The ancient citadel has a history dating back around two thousand years, to the
Parthian Empire (248 BC – 224 AD), but most of its buildings were constructed during the
Safavid dynasty.
A strong earthquake on 26 December 2003 largely devastated the fortress and the nearby modern city of
Bam. The Arg-e Bam, including the governor's residence, the main tower, the Four Seasons Palace and the
hammam, were nearly totally destroyed; this photograph from 2016 shows the citadel partially reconstructed.
Photograph credit: Diego Delso