Imam Ali Shrine

The Imam Ali Shrine in Najaf is among the holiest sites of Shia Islam, marking the tomb of the first imam and cousin of the Prophet. Its great golden dome and twin gilded minarets rise above a vast courtyard paved in marble and faced with mirrored and tiled decoration. The city grew around the sanctuary as a centre of pilgrimage and religious scholarship, and the adjacent cemetery is one of the largest in the world. Visitors can take in the gleaming dome, the intricate portals, and the constant flow of pilgrims through its gates.