Isfahan is a province of turquoise domes, Islamic walls, famous bridges and rare buildings in central Iran. This province is the third most populous province and the sixth largest province in Iran. In addition to the Persians, the province’s population consists of Bakhtiari Lors, Georgians, and a small population of Armenians and Jews. A large part of its area is covered with deserts, which have increased in recent years due to drought.
History:
The first written documents available from the history of this part of the country show that Isfahan was one of the most famous parts of the country in the first century AD and was called “Sepaneh”. In a map drawn by Ptolemy, an ancient Greek philosopher and astronomer (150 years AD), the name “Spedana” is found in where, Isfahan is now located.
This city has been one of the most prosperous and beautiful cities in the world for many centuries. During the Safavid dynasty, Isfahan was one of the most prosperous and civilized cities and the capital of Iran for some time, and most of its historical monuments are from this period.
Geography:
Isfahan is bounded on the east by Yazd and South Khorasan provinces, on the north by Semnan, Qom and Markazi provinces, on the west by Lorestan and Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari provinces, and on the south by Kohgiluyeh, Boyer-Ahmad and Fars provinces. This province is the center of iron and steel production in the country and one of the most important centers for the preparation and production of Iranian handicrafts. The province is located in the center of the Iranian plateau and large parts of it are covered with desert. Parts of it also include mountainous lands with temperate climates. The beautiful Zayanderud River, which originates in the highlands of southwestern Iran, passes through this province.
Climate:
The desert areas of Isfahan province are hot and dry in summer and very cold in winter. The mountainous cities of this province, such as Semirom, Khansar, Faridan, Fereydunshahr and Chadegan, have a mild and favorable climate.
Isfahan is the third largest city and the third most populous city in the country and one of the main cities for foreign tourists. This city has been the cradle of Iranian and Islamic architecture and one of the greatest manifestations of Iranian civilization in different eras. In every corner of the city you can find a historic building with beautiful and amazing architecture, some of which are registered as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Isfahan is a city of covered bridges, domes and beautiful minarets.
Isfahan’s Naqsh-e Jahan Square, which houses the Sheikh al-Latifaleh Mosque, the Imam Mosque, the Caesarea Gate and the Ali-Qapo Mansion, is one of the city’s main attractions with its traditional bazaar. The Menar Jonban, Khajoo Bridge, Chehelston Palace, Bird Garden, Hasht Behesht Mansion, Golha Garden, Chaharbagh, Vanak Church, Bird Garden and the largest aquarium in Iran are some of the sights of this memorable city.
Isfahan
Chehelston Palace:
Chehelston mansion was built in the early 11th century AH among the garden and complex of buildings and palaces of the Safavid state. The mansion was built mainly for the formal reception of guests and foreign ambassadors, in three stages and according to a single plan. The first stage – the main and large hall. The second stage – the mirror porch and the rooms on both sides. Third stage – a columnar porch consisting of eighteen columns and a wooden roof. The name Chehelston (literally translated: Forty Columns ) indicates the multiplicity of columns and the reflection of the image of twenty columns in the pool water. The four large painting boards inside the hall show scenes from the battlefields and receptions for Safavid kings. This unique mansion caught fire in the early 12th century AH and was repaired during the reign of Shah Sultan Hossein Safavid.
Naghsh Jahan Square (Imam Square):
It is one of the most beautiful squares in the world with a length of about 512 meters and a width of 160 meters, around which rooms are built on two floors with the same size and shape. There are four unique historical monuments around the square. Ali-Qapo Building – Imam Mosque – Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque and the head of the gate of Qaisariyeh Bazaar, in the middle of the main square, was the ground and two stone gates of polo.
Qaisariyeh Bazaar:
Qaisariyeh head gate is located on north part of Imam Square (Naghsh Jahan). This head gate shows one of the most beautiful paintings related to the Safavid era. From here, we enter one of the most beautiful markets in the world. During the Safavid period, this market was a center for selling expensive goods, and the representatives of foreign companies had rooms in this place.Â
Ali-Qapo Building:
The palace was built on six floors in the 11th century AH. Each floor has its own artistic decorations. Important parts of this palace are, the porch of the third floor, the copper pool, the reception hall of the same floor which is decorated with the most beautiful type of painting and plastering. The music hall on the sixth floor and its unique bedding decorations and most of the artistic works have been done by Reza Abbasi, the famous artist of that time.
