Cehel Sotoun Place
One of the most visited attractions in Isfahan is Chehel Sotoun Palace. The meaning of its name is a palace with 40 columns. There is a pool, veranda, and several halls. Its magnificent architecture leaves everyone in wonder and appreciation. It is also listed as a site on UNESCO Cultural Heritage list. Chehel Sotoun (also Chehel Sotoon) is a pavilion in the middle of a park at the far end of a long pool by Shah Abbas II to be used for the Shah’s entertainment and receptions. In this palace, Shah Abbas II and his successors would receive dignitaries and ambassadors, either on the terrace or in one of the stately reception halls.
The name, “Forty Columns,” was inspired by the twenty slender wooden columns supporting the entrance pavilion, which, when reflected in the waters of the fountain, are said to appear to be forty.
Built as a pleasure pavilion and reception hall, using the Achaemenid-inspired talar (columnar porch) style, this beautifully proportioned palace is entered via an elegant terrace that perfectly bridges the transition between the Persian love of gardens and interior splendour.
the palace contains many frescoes and paintings on ceramic. Many of the ceramic panels have been dispersed and are now in the possession of major museums in the west. They depict specific historical scenes such as a reception for an Uzbek King in 1646, when the palace had just been completed.
Ali Qapu Palace
Ali Qapu is a grand palace in the western part of Naqsh-e Jahan Square, one of the main tourist attractions of Isfahan. The name of the palace means “imperial gate”. It is a pavilion that marks the entrance to the vast royal residential quarter of the Safavid Isfahan which stretched from Naqsh-e-Jahan square to the Chahar Bagh Boulevard. The building, another wonderful Safavid edifice, was built by decree of Shah Abbas the Great in the early seventeenth century. It was here that the great monarch used to entertain noble visitors, and foreign ambassadors. Shah Abbas, here for the first time celebrated the Nowruz (New Year’s Day) of 1006 AH / 1597 A.D
Shah Abbas II was enthusiastic about the embellishment and perfection of Ali Qapu. His chief contribution was given to the magnificent hall, constructed 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.
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.
The room on the sixth floor is 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. So we conclude that it was placed in position in these rooms for ornament and 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 decoration of the large room on the third floor which opens out on the large pillared hall, and which was used by Shah Abbas for entertaining his official guests is the most interesting.
Fortunately the ceilings, on which birds are depicted in their natural colors, have remained without interference in their original state from Safavid times, and these are the best roofs in the building
Si-o-Se-Pol
Most of Iranians call it SI-O-SE POL the bridge of 33 arches. The bridge connects central Chahar Bagh to the lower part of Chahar Bagh Avenue. The bridge was built between 1599 and 1602 during the reign of Shah Abbas. The construction process was controlled by Shah’s chancellor, Allahverdi Khan Undiladze – that is where the second name of the bridge derives from. In 1598 Shah Abbas moved the capital of his Empire from Qazvin to Isfahan During 400 years of history of the bridge the river dried up, but Si-o-Se-Pol found other purposes. It was a place for evening walks, public meetings, events, an observation point for regattas and other water sports.
Also known as Allahverdi Khan Bridge, Si-o-Se-Pol is one of the eleven Isfahan bridges, crossing Zayandehrud River. It is the most famous bridge of Isfahan due to its size, central location, and prominent architecture. The bridge is a center of city nightlife that attracts both Iranians and foreign tourists.
The most astonishing feature of the bridge is the architecture and the designation of its 33 arches. This structure consists of two rows of 33 arches from either side, originally decorated with artistic tiles and paintings. The bridge has a sidewalk on the top and another one with a ceiling near the water level. The lower level rests on piers, separated by 33 arch sluices where the river can flow past. These sluices give the bridge its name, “Siosepol”
Si-o-Se Pol is the longest among Isfahan bridges and the largest construction on the water in Iran
Chahar Bagh School
The Chahar Bagh (four Gardens) School is the last magnificent monument built in Safavid era (1704 to 1714). The compound was built during the time of Soltan Hossein, a Safavid king, to serve as a theological and clerical school to train those who were interested in such sciences. The dome and the greater part of the walls are covered in bright yellow bricks which give a feeling of lightness. The school was part of a huge complex including Caravanserai and Bazaar.
The name of Chahar Bagh School is Due to its location in Chahar Bagh Street, however, other names such as Soltani School and Madar Shah School have also been mentioned.
The architecture is in accordance with the climate of Isfahan and is designed based on four seasons (four iwans); in warm seasons, the southern iwan and in the cold seasons the northern iwan were used.
The building of Chahar Bagh School has two floors; Religious courses were taught in first floor and mathematics, astronomy and medicine courses were taught in second floor.
Naghsh-e Jahan Square
Naghsh-e Jahan Square is an important historical and one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. The square is surrounded by buildings from the Safavid era. It was built between 1598 and 1629 by the decision of Shah Abbas.
Naqsh-e Jahan Square, (also Shah Square and Imam Square), is the main tourist spot of Isfahan, one of the UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. Naqsh-e Jahan in Farsi means “The image of the world”. The square is surrounded by structures of different purpose and architecture, and together with the main bazaar of Isfahan they comprise a huge complex to explore. The Imam 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.
Up to sixty years ago the square presented a very different aspect from the square today. The whole area of the square within the limits of the water channels round it was quite level, while to the north and south stood two goal posts for the game of polo. Those two goal posts are still in position but re-planned with large pool in the center, and lower beds round has transformed the square and given it a completely new look. Most of the buildings round are two-storied and the alcoves simply decorated.
