Isfahan

Naghsh-e Jahan Square is one of the biggest and most beautiful squares of the world. This square is 507 meter in length and 158 meter in width. It has embraced four monuments of Isfahān (Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, Ali Qapu Palace, Imam Mosque and Qeysarie Gate). There are two hundred 2-floor chambers across Naghsh-e Jahan Square. Tourists come to both visit this square and to shop. When Safavids chose Isfahān as their capital, Naghsh-e Jahan Square was established. At this time, Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque and Qeysarie Gate were also constructed.

In that ear, matches and games such as game of polo and pillory throwing were held. The soldiers and troops marched in this square. Part of this square was destroyed during Qajar era due to inattention, but in Pahlavi era and after the victory of Islamic revolution, the destroyed parts were repaired. Naghsh-e Jahan Square was registered in the list of Iranian national monuments on January 28, 1935.

Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque is one of the architectural masterpieces. The construction of this mosque, which was built during the Safavid period to commemorate Sheikh Lotfollah Ameli, lasted 18 years (1603 -1619). This mosque was built in the eastern side of Naghsh-e Jahan Square in front of Ali Qapu Palace and next to Imam Mosque. The dome of Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque has been decorated by tiles from inside and outside and it has been built on several high toothed arches.

These arches are so high that they can be seen from Naghsh-e Jahan Square. Tile works of this mosque dome are among the most beautiful and skillful tile works of Iranian architecture. The mosque’s Mihrab is also one of the other unique and admirable beauties of Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque. This mosque has been built in a way that it has a 45-degree rotation, which is called heel by Iranian traditional architects.

Safavids also brought Hasht Behesht mansion for Isfahān people. This mansion was the rulers’ residence in the late reign of this dynasty. Hasht Behesht mansion is located in the large and beautiful Naghsh-e Jahan garden whose initial original building was constructed by Shash Ismaeil. This building is octagonal and built in two floors and has four facades. None of the facades is similar to the other

The northern façade seems to be the main façade of the mansion, but the pool in the eastern side shows that the main façade is at this side. In the middle of the mansion’s hall, there is an octagonal pool made of marble which is called Morvarid pool. The mansion doors and windows are decorated with inlays and double the beauty of mansion. Hasht Behesht mansion was registered in the list of Iranian national monuments on December 13, 1934 with registration No. 227.

Chehel Sotoun‎‎ (Forty Columns) Garden is one of the attractions of Isfahān city and there are few people do not know it. This garden has an area more than 67000 m2 and its construction lasted several years. This garden was called Jahan Nama Garden. At first, Shah Abbas built a palace like a pergola, which can be called the initial building of Chehel Sotoun palace. This garden is located in Imam Hossein square in Ostandari Street.

Chehel Sotoun mansion has, in fact, 20 columns and the reflection of the mansion columns in the water of the fountain pool in front of it has caused it to be called Chehel Sotoun. Some historians believe that the palace completed by Shah Abbas had 40 columns, but in the fire occurred in 1706, only 20 columns left. Mirror works, big wall paintings, and wooden columns are among the eye-catching beauties of this palace. The doors and windows are also decorated with inlays and wood carvings and show the original Iranian arts. Safavid rulers entertained guests and foreign figures in the central hall of the palace.

The Jomeh Mosque of Isfahān is the oldest religious architectural complex in Iran. The Jomeh Mosque of Isfahān should be regarded as the oldest historical mansion of Isfahān. The current face of Isfahān is mainly related to the measures taken in Seljuk period, but it was repaired in Safavid era. However, some monuments related to Alebouyeh were found in archaeological excavations that date back to the third century AH. In these excavations, some works related to pre-Islam period were also found.

Jomeh’ Mosque of Isfahān also known as Jameh Atiq mosque is located in Qiyam Square, Alameh Majlesi street of Isfahān. In other words, to the extent that Naghsh-e Jahan Square and surrounding historical monuments are reminiscent of Safavid architecture and art, the Jomeh Mosque and its surrounding neighborhoods express the myth of life in the Seljuk era and before that.

The Monar Jonban (shaking minarets) is a historical monument that attracts tourists to Isfahān. Sufi Amu Abdollah  Kar Ladani was buried in this mansion and the date 716 AH has been written on his grave. This date coincides with the government of Soltan Mohammad Khodabandeh Aljayto Ilkhanate.  Monar Jonban is in the form of a monument and two minarets. The height of each minaret reaches 5.7 m. what has differentiated them from other minarets is their shaking. If one of the minarets is shaken, the other minaret and the whole mansion will shake as well. The reason for this phenomenon was not celar for a long time, but one of the reasons can be a physical phenomenon called Doppler effect on intensity, as these two minarets are similar and very light, shaking one of them affects the other one.

