Geographical status:
Longitude: 51, 40 Latitude: 32, 38
Altitude: 1590 m above sea level
Average annual temperature: 16/0 degree

Hottest month: July with 29/2 degree

coldest month: January with -0/2 degree

Average annual precipitation: 113 mm

Maximum precipitation in one day: 48 mm

Average relation humidity: morning: %50 noon: %26 Average number of freezing day: 68 day Population(1996): 1610015
Allah Verdikhan Bridge (Si - o - Se Pol)

This bridge is located in the southern end of Chahar Bagh avenue in Isfahan and was named after its founder.

It is also known as Jolfa bridge.

The bridge is made of bricks and stones. It is 295 meters long and 13.75 meters wide. It is said that the bridge

originally comprised 40 arches however this number gradually reduced to 33.

According to numerous historical references concerning the buildings constructed during Shah Abbas the

Safavid in Isfahan, it is so conceived that the construction work of this bridge was completed concurrent with

the construction of Chahar Bagh in 1596 . This bridge is called Si - o - Se Pol (in Farsi meaning 33 bridges)

because it embraces 33 arches.

Ali Qapu Monument

On the west side of Isfahan's Imam square (Naqsh-e Jahan square) this six-storey palace was built on the

order of Shah Abbas the first of Safavid dynastyduring early 17th century . This monument has a large

pavillion and comes in six stories, each storey being decorated with paintings and stuccos. The successors of

Shah Abbas the first completed this monument.

This structure is 48 meters high and its high portico associated with lumber columns and inlaid decorated

ceiling all form a beautiful combination.

Khaju Bridge

This bridge was built by Shah Abbas the second of the Safavid dynasty on the ruins of Hassan Baik bridge in

1650 or 1655.The bridge has been known with a variety of titles including Pol-e-Shahi, Pol-e-Khaju,

Pol-e-Baba Rokneddin, and Pol-e-Gabrha. The bridge is 105 meters long and 14 meters wide. The passway

of the bridge is 7.5 meters wide, made of bricks and stones with 21 larger and 26 smaller inlet and outlet

channels. The pieces of stone used in this bridge are over 2 meters long and the distance between every

channel and the ceiling base is 20 meters. The existing inscriptions suggest that the bridge was repaired in

1873.

Khajou

Kamal-al-Din Abolatta Mahmoud-ibn-Ali-ibn-Mahmoud Morshedi Kermani, an Iranian poet known as Khajou

and sometimes called "Nakhlband-e-Shoaraa", was born in Kerman in 1290 A.D., lived during the reigns of

Sultan Abu-Saiid Bahadur, Arya Gavon, Sheikh Hassan Ilkani (Jalayrids), Delshad Khatoun, and Masoud

Injou and died in 1349 A.D. . His tomb is located in "Darvazeh (gate) Allah-o-Akbar" in Shiraz. "Morshedi" is

added to his name because of his relation with the Morshedieh sect and "Khajou" is another form of the word

Khajeh which adds a sense of affection to it (meaning "dear Khajeh").

His collection of poetry called "Sanaye'-al-Kamal and Badaye'-al-Jamal" consist of ghaseedahs (odes),

ghazals (lyrics), moghattaat (short poems), tarjis, tarkibs and rubais. He also composed six long masnavees

(couplets) named : 1- "Sam-Nameh" (with epical-amorous themes), 2- "Homay Va Homayoun" (amorous), 3-

"Gol Va Norouz" ("flower and New Year" which is a love poem), 4- "Rozat-al-Anvar" (a story on ethics and

mysticism), 5- "Kamal-Nameh" (mystical), 6- "Gohar-Nameh" (eulogistic biographies of those he admired).

His other works are called "Mafateeh-al-Gholoub" (a selection of his works), "Ressalat-al-Badyeh" (on the

events on the pilgrimage to Kaaba) in prose, "Ressaleh Sab-al-Mathani" (a debate between a sword and a

pen) and "Ressaleh Monazereh Shams Va Sahab" in prose.

He was born in a noble family in Kerman. He spent his childhood in that city and then went on long journeys to

Hejaz ( a region in Saudi Arabia), Sham (Syria), Beit-ol-Moghaddas, Ajam Iraq, Arab Iraq, Egypt and Fars.

