Naghsh-e Jahan Square Introduction
Naghsh-e Jahan Square, officially known as Imam Square, is the central square of Isfahan city and is part of a historical complex. What distinguishes this field from its counterparts is its rectangular shape, which differs from the circular or oval shape of many common squares. The rectangular field is 560 meters wide and 160 meters wide, or 430 feet long and 160 feet wide. In this article of Chiyakotravel, we give you a comprehensive view of this heritage.
To understand the extent of the this square, just know that Naghsh-e Jahan Square is greater than Moscow Red Square, one of the world’s largest and most famous squares. The large and well-known square of Brussels, Belgium, with a dimension of 110* 68 meters, occupies less than a tenth of Naghsh-e Jahan. Naqsh-e Jahan Square is historically superior than Concorde Square in Paris, and after the Tiananmen Square in Beijing is the second largest square in the world.
This square hosts a number of monuments and has many heritages in its embrace which is why visiting this square will enable you see an important part of Isfahan’s treasure.
Sights of Naghsh-e Jahan square
Historical places in Naghsh-e Jahan square aren’t countable, so if you don’t know them well, you may miss some experiences. Here are some sights you can visit in this area. Remember that we briefly explain each of these heritages, and then discuss them separately in order to understand them completely.
The overall space of Naghsh-e Jahan square
Entering in Naghsh-e Jahan square Collection, you enter a different space from city. The square itself has a large pond with a beautiful and special dancing fountain. Numerous pathways allow you to move around the square easily, and enjoy its beauty. There are religious buildings and mosques on both sides of the square, and on the other side is a spectacular palace.
Isfahan Market entrance invites you to a different historical world. There are booth or shops offering eye-capturing handicrafts around the square. Everything is so spectacular that you forget to enter inside the buildings and want to spend more time watching these beauties. Perhaps this is why there are also stone benches in the square to sit on them for moments immersed in lives of people in Isfahan.
Ali Qapu Palace
One of the most eye-catching monuments in Naghsh-e Jahan square is Ali Qapu Palace, located in the west side, inviting you into its world with its exquisite appearance. It is 48 meters high and 6 stories high with spiral staircases.
The monument built between 973-977 AH by Shah Abbas I, and after transferring Safavid capital from Qazvin to Isfahan. It used as the center and governmental place of Safavid monarchs. The excellent construction of Ali Qapu Palace continued during five stages of architecture under the dominance of King Abbas I, especially King Abbas II and King Solomon, and became more beautiful day by day.
The most spectacular part of the palace is its top floor where is known as Music Room or Sound Room and features various instruments. The magnificent secret of the building lies in its miniatures which feature the work of renowned Safavid artist Reza Abbasi.
Visits: Everyday except Tasoa and Ashura
Open hours: 9:00 to 18:00 in the first half of the year and 9:00 to 16:30 in the second half of the year
Ticket price: 5000 Tomans for Iranian nationals and 50,000 Tomans for foreign nationals.
Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque Spectacular blend of color and light
In one corner of this historic square, a beautiful dome of a mosque attracts the attention of every person. Unlike other mosques whose minarets have gone into blue sky, there are no minarets above it. Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque is one of the special mosques of Iran that built during the Safavid era and today has many fans as one of the most spectacular places in Naghsh-e Jahan square.
This mosque is considered a masterpiece of 11th century AH architecture and tiling. It was built by Shah Mohammad Reza Isfahani, one of the most famous architects of that period. It took about 18 years to build the mosque, and after many years, it is still an astonishing masterpiece in use of color and light in architecture. One of the wonders of this building is the peacock, which is designed in the inner center of the dome and its feathers are complemented by light from the top arch at the entrance to the mosque.
Visit Time: Everyday
Opening hours: 9:00 to 12:30 and 14:00 to 18:00 First half of the year, 9:00 to 11:30 and 13:00 to 16:30 Second half of the year
Ticket price: 5000 Tomans for Iranian nationals and 50,000 Tomans for foreign nationals.
Imam Mosque | the most important historical mosque in Isfahan
On the south side of Naghsh-e Jahan square, there are dome and minarets belonging to Imam Mosque. This mosque, also known as the Mosque of Shah, Soltani and Jame Mosque, is considered to be the most important historical mosque in Isfahan and one of the most important Islamic architectural monuments in Iran.