Researchers believe that this mansion dates back to Ilkhanate, but these minarets shaped in a way that causes archeologists to guess they have been added to walls in Safavid era. This monument was registered in the list of Iranian national monuments on June 10, 1942 with registration No. 349.

The Bird Garden of Isfahān is one of the most eye-catching bird gardens in Iran. More than 4000 birds from 130 different species are kept in this garden with an area of more than 55000 m2. This garden is located 4km west of Vahid Bridge and was founded in 1998 by the municipality of Isfahān. The inner courtyard of the garden has been decorated, and in addition to supplying the environmental needs of birds, it has created a very eye-catching environment for visitors. There is a grid ceiling on this garden with an area of 40000 m2 on 16 columns with a height of 22-25m.

There are 4 lakes in Bird Garden of Isfahān in which birds such as ducks, swans, and geese are kept. The constructed rocks are also the host of mountain and desert birds and you can find partridge beside them. Depending on the birds and their living conditions, some glass and iron cages have been considered in this garden, and some of the birds live freely all around the garden in the green forest space.

Atashgah or Atashgah Mountain of Isfahān is one of the other monuments of this city left from ancient Iran. Its name was originally Mehrbin Castle or Mehrbin Fireplace. Today it is located in Atashgah Street west of Isfahān, 8 km away downtown. This building is situated on a mountain near Zayandeh Rood and its hills are made of sedimentary rocks. It is made of adobe, and there is a thin layer of straw between two rows of adobes to make it stronger.

In the past, there were rooms on its bases, which have been destroyed today. There is a round building at the top of the hill. It is said that Zoroastrian priests put the sacred fire there. Atashgah was repaired in Pahlavi period. Atashgah Mountain was registered in the list of Iranian national monuments on December 3, 1951 with registration No. 380.
Isfahān with ancient history has always received attention from great people and rulers of the country. That is why it has embraced many monuments. Zayandeh Rood flows at the heart of Isfahān. This river led to the construction of Si-o-se-pol and Khajo Bridge. Other monuments have also formed around them.

Vank or Amna Perkich church is located in Jolfa neighborhood of Isfahān and is one of the historical churches of Armenians of this city. This church was constructed in an area more than 8731 m2 during the reign of Shah Abbas II. The church building has only occupied 3857 m2 of this space and the rest is assigned to green space of Vank garden. Church bell tower has been constructed in 3 floors and there is a clock with a weight of 300 kg in its second floor.

This church dome has been made like Iranian mosques dome. There is some oil painting on walls, arches, dome collar, and inside the dome, and the gold works and gilding used to decorate this church are unique among other Armenian churches. Vank Church of Isfahān was registered in the list of Iranian national monuments on January 5, 1932 with registration No. 85.

Si-o-se-pol also known as Allahverdi Khan Bridge has 33 spans. It was constructed during Shah Abbas Safavi over Zayandeh Rood. This bridge dates back to 1599, and after 3 years, Allahverdi Khan Undiladze Gorji was given the mission to complete the bridge construction. During the Safavid era, Si-o-se-pol was the place to hold Abpashan festival and Khajshoyan ceremony of Armenians.

Si-o-se-pol can be regarded as one of the best bridges in the world and the architectural masterpiece of Iranians during Safavid era. It is impossible that somebody travel to Isfahān, but do not plan to visit this place located at the heart of Isfahān. It is 295 m in length and 14 m in width. Si-o-se-pol was registered in the list of Iranian national monuments on January 5, 1932 with registration No. 110.

Isfahan’s Nazhvan Aquarium Tunnel as the first and largest Iranian aquarium tunnel was built in partnership with a foreign investor in a height of -6 m underground, which consists of 33 aquariums.

Various aquatic species, saltwater and freshwater fish, and starfish from the five oceans of the world are on display here for the visitors.

This complex includes thirty three-5-10 m aquariums and contains 1080 m3 water in it as a 35 m-underground world. Visitors can see the most beautiful and rarest marine species above their head and beside them and experience the sense of being in the ocean.

The Shaykh Bahai hammam (bathroom) is one of the unique historical bathrooms of Safavid era located in Isfahān. It is famous due to the secret of how its water is heated. The water has been heated only by a candle. Shaykh Bahai, the famous Iranian scholar, designed and constructed this bathroom. Despite research on this issue, the secret of heating the bath water using only a candle has not been fully found out, and it has still remained as a secret.

The stove was heated by only one candle until the mid of Pahlavi era, but unfortunately when some foreign scientists tried to find out how it works, some of the main facilities were damaged during their research. Currently, this place has become a museum and tourists can visit it.