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Isfahan

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Isfahan has a long history of civilization(222-224 B.C.). Isfahan is an ancient city, which according to fables,was founded at the time of Tahmourass or Keykavous. In history, there have been reference to this city around the Achaemenian era, and has been the capital of the province of Esfahan since 900 years.
Today after centuries, this prosperous city which is elevation on 1,570 meters above sea level resembles a large garden bounded on the north and east by stretch of Desert that giving purity to the air under the brilliant blue sky as often violet-hued mountains. Isfahan, chosen and designed capital of Iran under Shah Abbas I, was reconstituted with so many new mosques, palaces, bridges, avenues and parks that even European travelers wrote rapturously of its beauties.
Apart from being one of the finest art cities of the world Isfahan is also one of the Iran's largest industrial centers. The Zayande-Rood river watering gardens and fields with its numerous tributaries along its 360-km course, flows from west to east through the city, and divides off Jolfa " Armenian zone" and some other suburbs from the main part of the city, but most of the main attractions are to the north of the river.
Places of interest:

1-Imam Square(Naghsh-e-Jahan) complex: (1502-1736) Protected by UNESCO.
A square with 83,130 sq.m., twice as large as Moscow's Red square, which is built by Shah Abbas the Safavid king in 1612. You will find 200 old Iranian-styled chambers in two stories, and two original stone polo gates from Shah Abbas in two sides of the square. The complex is included:
* Aali-Qapou palace: Was built in the Safavied period (early 17th century), during 18 years, in the west side of the square. This seven floors tall building look, 3 storey from east, 4 storey from north, 5 storey from south, and 6 storey from west ! no body knows where 7th floor is ?!! is accessible by a difficult staircase, square in plan, probably a northern type, with the talar (saloon) as the second story. All the little rooms have points of interest, but it is here on the talar that you will saunter and gaze around you at the wonders of Sheikh-Lutfollah's Mosque opposite, The Imam Mosque to the right, and the children playing in the gardens round a great pool far below.
* Sheikh Lutfollah mosque: This exquisite building is located at east side of square. The mosque has no court -yard nor minaret, since it was not a place for public worship. The mosque also differs from all others in several respects. While turquoise, blue and pink predominate in the motifs on the facade, elsewhere, particularly on the dome, both inside and outside, the main color is yellow. The building was erected by Shah Abbas 1, between 1603 and 1618 A.C., in honor of the great Lebanese Sheikh, who was a sort of Islamic Billy Graham of his time.Sheikh-Lutfollah Mosques is the most beautiful religious building wherein the elaborate design serves to
heighten the visitor's spirituality rather than to distract him from it. This pure architecture, flawless and serene, and still as perfect as on the day of dedication more than 300 years ago. No one in a receptive or contemplative mood can enter without a shock and the sense of being received into a presence.
* Qaisariyeh Portal & Bazaar: The entrance to the bazaar is a majestic gateway in keeping with the dimension of the square. Orchestras played on the upper galleries at sunset when the Qaisarieh was built. The bazaar Built under Shah Abbas I at the beginning of the 17th century, of bricks and consisted of greater or lesser degree of long, narrow, interesting lanes. Within which sit the craftsmen, for which Isfahan is famous, silversmith and coppersmiths, printers of textile and painters of miniatures, quilt-makers and cobblers, potters and carpenters. Located in the north side of square.
* Imam Mosque(Masjid-e Imam): Is one of the finest and the most stunning buildings in the world. The mosque, begun in 1612, and, despite Shah Abbas' impatience, under construction until 1638, represents the culmination of a thousands years of mosque building in Iran, with a majesty and splendor that places it among the world's greatest buildings. The half domed arch of outer portal on the square, understood as an aspect of the square rather than of the mosque, is the most thrilling example of human artifice that could be imagined. Its height amounts to 30 meters, the flanking minarets are 40 meters tall- with the sanctuary minarets higher still- and the sanctuary double-layer dome soaring not less than 54 meters. A mosque which is completely covered by most beautiful blue tile-work, in the south side of square.
2-CHEHEL-SOTOUN(40 COLUMNS) PALACE (1642-1666)
The Chehel Sotoun Palace built as a reception hall by Shah Abbas I (1657 AD) behind the Ali Qapou palace, continues the old talar, or columnar porch. At its simplest it is only a roof-high porch constituting the façade. When attached to a royal building, it provides a huge outdoor reception hall, and is susceptible to lavish embellishments which have included mirror-plated columns, panels and stalactites, and polychrome mosaic ceilings. The garden covers an area of 65 acres. The palace actually stand on 20 columns, but because of the reflection of the columns in the large front pool, it is called 40 columns palace.
3- Zayandeh Roud (life giving river):
The Zayandeh Roud river rises in the Bakhtiari Montains and eventually loses itself in the desert to the east of Isfahan. Zayandeh Roud is acrossed by five historical bridges.
1-Allah Verdi Khan Bridge: This bridge is approximately 300 m(968 ft) in length and 14 m (45 ft) in width, and is one of the masterpieces in bridge construction in Iran and the world Known locally, "Si-o-se pol"( Bridge with 33 Arches), The same was constructed in 1005 AH. under the supervision and expense of Allah -Verdy- Khan, one of the famous commanders of Shah Abbas Safavid. I General, Al The Armenians used to hold special festivities near this bridge.
2-Shahrestan Bridge: Which is little used these days, is the oldest and furthest downstream. The stone piers and prow-like blocks on which they stand are thought to be Sassanied(224-651 B.C), and the brickwork above early Islamic(661-1036 A.D), probably Seljuk(1037-1335 AD). This bridge is located in the east of Esfahan and is an interesting piece of architecture. The same is a relic of the Sassanide period.
3-Khajou Bridge: The above mentioned took its foundation in the late Teimooride period, and was constructed according to what it is currently in 1060 AH, under the orders of Shah Abbas II (1642-1667). This magnificent bridge length is 429 by 39 ft and The famouse tea-house under the bridge is currently open. This used to be one of the most atmospheric places in Iran to sit and drink tea or smoke Ghalian (hubble-bubble), surrounded by slumbering Isfahan manhood. Its cubicles, adornments and tile work are interesting aspects of this constructions. There is a structure in the center of the bridge, known as the Beglarbegi construction. The same was used as a temporary residence for the royal family. The name of this bridge is a distorted version of the word 'Khajeh' which was a title for great personalities in the Safavid era.
4-Joubi Bridge: Was built in the 17th century, between the Khajou and Si-O-se -Pol Bridges, canal bridge for leading water to the Royal gardens in south of Isfahan. 147 meters long.
5-Marnan Bridge: The first bridge which was built by the Safavid for Armenian refugees passing from north to south of Isfahan.
4- Incredible unique; Shakable minarets ( Minar-e Jonban):
Tere is a building, 7 km west via Imam Hosein Square to Montazeri Square, which was built in the Mongolian period (1037-1335), with two shakable minarets probably date from the Safavid period (14th century). Minar-e Jonban are open daily from 8 am to 5 pm. If you climb up the very narrow stairway to the top of one of these minarets and lean hard against the wall it will start to sway back and forth.And so will its twin.
5- Hasht Behesht Palace:
The historical building called Hasht Behesht (8 paradises) represents residential Palaces used in the later period of the Safavid dynasty, built during the reign of Shah Soleiman . A vast garden and hundreds originally surrounded the palace of similar buildings, also named Hasht Behesht, of which nothing remains except this interesting and beautiful palace. The palace is decorated with excellent tile work dotted with scenes of animals (birds, beasts of prey, and reptiles) covering the building on the outside.

