Naqsh-e Jahan Square Naghsh-e Jahan Square (Persian: ميدان نقش جهان maidaan-e naqsh-e jehaan; trans: "Image of the World Square"), officially known as Imam Square (میدان امام), formerly known as Shah Square (میدان شاه), situated at the center of Isfahan city, Iran. It is an important historical site and one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites. The square is surrounded by buildings from the Safavid era. The Shah Mosque is situated on the south side of this square. On the west side you can find Ali Qapu Palace. Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque is situated on the eastern side of this square and the northern side opens into the Isfahan Grand Bazaar. Today, Namaaz-e Jom'eh (the Muslim Friday prayer) is held in this square in front of the Shah Mosque.

Naqsh-e Jahan Square Naqshe Jahan square in Isfahan is the epitome of 16th century Iranian architecture.

Panoramic view Imam Mosque Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque Ali Qapu palace. From Bazar Entrance

Sheikh Lotfallah Mosque was constructed between 1602 to 1619 A. D Sheikh Lotfallah Mosque was constructed between 1602 to 1619 A.D. in Shah Abbas (I)'s era. The monument's architect was Mohammadreza Isfahani. He solved the problem of the difference between the direction of kaabeh and gateway of the building by devising a connecting vestibule between the entrance and the enclosure. The diameter of the inner dome is 12 m (39 ft) laid on walls with the thickness of 170cm. One of the unique characteristics of the mosque is the peacock at the center of its dome. Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque

The mosque was named after Sheikh Lotfallah, a religious leader from what is now Lebanon who was invited to Isfahan and was paid special attention by the Safavid king. All around this magnificent square are bazaars, more than 300 shops full of excellent handicrafts and carpets. Facing the lady's mosque (Sheikh Lotfolah Mosque) on you left you will find Ahangarha bazaar( Black smith Bazaar), used to be the main market for black smiths in Isfahan Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque

The Shah Mosque or Masjed-e Shāh (Persian: مسجد شاه ) is a mosque in Isfahan (Esfahān

Built during the Safavid period, an excellent example of Islamic Architecture in Persia(Iran). This mosque was constructed during the Safavid period, in 1611 with seven-color mosaic tiles and valuable inscriptions. The portal of the mosque measuring 27 m (89 ft) high, crowned with two minarets being 42 m (138 ft) in height, frames the front of the mosque which opens into Naqsh-e Jahan square. On top of the entrance, among the stalactites and above the turquoise lattice window, there is a frame of seven-color mosaic tile shaped like a vase with two peacocks on both sides which is an example of mosaic tile. The inscription above the entrance being made of white mosaic tile on ultramarine background, is written in Sols script by Alireza Abbasi. The wooden door of the mosque, covered with layers of gold and silver, is ornamented with some poems written in Nasta'liq script. Imam Mosque Facade of entrance arcade

Imam Mosque The overall entrance hall proves the mastery of the designer of the building. The master architect has designed two passageways being different in length on both sides of the hall to assimilate the axis of the mosque to the direction of kiblah which has an angle of 45 degrees, to cover the change of direction without losing the proportions.

Imam Mesjid

The Mosque is surrounded with four ivans and arcades The Mosque is surrounded with four ivans and arcades. All the walls are ornarnented with seven-color mosaic tile. The ivan of the mosque is the one which is toward kiblah measuring 33 m (108 ft) high and has two minarets being 48 m (157 ft) high. Behind this ivan is a space which is roofed with the most enormous dome of the city being 52 m (171 ft) high. The dome consists of two covers. The outer cover is 12 m (39 ft) away from the inner one. There are two schools for religious education at the southwest and southeast of the mosque. The southwest school has an inscription from the Safavid period. There is also an indicator stone, inserted in the inscription, the shape of which is right-angled triangle. This stone shows the mid-day of all the days of the year scientifically in a simple way. The mosque has two halls in the east and west part of its interior. The eastern hall is bigger but its walls are covered with plaster without any ornamentation while the walls and ceiling of the western hall are covered with seven-color mosaic tiles. The mihrab of this hall has an inscription written by the master artist, Mohammad Reza Emami. Imam Mosque

Entrance to the magnificent Masjed-é Emam mosque at the south end of Emam Khomeini Square.

Ālī Qāpū (Turkic for Sublime Gate; Persian: عالی‌قاپو)is a grand palace in Isfahan, Iran. It is located on the western side of the Naghsh-i Jahan Square opposite to Sheikh lotf allah mosque, and had been originally designed as a vast portal. It is forty-eight meters high and there are seven floors, each accessible by a difficult spiral staircase. In the sixth floor music room, deep circular niches are found in the walls, having not only aesthetic value, but also acoustic

The Ali Qapu building was founded in several stages, beginning from a building with a single gate, with entrance to the government building complex, and gradually developed, ending in the existing shape. The period of the development, with intervals lasted approximately seventy years. First Stage : The initial building acting as entrance to the complex was in cubical shape and in two stories, with dimensions measuring 20 by 19 m (66 by 62 ft) and 13 m (43 ft) high. Second Stage : Foundation of the upper hall, built on the entrance vestibule, with cubical shape, over the initial cubic shape structure with the same height in two visible stories. Third Stage : Foundation of the fifth story, the music amphitheater or music hall, built on the lower hall, using the central room for sky light, and thus the vertical extension being emphasized. Ali Qapu palace.

Fourth Stage : Foundation of the eastern verandah or pavilion advancing towards the square, supported by the tower shaped building. By foundation of this verandah, the entrance vestibule was extended along the main gate and passage to the market, perpendicular to the eastern flank of the building. Fifth Stage : Foundation of the wooden ceiling of the verandah, supported by 18 wooden columns, and contemporaneous with erection of the ceiling, an additional stairway of the southern flank was founded and was called the Kingly Stairway. Sixth Stage : During this stage a water tower was built in the northern flank for provision of water for the copper pool of the columned verandah. Plaster decorations in reception story and music hall.

The room on the sixth floor is also decorated with plasterwork, representing pots and vessels and one is famous as the music and sound room. It is certainly well worth visiting for the cut out decorations round the room, which represent a considerable artistic feat. These cut out shapes were not placed there to act as cupboards: the stuccowork is most delicate and falls to pieces at the highest touch and was included for decoration. The rooms were used for private parties and for the King's musicians, and these hollow places in the walls retained the echoes and produced the sounds of the singing and musical instruments clearly in all parts.

The plaster ceiling of the music room.

Shah Abbas II was enthusiastic about the embellishment and perfection of Ālī Qāpū. His chief contribution was given to the magnificent hall, the constructures on the third floor. The 18 columns of the hall are covered with mirrors and its ceiling is decorated with great paintings. The chancellery was stationed on the first floor. On the sixth, the royal reception and banquets were held. The largest rooms are found on this floor. The stucco decoration of the banquet hall abounds in motif of various vessels and cups. The sixth floor was popularly called (the music room). Here various ensembles performed music and sang songs. From the upper galleries, the Safavid ruler watched polo, maneuvers and the horse-racing opposite the square of Naqsh-i-Jahan