About Isfahan Province

Isfahan province, is a province in the middle of Iran with the centrality of Isfahan city. Isfahan is the production center of iron, steel, building and petrochemical materials in Iran. Isfahan province is also considered to be one of the biggest centers for producing different kinds of handicrafts in Iran. This province has unique historical monuments some of which have been registered globally. Also the significance of the cultural level of Isfahan province is world renowned. This province is located at both a mountainous and desert region. In terms of history, it has a great number of precious relics, which attract thousands of tourists annually.

Most Popular Tourist Attractions Of Isfahan Province

Chehel Sotoun Palace, Isfahan

One of the urban plans of the First Safavid Shah Abbas after selecting Isfahan as his capital city was to construct the beautiful Chaharbagh Street and several gardens around it, which w designed by Sheikh Bahai in a wide area called “Dolatkhane” (State Housse). One of those monuments was a small building which Shah Abbas the First constructed in Jahan Nama Garden like a kiosk or pavilion. It was expanded in time of Shah Abbas the Second and named “Chehel Sotoun”. One of the significant features of Chehel Sotoun Palace is very beautiful murals of Reza Abbasi, an artist in Safavie era, that have ornamented the palace walls. Each of those murals demonstrate a set of historical events in Safavid and Afsharid dynasties. Artworks of this palace including mirrorwork, murals, and woodwork indicate great artistic skill of Iranian artists. Chehel Sotoun of Isfahan was internationally registered by UNESCO in 2011.
Ali Qapu Palace

In the west of Naghsh-e Jahan Square and across from Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque, there is a mansion which is one of the most important architectural masterpieces of early 11th century AH with an excellent worldwide reputation. Considering the investigations, it is deduced that Ali Qapu Palace is the central gate and entrance of all palaces which were constructed in Naghsh-e Jahan Square in Safavid period. This palace, which is an exclusive example of Safavid palaces architecture, was built in early 11th century AH (between 1225 and 1231 AD) at the instigation of Shah Abbas the First in Isfahan after the transfer of capital from Qazvin to Isfahan. It used to host great men. It is Ali Qapu’s miniatures by Reza Abbasi, well-known artist of Safavid time, which has caused the palace to be placed among Safavid magnificent monuments; moreover, skillful stucco of the last floor of the palace whose hall is known as “Music Room” or “Sound Room” has enhanced the beauty of Ali Qapu Palace. The stucco not only regulates the sound but also stops its reflection. This monument was registered in Iran’s National Heritage in 1931 under the registration number of 104.
Vank Cathedral, Isfahan

Vank, built in time of the Second Shah Abbas in ??? AD, is one of the historical cathedrals of Armenians in Isfahan. Ancient Armenian churches have cone-like domes, but the dome of Vank Cathedral has been built like the domes of Iranian mosques in Safavid era. This cathedral is unique among Armenian churches in terms of gilding. Vank has been visited by many famous people as follows: Sudan’s Prince (1933 AD), Misaka, the Japanese Prince (1933 AD), Vice President of Germany (1957 AD), Denmark’s Queen and her daughter (1963 AD), President of India (1963 AD), Denmark’s Prince (1963 AD), King and Queen of Belgium (1964 AD), Spain’s Prince (1966 AD), Kofi Annan, the previous Secretary-General of the United Nations (1999 AD), etc. The cathedral was registered in Iran’s National Heritage in 1931 under the registration number of 85.
Naqsh-e Jahan Square

Naghsh-e-Jahan Square is a huge rectangular square in Isfahan, Iran, which is surrounded by monuments from Safavid period. Naghsh-e-Jahan Square was built during the reign of Safavid Shah Abbas. There are other historical monuments in the square including Ali Qapu Palace, Imam Mosque, Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque, Qeisarieh Gate. In addition to these monuments, there are 200 chambers around the square, in which Isfahan's handicrafts are presented. In comparison with "Place de la Concorde" in Paris, Naghsh-e-jahan Square is historically superior, and after "Tiananmen Square" in Beijing, it is the second largest square in the world. Due to the harmony existing in the construction of it, Naghsh-e-Jahan Square has surprised Europeans during centuries. The square was registered in Iran's National Heritage on January 28, 1935 under the registration number of 102. Also, it was among the first Iranian monuments, which was registered in UNESCO World Heritage in April, 1979 under the registration number of 115. The square was named "Shah Square" after it was built, and it was registered in World Heritage list under this name. Currently, however, it is known as "Imam Square" in that list.
Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque

Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque is one of the spectacular historical monuments of Isfahan in Safavid period, which is an acknowledged masterpiece of tilework and architecture. The colors and patterns used in the skilled tilework of the mosque's dome have created the most beautiful tilework in Iranian Architecture. The light of the mosque is supplied through the reticulated windows in different sides of the dome. Another architectural masterpiece can be seen in the mosque's mihrab. In mid 1920s, at the instigation of َArthur Pope, Reza Shah commanded that the whole mosque be refurbished. Distinguishing features of Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque include not having any minarets or courts which are the intrinsic parts of all Islamic mosques, a 45-degree north-south orientation to qibla, the short dome, the unique mihrab, monumental inscriptions, and the ringlets above the entrance door, which are placed in marble vases. The mosque was registered in Iran's National Heritage in 1931 under the registration number of 105.Yakh Morad Cave in the roundabouts of Azadbar and Kohneh Deh villages in Gachsar Area and Chalous Road is one of these ice caves in Iran. The cave is about 65 kilometers from Tehran. This cave is about 2640 meters high from sea level and its opening is 3 meters wide and eight meters high. The very beautiful cressets in this cave are in their best condition in Esfand and Farvardin. The significant point about this cave is that it is stratified which is rare among Iranian caves. In a part of the cave, there are four floors with a height difference of more than 30 meters. The entrance of the cave is in the heights of the mountains and the cave path has mostly a downward slope and finally you find yourself in frozen springs on the ground and sponge stalactites by reaching the depth of the cave.
Abyaneh Village

Abyaneh is a village in the central district of Natanz County in Isfahan Province. It lies 40 kilometers northwest of Natanz in the Karkas mountainside. Due to its local architecture and various historical monuments, Abyaneh is one of the famous villages of Iran. The village is about 1500 years old and, it is one of the oldest human settlements in the margin of Iran's dessert. Considering the age of the village, Abyaneh features many ancient monuments belonging to different historical periods. The existence of several historical monuments as well as some ancient traditions among the people of Abyaneh led to the registration of this village in Iran's National Heritage on August 21, 1975 under the registration number of 1089.
Imam Mosque, Isfahan

Shah Mosque with the alternative names of Jameh Mosque, Soltani Mosque and Imam Mosque is one of the mosques in Naghsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan which was built in Safavid era and is considered one of the important Iranian-Islamic architectural buildings. This building is an immortal masterpiece in architecture, tiling and carpentry of the eleventh Hijri century. Shah Mosque was registered in the list of Iran’s national monuments on 15th Dey 1310 with number 107. Imam Mosque is located in the south side of Naghsh-e Jahan Square and is one of the prominent architectural monuments in Iran in terms of its architectural properties, rich decorations and other invaluable parts. As it can be inferred from the sources, its building began to be built in the third stage of Naghsh-e Jahan Plan to the order of Shah Abbas the Great (996-1038 hijri/1588-1629) and was finished in Safavid period (1038-1052 hijri/1629-1642).
Fin Garden, Kashan

Fin Garden of Kashan is an Iranian garden in which there is also Fin Bathroom. The bathroom is the place where Amir Kabir, the chief minister, was murdered in 1852 AD at the instigation of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar. Fin Garden is one of the most important Iranian garden which is still lively and full of life. Among important historical events happened in this garden are the official coronation of Safavid Shah Ismail and Amir kabir’s murder. National Museum of Kashan is aslo located in Fin Garden. Alongside Naghsh-e Jahan Square and Chehel Sotoun Palace, Fin Garden has the most visitors and tourists in Isfahan Province. Fin garden was registered in Iran’s National Heritage on December 7, 1935 under the registration number of 238. It has been some years that it is registered in UNESCO World Heritage.
Historical Bazaar of Kashan

One of the most important historical and visitable monuments in Kashan is the historical bazaar of Kashan that has included more than 40 historical buildings in itselfand its south entrance is Kamal al-Molk Square and its north entrance is the beginning of Darvazeh Dowlat Square. The historical bazaar in Kashan includes orders (the main path of bazaar), categories (different classes), corridors, Khan house (a merchant house that had the general role of sales), Khanbar or Kalanbar (a place for collecting and storing goods and manipulating them), Timcheh (the center of several houses or merchant houses), Kaisarieh (a place with a separate door to do art and delicate works like goldsmithing and needle works) and stores.

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