Hafez perfected his style in ghazal (lyrics). Khajou was also a competent astronomer. He was in favor of many

poets before his time and never refused to learn from poets such as Sana'i, Khaghani, Sa'di, Zahir, Jamal

Isfahani and Nezami. Taking patterns from them, however, he still managed to establish his own style. He is

classified among those poets whose ghazals (lyrics) are placed somewhere between Sa'di and Hafez.

Although there are some difficult rhymes and "radeefs" in his ghazals (lyrics) , his speech is fluent and

appealing. Some of his ghaseedahs (odes) are on admonition and abstinence and some are on monotheism

or eulogy of the Infallible. Khajou was contemporary with Sheikh Ala-al-Doleh Semnani and Hafez.

Selected samples of his work are accessible in Persian.

Chehel Sotun Palace (forty columns)

The large halls of the historic palace known as Chehel Sotun in Isfahan, belong to the era of the seventh

Safavid king, Shah Abbas the second where he received the public and a place for his official banquets.

According to the recent studies by the archaeologists the inscriptions placed in this palace indicate that the

construction work of the building was completed in 1664 . The same studies suggest that Shah Abbas the

Great designed the large garden of Chehel Sotun building a pavillion - like structure in its center with small

rooms on the sides. Then with the beginning of the rule of Shah Abbas the second this building was extended

and developed when a number of porches and halls weres annexed to it. The 18 column hall and the mirror

hall plus paintings in the royal hall of Chehel Sotun (except for two famous paintings known as Chaldoran war

and Kornal which belong to the post_Safavid era) are works which belong to the era of Shah Abbas the

second.

The palace is called Chehel Sotun because of the number of the columns of this monument. Each column is

formed of a plain tree on the skin of which a thin layer of colored board has been fitted. This layer was formerly

covered with colored pieces of glass and mirror. All the walls used to be decorated with large mirrors and

colored peices of glass and beautiful paintings. Inlaid work was a characteristic of all doors and windows. The

pool in front of the building is 110 meters long and 16 meters wide. Four stone lions have been placed on the

four sides of a pond in the center of the hall from whose open mouths water streams down. And finally the

unique ceiling of the 18 column portico and the mirror work on the ceiling of the hall are eyecatching.

The paintings demonstrating the parties held by Shah Abbas the great, and reception of Mohammad Vali

Khan, the king of Turkistan, the war between Shah Ismail the first and the Ottoman forces in Chaldoran, the

reception party in honor of Homayun the king of India and in the eastern section, in front of the painting scene

of Shah Abbas' war with the Uzbeks, is seen the war waged by Nader Shah of Afshar dynasty against the

Hindus in Kornal.

Beid Heim (Baytlahm or Bethlehem)

This church is located in Jolfa square of Isfahan next to the church of Mary and was built by Armenian Khajeh

Petros in 1627 during the last years of the reign of Shah Abbas the first. The Armenians residing in Jolfa of

Isfahan call this church with various titles but the original title is Baytlahm.

Among the 12 churches located in Jolfa, this church has the highest dome and is seen from long distances

away. The dome is made of double layers of brick. The thickness of the foundation and the wall of the church

is a few meters in some sections.

In the western section of the dome in a short distance from the ceiling, there is the church bell. The exterior of

the church is made of mud and brick and the interior is decorated with an array of paintings on the walls and

the ceilings. Numerous inscriptions are visible on the portal, courtyard and other sections of the church.

Above the courtyard there is an inscription in Armenian alphabets written in gold on a dark blue background

which says:

Remember Khajeh Petros, his parents and child in your prayers.

Atashgah of Isfahan (Isfahan Fire Temple)

The Atashgah of Isfahan is located on the road leading to Najaf Abad from Isfahan.

What has remained of this fire remple on the peak of Kun Sangi height includes thick clay mud walls and a

series of ruins which represent a fire temple left from the Sasanids era (226 - 651 AD). Some modifications

have been made in this temple during the Islamic and Mongol periods.

The Islamic historians have in their books introduced this fire temple in various names including Dezharbin

fire temple and Shahr Ardeshir fire temple. This fire temple used to be in the center of a castle and fortification

and the sacred fire was on for centuries.

Bazaar - e - Vakil (Vakil Bazaar)

Apparently, Karim Khan Zand (1750 - 1779) has designed and constructed Vakil Bazaar based on the

architecture of ancient Lar bazaar left from the era of Shah Abbas the Great. This bazaar begins from

Darvazeh Isfahan and continues to the entrance of the ancient bazaars. The Vakil Bazaar is cross - like and

has five gates and four smaller units. Extension and widening of Zand avenue has divided the Bazaar into two

sections. Fine architecture, enough space and extensive southern vaults are some of the characteristics of

the Vakil Bazaar.