6- Madraseh-ye Chahar Bagh:
Previously called Madraseh-ye Madar-e Shah (Theological School of the Shah's Mother), this is a seminary constructed (1706-1714) at the expense of the mother of the last Safavid King, Sultan Hossein (1694-1724) who, after taking refuge in this very building, was put to death by the Afgan invaders. It is a school and a mosque at the same time. In order to finance the construction of the school, the Shah's mother got a large caravansary built nearby,the income of which went to the school.Nowadays there are only a few students at the school,but the caravansary has become the most famous luxury hotel in Iran (Abbasi Hotel).
7-ARMENIAN CATHEDRAL & MUSEUM; JOLFA(1642-1666) .
Jolfa,on the southern bank of the Zayandeh Roud,was founded by Shah Abbas as a settlement for the Armenian of Jolfa on the Araxes, who thus rescued from the dangers of Turkish attack and brought to set an example of industry to the inhabitants of the Shah's new capital. He gave the immi-grant Armenians special privileges and formal guarantees concerning their religious freedoms. Until relatively recently, all European residents were compelled to live in this suburb. The beautiful Vank Cathedral in Jolfa, is open to visitors from 8 am to noon and 2 to 5 PM, Monday to Saturday. Built between 1655 and 1664 with the encouragement of the Safavied rulers and specially Shah Abbas II, that is the historic focal point of the Armenian church in Iran, although it has to a certain extent been supplanted by the recent Armenian cathedral in Tehran. The exterior of the church is unexciting, but the interior is richly, if rather tastelessly, decorated with oil paintings of people sacred to the Armenians, and shows the mixture ofstyles-Islamic Persian and Christians European- that characterizes most churches in Iran.
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