Ardabil is a city in northwestern Iran. It is in the Central District of Ardabil County, Ardabil province, Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district.
Ardabil (, or Ardebīl; ) is a city in northwestern Iran, and the capital of Ardabil Province.
As of 2016, there were 529,374 inhabitants in Ardabil living in 158,627 households. with the majority belonging to the Shia denomination of Islam. The dominant majority in the city are ethnic Iranian Azerbaijanis and the primary language of the people is Azerbaijani.
Ardabil is known for its trade in silk and carpets. Ardabil rugs are renowned and the ancient Ardabil carpets are considered among the best of classical Persian carpets. Ardabil is also home to a World Heritage Site, Sheikh Safi al-Din Khānegāh and Shrine Ensemble, the sanctuary and tomb of Shaikh Safî ad-Dîn, the eponymous founder of the Safavid dynasty.
Etymology
The name Ardabil comes from the Avestan artavil or artawila which means "holy place".
