When you visit Iran, if you go anywhere besides Tehran you have to visit Esfahan. The city is about a 5 hour drive south of Tehran through the desert. It’s best to do the drive during the cooler months, November through April. I wouldn’t suggest driving through this region in the Summer, in August of 2016 it got up 160 degrees making it one of the hottest recorded temperatures in the world. I went in late February 2017 and it was lovely. Around 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Wether you’re into shopping, culture or history, Esfahan has something for everyone. The boulevards are lined with shops full of artisan hand crafts and restaurants serving traditional Iranian foods, some of which can only be found in Esfahan. There are plenty of museums and important Islamic architecture to be seen including Naqsh-e Jahan Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
After arriving in Esfahan the first place I went was Esfahan’s Armenian quarter which was filled with coffee shop’s and the beautiful Armenian Vank Cathedral.
This church was constructed in 1606 and dedicated to Armenian deportees. It’s covered with gorgeous frescoes and a gold painted central dome, similar to a mosque, that depicts the creation of the world.
Next I went to Naqsh-e Jahan Square. This is the top destination to see in Esfahan hands down.
If you only have time to see one thing in Iran, make it Naqsh-e Jahan Square. Protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s one of the largest squares in the world. You can easily spend all day here. It’s home to the Shah Mosque, the Lotfollah Mosque, Ali Qapu Palace and the Imperial Bazaar, which lines the corridors surrounding the square.
You can enter Ali Qapu Palace, as it is a good place to start exploring the square. The palace marks the entrance to the pavilion and was used by the monarch as a place to entertain guests. It’s six floors with the sixth floor having the banquet and music halls. The architecture of the music hall was both beautiful and highly efficient for acoustics.
Next you can visit the Shah Mosque. This mosque is incredible! Built in 1611, it is regarded as a masterpiece of Persian architecture. The intricacies and detail that went into the 475,000 tiles used in construction are truly something to behold. Very few other mosques in the world come close to how magnificent this one is.
After the Shah Mosque be sure to visit the Lotfollah Mosque. This one was a personal favorite. This was the first one built in Naqsh-e Jahan Square. It was originally intended as a private mosque for the royal court, not a public mosque like the Shah Mosque, which is why there are no minarets on the outside. Even though it is smaller than the Shah Mosque it’s tile work is even more incredible and was never seen by the public until centuries after its construction.
Before leaving the square make sure to check out the Imperial bazaar and if you’re hungry go to the Naqsh-e Jahan Traditional Restaurant and order the Beryan of Isfahan. It’s grilled ground sheep meat with traditional ingredients and it’s only served in Isfahan. So good!
On the walk back to your hotel make sure to stop by the Khaju Bridge. This bridge was built in 1650 and stands as one of the finest examples of Persian architecture. There is a section in the center that was built for the Shah’s to sit at and enjoy the view. The bridge has sluices built under the archways that helps regulate the flow of the river. This bridge is incredible in both functionality and style.
I’d like to thank my amazing guide Ahmad Janati for driving me all over Iran and showing me some of the most incredible sites, hopefully I’ll be able to come back again sometime soon!
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It would be another two centuries before Isfahan would rise again, under the reign of Shah Abbas I, the greatest ruler of the Safavid Empire (1501-1722 A.D.). Cruel as Russia’s Ivan the Terrible, canny as England’s Elizabeth I and extravagant as Philip II of Spain (all contemporaries), Abbas made Isfahan his showplace. He transformed the provincial city into a global metropolis, importing Armenian merchants and artisans and welcoming Catholic monks and Protestant traders. He was generally tolerant of the Jewish and Zoroastrian communities that had lived there for centuries. Most remarkably, Abbas sought to establish Isfahan as the political capital of the first Shiite empire, bringing learned theologians from Lebanon to bolster the city 8 ‘s religious institutions a move begun by his predecessors that would have profound consequences for world history. The arts thrived in the new capital; miniaturists, carpet weavers, jewelers and potters turned out ornate wares that enhanced the mansions and palaces that sprang up along spacious avenues.
Best known for its historical h century houses such as the Ameri House or Borujerdi House, Kashan has a wealth of other architectural and historical beauties which warrant it a stop on anyone’s trip to Iran. Especially photogenic are the Sultan Amir Ahmad Bathhouse (make sure you also climb up to the roof), Agha Bozorg Mosque, best visited at non-prayer times, and Khan Amir al-Dowleh Timche caravanserai in the bazaar. As the perfect stop between Tehran and Esfahan, you might want to plan your visit such that you stay the night in one of the historical homes, several of which have been converted into luxurious boutique hotels .