Isfahan ,historically also rendered in English as Ispahan, Sepahan, Esfahan or Hispahan, is the capital of Isfahan Province in Iran, located about 340 kilometres (211 miles) south of Tehran. It has a population of 1,755,382 and is Iran’s third largest city after Tehran and Mashhad. The Greater Isfahan Region had a population of 3,793,101 in the 2011 Census, the third most populous metropolitan area in Iran after Tehran and Mashhad.
The cities of Zarrinshahr, Fooladshahr and Najafabad, Se-deh, Shahinshahr, Mobarakeh, Falavarjan and Charmahin all constitute the metropolitan city of Isfahan.
Isfahan is located on the main north–south and east–west routes crossing Iran, and was once one of the largest cities in the world. It flourished from 1050 to 1722, particularly in the 16th century under the Safavid dynasty, when it became the capital of Persia for the second time in its history. Even today, the city retains much of its past glory. It is famous for its Persian–Islamic architecture, with many beautiful boulevards, covered bridges, palaces, mosques, and minarets. This led to the Persian proverb “Esfahān nesf-e jahān ast” (Isfahan is half of the world).
The Naghsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan is one of the largest city squares in the world and an outstanding example of Iranian and Islamic architecture. It has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The city also has a wide variety of historic monuments and is known for the paintings, history and architecture.
- Shah Mosque. Painting by the French architect, Pascal Coste, visiting Persia in 1841
- An ancient item from Isfahan City Center museum
- A view of Meydan Kohne
- Khaju Bridge
- View of Ali Qapu Palace
- Naghsh-i Jahan Square, Isfahan, Iran
- A carpet shop in Grand Bazaar, Isfahan
- Armenian Vank Cathedral
Attractions
Isfahan is an important historical center for different groups of tourists in the domestic and international world. The central historical area in Isfahan is called Seeosepol (the name of a famous bridge).
Bazaars
- Shahi Bazaar – 17th century
- Qeysarie Bazaar – 17th century
Bridges
The Zayande River starts in the Zagros Mountains, flows from west to east through the heart of Isfahan, and dries up in the Gavkhooni wetland.
The bridges over the river include some of the finest architecture in Isfahan. The oldest bridge is the Shahrestan bridge or “Pol-e Shahrestan”, whose foundations was built by the Sasanian Empire (3rd-7th century Sassanid era) and has been repaired during the Seljuk period. Further upstream is the “Pol-e Khaju”, which was built by Shah Abbas II in 1650. It is 123 metres long with 24 arches, and also serves as a sluice gate.
The next bridge is the “Pol-e Chubi”. It was originally built as an aqueduct to supply the palace gardens on the north bank of the river. Further upstream again is the Si-o-Seh Pol or bridge of 33 arches. Built during the rule of Shah Abbas the Great, it linked Isfahan with the Armenian suburb of New Julfa. It is by far the longest bridge in Isfahan at 295 m (967.85 ft).
Other bridges include:
- Pol-e Shahrestan (The Shahrestan bridge)
- Marnan Bridge
- Pol-e Khaju (Khaju Bridge) – 1650.
- Si-o-Seh Pol (The Bridge of 33 Arches) – 1602.
- Pol-e-Joui or Choobi (Joui bridge). – 1665
Churches and cathedrals
- Bedkhem Church – 1627
- St. Georg Church – 17th century
- St. Mary Church – 17th century
- Vank Cathedral – 1664
Emamzadehs
- Emamzadeh Ahmad
- Emamzadeh Esmaeil, Isfahan
- Emamzadeh Haroun-e-Velayat – 16th century
- Emamzadeh Jafar
- Emamzadeh Shah Zeyd
Gardens and Parks
Houses
- Alam’s House
- Amin’s House
- Malek Vineyard
- Qazvinis’ House – 19th century
- Sheykh ol-Eslam’s House
Mausoleums and Tombs
- Al-Rashid Mausoleum – 12th century
- Baba Ghassem Mausoleum – 14th century
- Mausoleum of Safavid Princes
- Nizam al-Mulk Tomb – 11th century
- Saeb Mausoleum
- Shahshahan mausoleum – 15th century
- Soltan Bakht Agha Mausoleum – 14th century
Minarets
- Ali minaret – 11th century
- Bagh-e-Ghoushkhane minaret – 14th century
- Chehel Dokhtaran minaret – 12 century
- Dardasht minarets – 14th century
- Darozziafe minarets – 14th century
- Menar Jonban – 14th century
- Sarban minaret
Mosques
- Agha Nour mosque – 16th century
- Hakim Mosque
- Ilchi mosque
- Jameh Mosque
- Jarchi mosque – 1610
- Lonban mosque
- Maghsoudbeyk mosque – 1601
- Mohammad Jafar Abadei mosque – 1878
- Rahim Khan mosque – 19th century
- Roknolmolk mosque
- Seyyed mosque – 19th century
- Shah Mosque – 1629
- Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque – 1618
Museums
- Contemporary Arts Museum Isfahan
- Museum of Decorative Arts
- Natural History Museum of Isfahan – 15th century
- Isfahan City Center Museum
Schools (madresse)
- Chahar Bagh School – early 17th century
- Harati
- Kassegaran school – 1694
- Madreseye Khajoo
- Nimavar school – 1691
- Sadr school – 19th century
Palaces and caravanserais
- Ali Qapu (The Royal Palace) – early 17th century
- Talar Ashraf (The Palace of Ashraf) – 1650
- Hasht-Behesht (The Palace of Eight Paradises) – 1669
- Chehel Sotoun (The Palace of Forty Columns) – 1647
- Shah Caravanserai
Squares and streets
- Naqsh-e Jahan Square also known as “Shah Square” or “Imam Square” – 1602.