Imam mosque:
On the southern part of Naghsh Jahan Square – (Imam Square) – is one of the most beautiful mosques in the Islamic world, which was built by order of Shah Abbas the first, by Master Ali Akbar Isfahani. In the first stage, the main entrance and the entrance hall was built with two external minarets of the mosque. The door of the mosque is decorated with silver and gold sheets and belongs to the reign of Shah Safi, the successor of Shah Abbas the first. Inside the mosque, there is a main and central courtyard with four porches and two side courtyards. The southern dome has been executed in two layers and the space between these two domes is about 12 meters high. The height of the outer dome from the floor of the mosque is 50 meters.Â
Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque:
On the east side of Imam Square (Naghsh Jahan) there is a mosque that was built during the reign of Shah Abbas Safavid, alongside with the construction of the square and with the surrounding buildings for worship and teaching of the Sheikh Lotfollah, one of the great scholars and clerics of that era. This mosque has an underground chamber that has raised the floor of the dome above the ground. Due to the special scientific-religious uses of this mosque, there was no need to build a courtyard and a minaret. The interior surfaces, especially the altar of Sheikh Lotfallah’s mosque, are unique masterpieces of the art of seven-color tile work and mosaics.Â
Jame mosque:
Isfahan Jame Mosque has been built in the northwest corner of the old square. The original mosque was built next to the old village of Yavan, probably on a pre-Islamic building. The city of Isfahan in 24 AH accepted the religion of Islam and built the first mosque in the current location with more limited dimensions in 156 AH.Â
Hasht Behesht palace:
Hasht Behesht Palace was built in the middle of the Bolbol Garden, inside the Safavid period government complex during the reign of Shah Suleiman (in the second half of the 11th century AH). The privileged location of the garden and theHasht Behesht mansion was such that the entrances to the garden were made from all sides. The Hasht Behesht mansion is built on two floors and on a surface with a stone plinth, and the combination of architectural spaces has been done in a skillful and appropriate way. Among the unique features of this mansion is the Pearl Basin and the south porch waterfall, the water of which is supplied from the upper pool.Â
Khaju Bridge:
In the eastern part of Zayandehrud river, Khajoo bridge, one of the works of Safavid period in 1060 AH, coincides with the life of Shah Abbas the second was built. Khajoo Bridge is intended for several purposes in the old design. The upper part was for fast movement and passage of carriages and cattle, while the lower part has been used mainly for quiet movement and stopping and contemplation of pedestrians. The lower part is made entirely of stone and Saruj, and the water passage openings can be controlled with thick wooden boards, and by closing the openings completely, the water level rises in the western part of the bridge, creating a small lake. On the east side, the stone steps lead man down to the point of contact with water. In addition, these stairs are a place to sit and enjoy the natural scenery. In the central part of the bridge, the Biglerbegi mansion is built on the upper floor and on both sides of the bridge corridor were made for reception and formal ceremonies, the rooms of which are decorated with gold-colored motifs in different periods.
Si-o-se pol:
When Isfahan is chosen as the center of government of the Safavid state, it tends to expand to the south. The most important element of urban planning in that project was the axis of Chaharbagh, which is being built from the Darvazeh Dowlat to the south, and its length was about six kilometers. This street necessarily passes through the river, and therefore the architects of that time has built the Al-Hordikhan Bridge, known as the Sio-se pol, on the Zayandehrud River and in accordance with the Chaharbagh axis. The time of construction of the bridge is between 1008 and 1011 AH and its length is 300 meters and its width is 14 meters. The bridge has a very beautiful and well-proportioned architecture, the long order of its openings has created a special grandeur and dignity in it. On both sides of the upper level, two covered corridors have been built, which is a safe shelter for passers-by both in winter and in summer.
Vank Church and Museum:
In the 11th century AH, a number of Armenians living in present-day Armenia moved to Isfahan and settled in a village in southwest of Isfahan. The village was named Jolfa. The Safavid kings, based on the commands they issued, guaranteed their religious freedom and supported this Armenian minority. With the help and support of Armenian merchants, several churches, including the Vank Church, were built. Vanak Church is one of the most beautiful churches in Iran, which has a mixture of Iranian and European architecture. Inside the church there are artistic decorations such as bedding, paintings and gold-work. Next to the church, there is a valuable museum that houses exquisite paintings, manuscripts and other artistic objects.
Menar jonban:
Monarjonban is one of the famous historical monuments of Iran, which is located 5 km west of Isfahan on the road from Isfahan to Najafabad. The building has a porch and two minarets. From the architectural point of view, this building has a great value. One of the features of this building is that if one of the minarets is shaken, the second minaret and the whole building will shake and move very noticeably. The height of the porch from the ground is 10 meters and the height of the minarets is 17.5 meters. The very important thing is that this building was not built to shake, and its excessive shaking destroys the building.
