The most special place in the world, Naghsh-e Jahan Square
Naghsh-e Jahan Square: Everyone has heard the description of Isfahan’s historical monuments. Historic places whose splendor attracts the attention of every tourist. The most special square in the world, Naghsh-e Jahan square is one of the most famous of these places. Most of Isfahan’s historical monuments date back to the Safavid era. An era that reflects the economic prosperity of that era. After many years and many unfortunate events that have happened to these places, it still attracts the attention of tourists. Naghsh-e Jahan square is among the places that every person should visit at least once. So, join us to get more acquainted with the collection of the role of the world of buildings around it.
Naghsh-e Jahan Square
Before Safavid times, there was a beautiful garden called “Naghsh-e Jahan square” in Isfahan. The name of this garden is taken from a city that is called Nakhchivan today.
During the Safavid period, after the transfer of the capital from Qazvin to Isfahan, a lot of economic prosperity was created. Therefore, many buildings were ordered to be built.
From the field that was called “New Square” at this time.
The old mansion in Naghsh-e Jahan Garden was demolished at the same time as the square was built. Its materials were used in the construction of the square. For this reason, the new square was called Naghsh-e Jahan Square.
By the order of Shah Abbas Safavid, the original building of this square was built on the banks of the Zayandehrood River in 1011 AH. Over time, by 1025, its construction and other buildings around the world were completed.
This square was built by famous architects such as Sheikh Baha’i, Master Ali Akbar and Mohammad Reza Isfahani.
The length of Naghsh-e Jahan Square is more than 500 meters and its width is 160 meters. Around the square, 200 rooms are located on two floors.
At the same time, by order of Henry IV in 1612, the Doge Square in Paris was built with a square design, each side of which was not more than 140 square meters.
This square is wider than Moscow Red Square, which was one of the most famous squares in the world.
Even the role of the world has a superior historical perspective compared to Concorde Square in Paris. The role of the world square is the second largest square in the world after Tiananmen Square in Beijing.
There are four amazing monuments in different parts of the square. During different periods, arches were built around the square to protect the building. But over time, the arches have become modern cells.
Also, this square is very similar to Shah Qazvin Square, Amir Chakhmaq Square in Yazd and Saheb Abad Square in Qazvin.
Simultaneously with the reign of the last Safavid king (Sultan Hussein), Naghsh-e Jahan square lost its glory and grandeur.
All the atmospheres and trees around the square dried up, and this destroyed the prosperity of the square. The process of destruction intensified during the Ashraf Afghan invasion of Isfahan.
Due to the change of capital from Isfahan, neglect of places and their destruction continued until the Qajar period.
Many parts of the mansion were destroyed due to the negligence of the Qajar kings.
During the reign of the first Pahlavi, Reza Khan began to rebuild historic buildings and cells around Naghsh-e Jahan square, and economic prosperity returned to the Naghsh-e Jahan market.
According to the travelogue, Naghsh-e Jahan Square has been the site of countless ceremonies and rituals. These include polo, fireworks, military parades and patriotic celebrations.
Naghsh-e Jahan Square has been registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Aali Qapo Palace
By order of Shah Abbas I, this building was built after the transfer of the capital from Qazvin to Isfahan, between 973 and 977 AD. In the Safavid period, the Aali Qapo mansion in Isfahan was known as the “Dolat khane Palace ” and the “Dolat khane Mobarake Naghsh-e Jahan square”.
This palace was built and completed in 5phase between 70 and 100 years.
In the first phase of construction, this palace was only the entrance to other royal palaces.
In the second phase, due to the expansion of the capital and the increase in population, the need to expand the building was felt. For this reason, the third, fourth and half floors of the fifth floor were added.
In the third phase, the palace building was completed with the addition of the top floor (known as the music hall).
In the fourth phase, a porch was added to Naghsh-e Jahan Square to increase the length of the palace.
And in the fifth phase, 18 columns were added to the porch. The construction of royal stairs and the construction and completion of the building’s water supply system to transfer water to the floors, especially the copper pool of the porch, were other constructions of this phase.
Aali Qapu Palace has amazing architecture. You will see a different number of floors if you look at it from any side. The palace has five floors from the back view, three floors from the side and two floors from the side of Naghsh-e Jahan square.
From the top of Aali Qapu mansion, all the views of Isfahan can be seen. Aali Qapu height is 48 Meters.
Miniatures and spectacular stucco of Aali Qapu Palace were made by Reza Abbasi, a famous artist of the Safavid period. Each floor and each hall in Aali Qapu Palace have its own design.
This unique architecture and palace inscriptions will attract the attention of any viewer.
Audio Hall (Aali Qapu)
The audio hall is one of the sixth floors halls. The audio hall is completely plastered. This hall has an area of 63 square meters and has the shape of Chalipa (Persian cross). One of the features of this hall is the presence of arches that have created an acoustic environment. This feature allows full sounds to reach the entire hall.
Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque
Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque is one of the historical mosques with masterpiece architecture of the Safavid era of Isfahan. This mosque was built between 1602 and 1619 AD by order of Shah Abbas I. The tiles of this mosque have been done by Professor Mohammad Reza Isfahani.
The main reason for building the mosque is to honor one of the religious figures named Sheikh Lotfollah Misi. He is one of the prominent scholars of the Safavid era.
Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque was built on the ruins of a mosque that used to be in this place.
Only Shah Abbas and the royal family were allowed to enter the mosque. The general public could not enter the mosque and worship.
The architectural style of Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque is similar to other Isfahani structures. But this mosque has some major differences from other mosques built across the country. Lack of minaret and Shabestan is one of the differences of this mosque. On the other hand, the entrance of the mosque has several steps.
One of the main reasons why this mosque lacks Shabestan and entrance courtyard is to create a symmetry with Naghsh-e Jahan Square and to place the Aali qapu mansion in front of the mosque.
For this reason, a courtyard facing the qibla in front of the mosque has not been built.
Another difference of this mosque is that it does not face the qibla. As a result, the architects were forced to rotate 45 degrees in order to position the mosque in the direction of the qibla.
But the design and construction of the mosque has been done with such elegance that no angle or even skew in the building and exterior is known.
The dome of Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque is lower than the dome of other mosques.
The dome of Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque is built on 8 gabled arches. At the top of the dome, 16 lattice windows are installed that allow daylight into the courtyard. The windows are made at a distance of 170 cm from each other. In addition to passing light, they are also responsible for air conditioning.
Islamic motifs on the windows caused the light to enter the mosque with astonishing refraction.
The outer part of the dome has colorful tiles and delicate designs that come in different colors at different times of the day and according to the angle of the sun.
For example, the dome is pink in the light of dawn, pink, cream in the direct light of noon, and brick in the setting sun.
The exterior of the dome is decorated with mosaic tiles in pea background color. At the bottom of the dome, there are inscriptions in the third line with azure background color.
The seven-colored tiles of the mosque, in which the predominant color is blue and green, have turned the interior of the mosque and the Shabestan into a special space.
The Imam Mosque
Isfahan Imam Mosque is one of the most important buildings of the Safavid era. This mosque was formerly known as the Shah Mosque, the New Soltani Mosque and the Abbasid Mosque.
Imam Mosque is the most important mosque in the Safavid period in terms of the grandeur of the building and the abundance of decorations in the city of Isfahan.
The construction of the mosque began by the order of Shah Abbas I in 1020 AH to beautify the square.
This mosque represents a unique example of Iranian tile and carving art in the 11th century. Recorded dates in the mosque show that the decoration of the mosque was completed during the reign of Shah Abbas I.
The inscription on the entrance of the mosque in the Sols writing shows that Shah Abbas built this mosque from his property. He has given the reward of this work to his grandfather Shah Tahmasb.
Isfahan Imam Mosque is built with 18 million pieces of bricks and 474 thousand tiles. Marble can also be seen in abundance in mosques;
The main Shah Mosque is covered with silver and gold. On this door, poems in Nasta’liq script can be seen.
Large pieces of monolithic marble and precious Sangab have been used in the mosque. This is one of the valuable features of Imam Mosque.
The new Haftrang method has been used in the tiles of the mosque.
Isfahan Imam Mosque has seven Sangab. These Sangabs are:
Entrance Sangab made of Jasper
West Chehelsotun Sangab made of Jasper
Eastern Chehelsotun Sangab made of lime
Western dome Sangab made of marble
Eastern dome Sangab made of marble
Qaisaria Gate
The historical monument of Qaisaria Gate is located in the north of Naghsh-e Jahan Square and in front of Imam Mosque. This building was built by Master Ali Akbar Isfahani during the reign of Shah Abbas I.
The reason for choosing this name is that the entrance of this market was built like one of the buildings of Caesarea in Asia Minor (Turkey). This door is decorated with porcelain bricks and beautiful paintings.
Qaisaria Gate was the most important entrance gate of Isfahan.
Today, there is not much left of the beautiful paintings on the porch. But the gate of Caesarea is reminiscent of the glory of Isfahan in the Safavid era.
Most tourists have spoken in their travelogues about the glory of this Caesarea gate.
This article introduced you to a small part of the glory of Naghsh-e Jahan square. Naghsh-e Jahan square is one of the first places to visit on a trip to Isfahan. Seeing this place at night, due to the beautiful lighting, is particularly attractive. But you should not miss seeing this amazing place during the day. The best time to see the charms of this mosque is in the morning. Sunlight gives a special effect to these mosques.
We hope that after getting acquainted with the Isfahan’s historical monuments specially Naghsh-e Jahan square, you will experience a good trip to this city with Oak Travel agency and visit more historical and cultural attractions in Iransquare