- Meydan Kohne (Old Square)
- Chaharbagh Boulevard – 1596.
- Chaharbagh-e-khajou Boulevard
Other sites
- Atashgah – a Zoroastrian fire temple.
- Jarchi hammam
- New Julfa (The Armenian Quarter). – 1606
- The Bathhouse of Bahāʾ al-dīn al-ʿĀmilī.
- Pigeon Towers – 17th century.
- Takht-e Foulad
- Isfahan City Center
Top sights in Isfahan
Masjed-e Jāmé of Isfahan
Located in the historic centre of Isfahan, the Masjed-e Jāmé (‘Friday mosque’) can be seen as a stunning illustration of the evolution of mosque archi... Read more
Meidan Emam, Esfahan
Built by Shah Abbas I the Great at the beginning of the 17th century, and bordered on all sides by monumental buildings linked by a series of two-stor... Read more
Bazaar of Isfahan
The Bazaar of Isfahan or Isfahan Bazaar is a historical market in Isfahan, Iran, one of the oldest and largest bazaars in the Middle East, dating back... Read more
Qeysarie Bazaar
The Qeysarie bazaar or Soltani bazaar is a historical bazaar in Isfahan, Iran. The main commercial activities in the Qeysarie bazaar are carpet and ki... Read more
Shahrestan Bridge
Shahrestan bridge is the oldest bridge on Zayandeh Rud in Iran. The foundations are from the 3rd to 7th century Sasanian era, but the top was renovate... Read more
Marnan Bridge
Marnan bridge is a historical bridge in Isfahan, Iran. The current structure of the bridge dates back to the Safavid era, but its foundations are olde... Read more
Khaju Bridge
Khaju bridge ( Pol-e Khāju) is a bridge in the province of Isfahan, Iran, which has been described as the finest in the province. It was built by th... Read more
Joubi Bridge
Joui Bridge( Pol-e Joui ), also called the Choobi Bridge, is a bridge in Isfahan, Iran. It was built in 1665, during the Safavid era. The Joui Bridge... Read more
Bedkhem Church
The Bedkhem Church(Other names: Bedghehem church or Beyt Lahm church or Bethlehem church) is an Armenian Apostolic church in the Julfa quarter in Isfa... Read more
St. Georg Church
The St. Georg church or Gharib church is a historical church in Isfahan, Iran. It’s the oldest church in Julfa quarter after the Hakoup church,... Read more
St. Mary Church
The St. Mary church is a historical church in Isfahan, Iran. In the 17th century the Armenian people of the Julfa quarter built a small church, the na... Read more
Vank Cathedral
The Vank Cathedral was one of the first churches to be established in the city’s Jolfa district in 1606 by the hundreds of thousands of Armenian... Read more
Birds Garden of Isfahan
The Birds garden of Isfahan was founded in 1990s by the municipality of Isfahan and it’s now under supervision of the recreation and welfare org... Read more
Emamzadeh Ahmad
Emamzadeh Ahmad is an imamzadeh in Isfahan, Iran. The emamzadeh comprises a tomb, to the north and west of which are two iwans; the tomb faces a vast... Read more
Emamzadeh Esmaeil, Isfahan
Emamzadeh Esmaeil is a historical complex in Isfahan, Iran, which dates back to the Seljuk and Safavid era. This complex is near the Jameh Mosque of I... Read more
Emamzadeh Haroun-e-Velayat
Emamzadeh Haroun-e-Velayat is an imamzadeh in Isfahan, Iran. It is located opposite Ali minaret and belongs to the Ismail I era. There are many relati... Read more
Emamzadeh Jafar, Isfahan
Emamzadeh Jafar is an imamzadeh in Isfahan, Iran. It is located opposite the Esmaeil religious complex. It is one of the pre-eminent structures of the... Read more
Emamzadeh Shah Zeyd
Emamzadeh Shah Zeyd is an imamzadeh in Isfahan, Iran. It belongs to the early Safavid era. It is well known for paintings on its walls. These painting... Read more
Flower Garden of Isfahan
The Flower garden of Isfahan was one of Iran’s great green space projects, which was completed in 1990s in Isfahan. The garden serves multiple p... Read more
Nazhvan Recreational Complex
The Nazhvan recreational complex is one of the few gardens in Isfahan, which has been rather safe from expansion and development of the city and fresh... Read more
Alam’s House
The Alam’s house is a historical house in Isfahan, Iran. The owner of the house was one of the Qajar aristocrats. The house has a yard, which is... Read more
