The Magic of Isfahan, Iran

Welcome to the Islamic country of Iran! A country that is steeped in culture and tradition, Iran is said to be one of the loveliest countries on the planet. With splendid structures that speak volumes about the excellence of Islamic architecture, wonderful natural green surroundings, and of course warm and friendly people make Iran one of the most after holiday destinations in the world.

Almost all of Iran’s cities are beautiful, but the city that takes the cake in terms of beauty is Isfahan. Filled with beautiful roads, ancient palaces, religious mosques, bridges and towering minarets, Isfahan got its name from the Persian proverb “Esfahan nesf –e jahan ast” which means Isfahan is half of the world.

Formerly the capital of Persia, Isfahan has been known to exist for nearly 1500 years. It was one of the largest cities in the world. Passing through so many centuries must have made the city pretty dull and old fashioned you might guess. On the contrast, Isfahan is a splendid combination of the old and new with monuments and historical sites blending in seamlessly with the modern surroundings.

Today, Isfahan is the third largest city in Iran and is home to the world renowned Persian rugs, arts and handicrafts that bear the mark of Iran and its culture. The entire city is a pleasure to explore, with roads that are bordered by trees, various historic sites, long promenades and gardens teeming with flowers of all kinds.

Location and Climate: Isfahan is located close to the city of Tehran in the center of Iran. The entire city is cut into two by the river Zayandeh, which runs through it. Enjoying a pleasant location under the Zagros mountain range, Isfahan has a temperate climate throughout the year.

Summers may tend to get a bit hot and sultry. However, the winds blowing in from the North tend to keep the city cool. Nights in Isfahan are pleasant with not so cold temperatures and minimum humidity. Winters are not so cold either and you may be surprised to find out that it snows on rare occasions.

Getting There and around: The city has an international airport (Isfahan International Airport) which caters to both local and international airlines. Cabs, coaches and buses provide transportation within the city. A Metro line is being constructed and hopes to begin operating next year.

Places to visit: Before moving out to visit the architectural wonders of Isfahan, it is recommended to get the basic knowledge of some of the fundamentals of structures which include platforms, porches, arches, minarets, gateways and chambers. These are the fundamentals of any Islamic structure and the monuments of Isfahan are no different. Each of them has been built and designed with amazing dexterity.

Mosques: As in any Islamic city, Isfahan has a mosque for every street. While most of them are small ones, there are a few very large mosques that speak volumes about the splendor of Iranian architecture. Be sure to visit among others, the Hakim Mosque, Isfahan Jame Mosque, Shah Mosque and the Shiek Lotf Allah Mosque which have been built on an extravagant scale.

Palaces and Museums: Palaces are aplenty in and around Isfahan and you can catch a glimpse of the luxuries enjoyed by the kings and sultans of the yester years. Built in the 17th century, the Ali Qapu, also called the Royal Palace, is a must visit while The Palace of Ashraf is also considered a landmark. Also called The Palace of Eight Paradises, the Hasht-Behesht was built in 1669 and still stands in perfect condition to this day. Don’t miss out on the Chehel Sotoun Palace which is also called The Palace of Forty Columns.

Old Schools: If you don’t have an idea of what a Madreseye is, here’s a little tip to enlighten you. Madreseyes are places of study where students learn the basic fundamentals and etiquettes of Islam and its languages, mainly Arabic. Even though, they are not open to the public in most places, the Sadr, Shah and Khajoo Madreseyes allow visitors. The Shah Madreseye is also called as the Chahar Bagh School.

Churches: Cathedrals are not uncommon in the city and you can visit the 17th century Vank Cathedrals and Kelisaye Maryam, also called as Maryam Church.

Bridges: Iran is famous for its bridges which are sturdily built and covered at the top to form a kind of suspended tunnel. In Isfahan, the bridges are considered to be some of the finest works of architecture that can be found anywhere in the world.

The bridges are located along the length of the Zayandeh River and dot the two river banks. The oldest of these bridges which is touted to have been built in the 12th century is the Pol –e Shahrestan. The bridge of Pol –e Khaju is 123 meters long and has 24 arches along its length. Pol –e Jubi is a bridge that can be found upstream and also served the purpose of an aqueduct for irrigational purposes. At the far end of the river is the Si-o-She Pol, also called as the Bridge of 33 Arches. So far the longest bridge in Isfahan, the Si-o-She Pol measures 295 meters in length.

Bazaars and Squares: If you set foot in one of the bazaars or streets of Iran, you will know how active the country and its people are. There will be no place to walk as vendors throng the pavements selling everything from eatables to junk jewelry. The roads are covered with mobile shops and what little place remains is left for the traffic which in most cases is two way.

Walk down the Grand Bazaar and the Shahi Bazaar in Isfahan that sell almost anything you would ever want to buy. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Naghsh-e Jahan Square is nearby and is deemed to be amongst the biggest squares in the world.

Some of the other interesting sites that may be on your must visit list would include The Tombs of Nizam al-Mulk and Malek Shah, sultans from the 12th and 18th centuries respectively; the 17th century Pigeon Towers, the famous shaking minarets of Manar Jonban, Avicenna’s Dome which dates back to the 12th century and a Zoroastrian Fire temple called Atashgah.

Food: While you are in Isfahan, something that shouldn’t be missed out on is the food. Iran is famous for its unique cuisine and some of these dishes can be found only here.

Try the mouth smacking Beryooni which is an Isfahan delight. Cooked with mutton and lungs that are prebaked, the dish is served along with a kind of bread called “nan-e taftton”. The city is also famous for its casseroles and sweet eats.

Savor Gaz, the city’s sweet delight, which is prepared from a rare plant that can be found only in Isfahan. The plant is called angebin and the sap collected from the plant is mixed with pistachios, saffron and rose water, with a sprinkling of almond kernels on top for the finishing.

Ever fancy a casserole that is made of chicken, lamb, duck or beef? Well, that’s exactly what the dish of Fesenjan is made of. Ground walnuts and pomegranate molasses are cooked with either one of the above ingredients along with an addition of tart and sweet sauce for flavoring. The dish when prepared is served hot with rice.

A more of a traditional Iranian dish is the Khoresht-e Mast. Also called yogurt stew, the dish is served as dessert in party events and functions. The base ingredient is yogurt above which cooked chicken, mutton or lamb is added, along with sugar, saffron and tiny bits of orange peel which are soaked in water for nearly a week or boiled for sweetening.