Isfahan

Imam square e.o .:

Meidan Emam or the Imam Square is Isfahan's main square and besides that is it the second largest square in the world. Around this square are the most eye-catching sights of the city. Perhaps the most important building around the square is the Imam mosque, arguably the most beautiful mosque in Iran and the world.

A large courtyard with four iwans (large facades on either side), lots of mosaic and tiles. Built in 1629 with a huge dome. Much smaller but no less beautiful is the Sheikh Lutfallah mosque that is not in us the moment. Never the less is it a masterpiece although it lacks a courtyard or place, no minaret and no portal. Right across from this mosque is the Ali Oapu palace.

Other well-known mosques are: Masjid-i-Sjah, which is covered with colorful tiles, and the Masjid-i-Sjeik-Lutfullah, a mosque with a famous blue dome. In the arcades around the square, which in the evening changed to a biggest picnic park ever seen, there are many shops leading to the big bazaar and the city - the main bazaar from the city. Like any bazaar you can buy a variety of items here - things that are perceived are the beautiful Persian carpets, the noga, the copper and the jewelry. UNESCO declared the square of Meidan Emam and the surrounding buildings a World Heritage site in 1979.

The south of Isfahan:

When you exit the main street Chahar Bagh Abbasi you will find yourself at the Si-o-se Pol bridge, one of the best known and most famous bridges in Isfahan. The river Zaindeh lacks often water but it remains a pleasure to walk around this area especially in the evening.

The bridges are in darkness lit up, and many Iranians are coming here to play sports, scuba diving or just picnics. Khaju bridge is probably the most beautiful of the city's bridges with its columns; If you look good, you'll see the stone seat where Shab Abbas II was on display to see the progress of the bridge. 

In addition, the closeby Armenian district of New Julfa is also known. Sjah Abbas I moved about 3,000 Armenians to Isfahan to promote trade. They were free to have their own religion and built, among other things, the Vank, an Armenian cathedral. The church is fully painted with Christian art in the Renaissance style. The frescoes are breathtaking but also the neighborhood is cozy with small restaurants and coffee houses. 

Other:

• The Sjah Hussein madrassa is a madrassa or Islamic school built in 1710;
• The Jamemosque, a mosque built for five centuries, which gives a beautiful overview of Islamic architecture. This is Iran's largest prayer place.

The city already existed in ancient times and was then known as Aspadana. Not much is known from the foundation of the city; It is well known that the city's fountain and pillars of the Shahrestan bridge have met the teeth of time. In the time of the Parthen, Isfahan was the capital of the province of Upper Persia.

During the Babylonian exile, Jews were also moved to Isfahan. Still, there is a small Jewish community in the city. The Arabs conquered the city in the year 643 and Isfahan retained an important function. The location on the “Silk” Road made the city famous for its silk and prosperity; hundreds of mosques and large houses were built within the city limits. Isfahan became the capital of Persia in the 11th century, at the time of the dynasty of the Seltsjuks.

In the thirteenth century the Mongols conquered the city and much of it was destroyed. In October or November 1387 Timor Lenk came to Isfahan. Because of the fear of the Asian leader, the governor of the city immediately capitulated. At night, however, the population rebelled on Timoers responding to the soldiers by killing the 70,000 inhabitants and destroying the city. 

However, under the Safavids, in 1598, Isfahan became the capital of Persia again. The city came to bloom under Sha'h Abbas I the Great. During this period, the most important buildings were built, such as the Meidan Emam square. The population of the city then grew to about 1 million inhabitants. Abbas I moved many groups of traders to his new capital, including many Armenians and Jews who could confess their religion freely. The Persians then called themselves Nesf-e-Jahan, 'the half-world', meaning that if you saw it, you had seen half the world. The Dutch VOC had a trading post in Isfahan from 1623 to 1638.

The Safavid Sjah Abbas I the Great allowed several European countries in Iran to promote trade. The VOC opened its headquarters in the new capital of Isfahan in 1623. Pieter van den Broecke, the chief buyer and director of the Surprise Factorist, concluded an agreement with Shaja Abbas in which trade was regulated. This bloom period lasted until the Afghans conquered the city in 1722 and destroyed it almost completely. Shiraz became the capital of Persia. In 1729, the Afghans were expelled, but the city never got back its old status. Mashhad, Shiraz and later Tehran became the successive capitals of Iran.