Amin’s House
The Amin’s house is a historical house in Isfahan, Iran. This beautiful house belongs to the Qajar era. During the time of expansion and develop... Read more
Malek Vineyard
The Malek vineyard is a historical house in Isfahan, Iran. The house has been taken as tax from the people in the era of Nader Shah and was for a long... Read more
Qazvinis’ House
The Qazvinis’ House is a historical house in Isfahan, Iran. It belongs to the age of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar. Although there are many historical... Read more
Sheykh ol-Eslam’s House
The Sheykh ol-Eslam’s house is a historical house in Isfahan, Iran. Built during the Qajar era, the house is built on the northern and southern... Read more
Al-Rashid Mausoleum
Al-Rashid Mausoleum is a historical mausoleum in Isfahan, Iran. It dates back to the Seljukid era and is located on the northern bank of Zayanderud be... Read more
Baba Ghassem Mausoleum
Baba Ghassem Mausoleum is a historical mausoleum in Isfahan, Iran. It dates back to the 14th century. It is well known for its beautiful mihrab and do... Read more
Mausoleum of Safavid Princes
The Mausoleum of Safavid princes or Setti Fateme mausoleum is a historical mausoleum in Isfahan, Iran. It is located in the Chaharsu-ye-Kuchak quarter... Read more
Tomb of Nizam al-Mulk
The Tomb of Nizam al-Mulk is located in Ahmadabad quarter of Isfahan. Nizam al-Mulk was the powerful vizier of some Seljuq sultans. Beside his gravest... Read more
Saeb Mausoleum
The Saeb mausoleum is located in Isfahan, Iran. The mausoleum is the burial place of Saeb Tabrizi, the famous iranian poet of 17th century. His ancest... Read more
Shahshahan mausoleum
Shahshahan Mausoleum is a historical mausoleum in Isfahan, Iran. It is located beside Jameh mosque and is the burial place of a famous Sufi of Isfahan... Read more
Soltan Bakht Agha Mausoleum
The Soltan Bakht Agha mausoleum is a historical mausoleum in Isfahan, Iran. Soltan Bakht Agha was Shah Sheykh Abu Esshaq’s niece. Shah Sheykh Ab... Read more
Ali minaret
Ali minaret is a historical minaret in Isfahan, Iran. It is close to the Ali mosque. This minaret is the oldest minaret in Isfahan, which dates back... Read more
Bagh-e-Ghoushkhane minaret
Bagh-e-Ghoushkhane minaret is a historical minaret in Isfahan, Iran. This minaret dates back to the 14th century. In the olden days it was in the neig... Read more
Sarban Minaret
Sarban Minaret is a historical minaret in Isfahan, Iran. It dates back to the Seljuq era. The Sarban minaret is located in the north of Jouybare quart... Read more
Chehel Dokhtaran minaret
Chehel Dokhtaran minaret (Chehel Dokhtaran in Persian means ‘ forty girls’ ) is a historical minaret in Isfahan, Iran. It is located in th... Read more
Dardasht minarets
Dardasht minarets are two historical minarets in Isfahan, Iran. These minarets are on a portal in the neighborhood of Soltan Bakht Agha Mausoleum. Th... Read more
Darozziafe minarets
Darozziafe minarets are two historical minarets in Isfahan, Iran. The minarets are located in the old Jouybare quarter on the Ebn-e-Sina street. These... Read more
Menar Jonban
Menar Jonban (Persian: “The Swinging Minaret”) is a mausoleum in Isfahan, Iran, entitled to Amu Abdoullah Ebne Mohammad Ebne Mahmmoud, a m... Read more
Agha Nour mosque
The Agha Nour mosque is a mosque located in Isfahan, Iran. It was founded during the Shah Abbas I era and completed during the Shah Safi era, and as s... Read more
Hakim Mosque, Isfahan
Hakim Mosque is one of the oldest mosques in Isfahan, Iran. It is one of the officially recognized monuments of Iran. Read more
Ilchi mosque
Ilchi mosque is a historical mosque in Isfahan, Iran. The founder of this small and simple mosque was Saheb Soltan Beigom, the daughter of a courtier... Read more
Jarchi mosque
The Jarchi mosque was built according to a Thuluth inscription above its spandrel in 1610 under the supervision of Shah Abbas’ herald. The word... Read more
Lonban Mosque
Lonban, one of the oldest quarters of Isfahan, is famous for its mosque. Its current structure is rebuilt in the contemporary era, but some of the pla... Read more