The building is a unique masterpiece of 11th century AH architecture, tiling and carpentry which began in 1020 AH under the command of King Abbas in the twenty-fourth year of his reign. Its decorations and extensions lasted until his successors. The magnificence of scene and the dome of this mosque brings you one of the most stunning images. Repetition of building elements, symmetrical arches, the beauty of the great ablution pond, tiling and many other things will amaze you. The engineer of the building was Professor Ali Akbar Esfahani and its supervisor was Moheb Ali Beikollah. Inscriptions such as Alireza Abbasi, Abdolbaqi Tabrizi, Mohammad Reza Emami and Mohammad Saleh Emami, have made inscriptions of this building.
Visit Time: Everyday
Opening hours: 9:00 to 12:30 and 14:00 to 18:00 First half of the year, 9:00 to 11:30 and 13:00 to 16:30 Second half of the year
Ticket price: 5000 Tomans for Iranian nationals and 50,000 Tomans for foreign nationals.
Gheisariyeh Headquarters, A crossroads into commerce
Gheisariyeh Sardar is the name of one of the structures of Safavid era, located in the corner of Naqsh-e Jahan Square and at the main entrance to Isfahan market. In the past, it had three floors, but two floors remain today after one of floors demolition. The dilapidated floor was dedicated to timpani house where announced daily times to the public with playing music. The second floor was for official and commercial stuff, and there were booth for sale in the lowest floor.
Gheysarieh porch consists of four subsidiary doors, a main gate and a pond on top of which there are paintings by Reza Abbasi, Naghous Dir Hormuz, and Portuguese castle clock. This lobby takes you to the bustling corridors of big market in Isfahan, which is the beating heart of half the world (Isfahan) economy.
Gheisarieh Market A part of big market of Isfahan
Isfahan bazaar is one of the biggest and most beautiful markets in Iran, and because of its presence in the world market, it is one of the most privileged markets in terms of tourism industry. The construction of main building of this market and its various parts lasted from tenth to thirteenth century and was completed in Safavid and Qajar periods.
Part of this market known as Gheisarieh Market whose entrance to Naghsh-e Jahan square is marked by a beautiful skyline. There are many main and subsidiary ways in this market, among which there are semaphore makers, Mokhles, Maghsoud beik, Haroonieh, Golshan, Shall, etc. In this complex, there are religious schools and mosques like other markets in Iran. some of them are: Jaddah, Nimavar, Haronieh, Sadr, Kasegaran, Zulfiqar Mosques, Jarchi, Glass and …
Walking through this market, you can feel the flow of life and enjoy seeing people, crafts as well as seeing architectural and historical effects.
Having Fun in Naghsh-e Jahan Square
Naghsh-e Jahan Square is not only a place to explore the history of this land, but you can also have fun and create different moments for yourself:
- Shopping: Naghsh-e Jahan Square is one of the gates to big market in Isfahan where there are good opportunities to buy souvenirs and crafts and much more. In addition, all around booths also offer good products to buyers, and you can buy beautiful goods from them.
- Gourmand: There are some delicious opportunities in Naghsh-e Jahan Square to create happy memory for yourself and your companions. In this square you can go to places that sell tasty porridge, or try a combination of doogh and baklava which are traditional Isfahan food. Don’t forget the ice cream and juice shops, especially in the summer when the heat can make you tired.
- Cafeteria: What do you think of drinking a cup of coffee, herbal tea or enameled tea in Naghsh-e Jahan Square? You’d love to taste these drinks as you immerse yourself in the beauties of the square and embark on a historic journey. Some of the world-class Square Cafés are not simple cafes and operate as a gallery café or museum cafe, so you won’t be tired of being in them. These cafes serve breakfast and you can spend the early hours of your day there.
- Wheelbarrows: One of the special effects of the Naghsh-e Jahan Square are the strollers that rotate around the field, and make a different tour for you. These strollers take you away from the present time for a moment, and take you to a historic space.
- Photography: Lean subjects can be seen in the square, allowing you to capture the most beautiful images. From the beautiful domes of the mosques to the water fountains and architectural heritages… everything can fit into the picture frame and be your best souvenir of the trip.