Hasht Behesht Palace

The historic Hasht Behesht palace is a monument left from the Safavid kings (1499-1723 AD). It is located on

the Isfahan's historical Chahar Bagh avenue. This impressive palace used to be decorated with a beautiful

garden in the past, today however only five thousand hectares of this garden remains in the area. The building

of this royal palace belongs to Shah Solayman of the Safavid dynasty and was built in 1669 AD. The palace is

known not only for its unique architecture but also because of the marble stones, the mouldings, paintings and

tilings applied in it.

The building of the palace comes in two stories with alcoves, chambers and many rooms.

The interior of its porticos has been decorated with beautiful golden paintings . In this palace of the Safavid

era, clay tiles come in seven different colors with pictures of birds, a piece of work which is unique among

other works remaining from the Safavid period. Also the mirror work of the palace doubles its beauty.

Beid Heim (Baytlahm or Bethlehem)

This church is located in Jolfa square of Isfahan next to the church of Mary and was built by Armenian Khajeh

Petros in 1627 during the last years of the reign of Shah Abbas the first. The Armenians residing in Jolfa of

Isfahan call this church with various titles but the original title is Baytlahm.

Among the 12 churches located in Jolfa, this church has the highest dome and is seen from long distances

away. The dome is made of double layers of brick. The thickness of the foundation and the wall of the church

is a few meters in some sections.

In the western section of the dome in a short distance from the ceiling, there is the church bell. The exterior of

the church is made of mud and brick and the interior is decorated with an array of paintings on the walls and

the ceilings. Numerous inscriptions are visible on the portal, courtyard and other sections of the church.

Above the courtyard there is an inscription in Armenian alphabets written in gold on a dark blue background

which says:

Remember Khajeh Petros, his parents and child in your prayers.

Atashgah of Isfahan (Isfahan Fire Temple)

The Atashgah of Isfahan is located on the road leading to Najaf Abad from Isfahan.

What has remained of this fire remple on the peak of Kun Sangi height includes thick clay mud walls and a

series of ruins which represent a fire temple left from the Sasanids era (226 - 651 AD). Some modifications

have been made in this temple during the Islamic and Mongol periods.

The Islamic historians have in their books introduced this fire temple in various names including Dezharbin

fire temple and Shahr Ardeshir fire temple. This fire temple used to be in the center of a castle and fortification

and the sacred fire was on for centuries.

Bazaar - e - Vakil (Vakil Bazaar)

Apparently, Karim Khan Zand (1750 - 1779) has designed and constructed Vakil Bazaar based on the

architecture of ancient Lar bazaar left from the era of Shah Abbas the Great. This bazaar begins from

Darvazeh Isfahan and continues to the entrance of the ancient bazaars. The Vakil Bazaar is cross - like and

has five gates and four smaller units. Extension and widening of Zand avenue has divided the Bazaar into two

sections. Fine architecture, enough space and extensive southern vaults are some of the characteristics of

the Vakil Bazaar.

Menarjonban (Shaking Minarets)

One of the stunning historical buildings in Isfahan is Menarjonban which is located 6 kilometers west of the city

of Isfahan, on the way to Najaf Abad in a village called Karlatan. The architectural style here belongs to the

14th century (Mongol style) complemented with dark blue tiles in the form of stars decorating two arches and

the sides of the portico.

If you climb up the very narrow stairway to the top of one of these two shaking minarets and lean hard against

the wall it will start to sway back and forth, and so will its twin. This situation, according to experts has

occurred gradually with the passage of time.

Naghsh - e Jahan Square (Imam square)

The Naghsh - e Jahan square (Imam square) of Isfahan was built during the reign of Shah Abbas the first of

the Safavid dynasty in 1612 AD. This square is 500 meters long and 160 meters wide. On the four sides of the

square there are such historical monuments as Imam (Shah) Mosque, Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, Ali Qapu

Monument, and Gheisarieh portel. During the reign of Shah Abbas and his successors, Naghsh - e Jahan

square used to be the venue for army maneuvers and polo games and the stone polo gates from that period

still remain in the northern and southern section of the square.