Maghsoudbeyk Mosque
Maghsoudbeyk mosque is near the northeastern corner of Naqsh-e Jahan Square. It was built in 1601 by the order of Maghsoudbeyk, who was one of the ver... Read more
Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque
Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque is one of the architectural masterpieces of Safavid Iranian architecture, standing on the eastern side of Naghsh-i Jahan Squar... Read more
Shah Mosque
The Shah Mosque (Persian: Masjed-e Shah), also known as Imam Mosque , renamed after the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran, and Jaame’ Abbasi Mosqu... Read more
Mohammad Jafar Abadei Mosque
Mohammad Jafar Abadei mosque is a historical mosque in Isfahan, Iran. It was built in 1878 by the famous clergyman of the Qajar era, Mohammad Jafar A... Read more
Rahim Khan Mosque
Rahim Khan mosque is a historical mosque in Isfahan, Iran. It was built in the late 19th century. This mosque has an unusual combination of styles in... Read more
Roknolmolk Mosque
Roknolmolk mosque is a historical mosque in Isfahan. This mosque has been built in Qajar era and is close to Takht-e Foulad. It was built by Mirza Sol... Read more
Seyyed mosque (Isfahan)
Seyyed mosque is the biggest and the most famous mosque from the Qajar era in Isfahan. It was founded by Seyyed Mohammad Bagher Shafti, one of the mo... Read more
Contemporary Arts Museum Isfahan
The Contemporary Arts Museum Isfahan (aka the Museum of Contemporary Art) is a contemporary art museum in Isfahan, Iran, located next to the Museum of... Read more
Museum of Decorative Arts, Isfahan
The museum of decorative arts in Isfahan was founded in 1995. More than 3000 artworks from the Safavid and Qajar era are kept in the museum. The build... Read more
Natural History Museum of Isfahan
The Natural History Museum of Isfahan is located in a building from the Timurid era in the 15th century. The building includes some large halls and a... Read more
Chaharbagh School
Chahār Bāgh school (Madreseye Chahār Bāgh in Persian ), also known as Shah school, is a 17-18th century cultural complex in Isfahan, Iran. The compoun... Read more
Kassegaran school
Kassegaran school is a historical school in Isfahan, Iran. It belongs to the era of the Safavid King Suleiman. According to the thuluth inscription a... Read more
Nimavar school
Nimavar school is a historical school in Isfahan, Iran. It’s located in Nimavar Bazaar and belongs to Safavid era. This school was built in 169... Read more
Sadr school
Sadr school is one of the largest theological schools in Isfahan, Iran. It was built by Mohammad Hosseyn Khan Sadr Esfahani, the famous governor of Is... Read more
Hasht Behesht
Hasht Behesht, meaning “Eight Paradises” is a Safavid era palace in Isfahan. It was built in 1669 and is today protected by Iran’s C... Read more
Chehel Sotoun
Chehel Sotoun (also Chihil Sutun or Chehel Sotoon; literally: “Forty Columns”) is a pavilion in the middle of a park at the far end of a long pool, i... Read more
Kohneh Square
Atiq Square or Atigh Square or Kohneh Square or Old Square, was a focal point of the city of Isfahan for centuries. In the eleventh century when Isfa... Read more
Charbagh, Isfahan
Chahar Bagh Boulevard ( translation: Four Gardens) is a historical avenue in Isfahan constructed in the Safavid era of Iran. The avenue, historically,... Read more
Fire temple of Isfahan
The Fire temple of Isfahan (Persian: Âtašgâh-e Esfahân, also Romanized as Ātashgāh-e Esfahān) is a Sassanid-era archaeological complex located on a h... Read more
Jarchi hammam
The Jarchi hammam or Jarchibashi hammam is a historical structure in Isfahan, Iran.The hammam belongs to the safavid era. It is located in the Hakim s... Read more
Takht-e Foulad
Takht-e Foulad is a historical cemetery in Isfahan, Iran. The cemetery is at least 800 years old. In the 13th century in the Ilkhanid era Takht-e Foul... Read more
Isfahan City Center
Isfahan City Center is a large commercial and entertainment complex in Isfahan, Iran. It is the largest shopping mall in Iran and one of the largest s... Read more