Tourist Attractions in Isfahan, Iran
Ali Qapu Palace
The stunning Naghsh-Jahan Palace may be found in the western part of the square that bears its name in Isfahan city. This magnificent building is composed of seven stories. Visitors are able to reach each of these levels through a winding staircase. The music chamber was located on the sixth level, while the office of the king was located on the first floor. The palace was constructed in the 17th century and was owned by Shah Abbas at the time. The palace is decorated with stunning paintings by Reza Abbassi. These paintings may be seen on the beautiful walls. Ornamentation work may also be seen on the doors and windows of the various rooms. The central hall of the palace is supported by about 18 pillars. The Sheikh Lotfallah Mosque and a few other structures are located in the vicinity of this palace.
Imam Mosque
This mosque may be found to the south of the square known as Naghsh-i-Jahan. The building of this mosque began in 1611 and was not finished until 1638, making the total construction time around 27 years. This building is a wonderful illustration of the Persian architectural style. This mosque, in addition to Naghsh-i-Jahan Square, is recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The mosque is famous for a number of architectural features, including its calligraphic inscriptions, colourful mosaic tiles, two turquoise towers, four ivans, and arcades. Both the inside and outside of the mosque are decorated with stunningly gorgeous decoration work.
Chehel Sotoun Palace
The Chehel Sotoun Palace was constructed in 1647. The building served as a reception hall and was erected by Shah Abbas II. It is located in what was once the Royal Park. It is situated within walking distance to Ali Qapu Palace, which is just a few hundred metres away. “Forty Columns” is what “Chehel Sotoun” translates to when it’s spoken in Farsi. Approximately twenty columns may be seen in this edifice. The reflections of these twenty columns in the pool that is next to them make up the remaining ten columns, giving a total of forty columns. The main areas of the palace include the garden, the royal chamber, which has mirror windows, and the talar, which is similar to a verandah and features majestic columns. There is a tiny museum located inside the palace that has an interesting collection of artefacts, including as coins, paintings, rugs, armour, and china.
Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque
The Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque may be found in the area of the Naghsh-i-Jahan Square that is located to the east. In comparison to other mosques in the city, this one was built in 1618 and has a smaller prayer space. Shah Abbas I was the one who established it. Sheikh Lotfollah is honoured with the name of this magnificent piece of Safavid architecture from Iran. He served as a holy priest and was also Shah Abbas I’s father-in-law. Mohammad Reza Ibn Ustad Hussain Banna Isfahani was the architect behind the design of the mosque. It took nearly 20 years to finish, and it has intricate mosaics, multicoloured tiles on the dome, and a figure of a peacock that sits below the dome. This peacock has a tail that changes colours depending on the time of day.
Shaking Minarets
The Shaking Minarets location is located around six kilometres west of Isfahan and is also known in the surrounding area as Manar Jomban. These two minarets may be seen in the hamlet of Karlatan, which is on the way to Najaf Abad. The shakiness of these minarets is the defining characteristic of them. When someone on top of one of the minarets leans on the wall, it causes the other minaret to tremble. The 14th century saw the construction of these minarets. The minarets have a height of about 23 feet and a radius of 13 feet. In addition, the grave of Amu Abdullah Soqla may be discovered at this location.
Masjid-i-Shah
Shah Abbas established Masjid-i-Shah as a place of prayer open to the whole population. Despite this, it was only possible for it to be finished under Safi I’s rule. The mosque is comprised of several elements, including an outstanding entry gateway, a dome-covered vestibule, a central courtyard with four ivans, an eight-domed winter prayer hall, and many more. The biggest and most artistically designed of the mosque’s domes is the bulbous dome located in the southern part of the building. With addition to that, the floor is covered in tile work that is exquisitely created.
