Isfahan! The living Museum

Isfahan! The living Museum

pics From Iranpix.com

Esfahan Province :
This province is situated in a wide area in Iran plateau, which is 104,650 sq, Kms. and has a population 3,774,204 (1992).
Zayandeh Rud, which is the greatest and the most famous river in the center of Iran, irrigates most of the agricultural lands, From west to east of this province, from Zardkuh to Batlaq-e-Gavkhuhi (Marsh).
Since ancient times, the kings of varius dynasties were interested in Esfahan Province for being the center of government, Historians and tourists, due to the fertility of its agricultural lands and being located between Zagros Mountain and central plain of Iran.
Esfahan is counted one of the richest provinces in Iran, due to having many tourists visiting the monuments which are remained from different period .Most of these historical places are from the Saljuq and Safavid petiods.
Moreover the historical monuments, Zayandeh Rud is another tourist attraction place. Esfahan province has a moderate climate and four regular seasons, the maximum rainfall is in winter and the minimum in autumn. It is cold and snowy in winter and moderate in summer.
Esfahan province having the highest rate of occupation in industry , is known as an industrial center in Iran. Rapid development of industry in this province makes it the greatest industrial center in the country.
The most important industries and industrial of Esfahan are as follows. Mobarakeh steel factory , Steel Mill Refinery ,Defensive industries, Medicine manufacturing factory, Polyacril factory, textile and weaving industries and handicraft sites etc.

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Meidan-e Emam is the biggest square in the world which is completely surrounded by buildings (500meters long and 165 meters wide). It used to be a smaller Place (Nakhsh-e Djahan) until Shah Abbas I  rebuilt it. Formerly known as Meidan Shah (the square of the Shah), its name were changed to Meidan-e Emam after the Revolution in 1979, when all the streets and buildings in Iran which contained any name of any Shah were renamed using Islamic names. Anyway this placed is absolutely impressive. You feel the charm of the past and present Orient. It seems you got back two or three centuries.
The square is completely surrounded by wide galleries in which you can find shops and the bazaar. Also part of the square, the palace of Ali Qapu, the Sheikh Lotfallah mosque and the Masdjed-e Emam mosque.
 

Masdjed Sheikh Lotfallah at the left,Masdjed-e Emam in the middle,and Ali Qapu at the right.

Meidan-e Emam from the balcony of Ali Qapu

Masdjed-e Emam (formerly Masdjed Shah) has to be considered as one of the most beautiful buildings of the world. The first impression is, you think you got back two or three centuries. The next is some kind of dizziness in view of the size, beauty and the charisma of this mosque.
Built between 1590 and 1630.

Impressive entrance

with two minarets watching over

Mosaic shells of the entrance

The entrance

The building contains about 18 mio. bricks

The Yard

Stepping on the dark point in the middle of the mosque will result in an echo, which fades out after 20 times

Stepping on the bottom on the edge of the mosque will only result in a hall

The Wall

The Ceiling

Edited by Land of Aryan

Isfahan! The living Museum

pics From Iranpix.com

The Palace of Ali Qapu, on the opposite of the Sheikh Lotfallah mosque.
From the veranda, where you have the nicest view over the whole square, the monarchs used to watch the games of polo which took place in the square. The lower floors were probably used as quarters for guards. The building was built remarkably high for that time.

 

The Veranda

The Music room contains cut-out plaster work The cut-out plaster work is responsible for the perfect acoustic. There is no echo. There is no hall. An almost dry acoustic.

Steep and narrow stairways

Isfahan! The living Museum

pics From Iranpix.com

Monar Jonban
Built in the 14th century. The minarets were probably added later and are responsible for the fame of this building. With shaking each one the other one also shakes.
Someone inside shaking the right minaret. Due to structural damage, only shaking the right minaret will make the left minaret to shake too.

 

Stunning pictures! Isfahan is well worth a visit.

gr8 pics.....esfahan nesfe jahan....

lovely pix; Si-o-Seh Pol is literally thirty three bridges, each arch can be considered a mini-bridge i guess.

New Julfa is located in Isfahan, right? Why did the Iranian capital move from Isfahan from Teheran? Because of the Islamic revolution, or the revolution in the early 1900s?

Edited by Artaxiad

Originally posted by Artaxiad New Julfa is located in Isfahan, right? Why did the Iranian capital move from Isfahan from Teheran? Because of the Islamic revolution, or the revolution in the early 1900s?

The Qajars moved it.

Isfahan! The living Museum

The Bridges of Isfahan

pole Shrestani
(The Shahrestani Bridge)
 
 
    Shiri Bridge    

 

pole Chobi
( Wooden Bridge )

Edited by Land of Aryan

Still there are many photo from many other places in Esfahan, but I difficulty find time to collect & arrenge & post them.

For Full story about this place refer to: http://www.itto.org/province/province.asp?prv=esf 

& " Yazd, The city of wind tower " is coming soon & next will be " Persepolise, The reachest city under sun "