Isfahan is a metropolis in central Iran, south of Tehran and is the capital of Esfahan Province. The Persians name it “Nesf-e-Jahan”, that means “Half The World”.
Because of its stunning hand-painted tiling and luxurious public sq., it’s thought of to be one of the lovely cities on this planet. An historic city and capital of Persia from 1598 to 1722, it was lengthy famous for its wonderful carpets and silver filigree.
At present, textile and metal mills take their place. Its structure, tree-lined boulevards and relaxed tempo make it one of many highlights of Iran. The town is 430km south of Tehran on the foothills of the Zagros mountain vary.
The town enjoys a temperate local weather and common seasons. Isfahan is positioned on the principle north-south and east-west routes crossing Iran. It’s much like Denver in the USA when it comes to altitude and precipitation. It’s the twin metropolis of Freiburg and Freiburg road in Isfahan is legendary.
Local weather – Isfahan travel guide
Isfahan experiences an arid local weather, very like the remainder of the Iranian plateau with little rainfall. It options chilly winters with temperatures between -2°C (27°F) and eight°C (47°F) in January. Chilly waves can often decrease temperatures to -10°C (14°F) and the document low is -19.4°C (-2.9°F). Snow does fall at the very least as soon as each winter. In distinction, summers can get sizzling with highs topping 36°C (97°F) in July however with nice nights simply above 21°C (70°F). Warmth waves do happen and the report excessive is 43°C (109°F).
GET AROUND ISFAHAN – Isfahan travel guide
It’s straightforward to get around Isfahan by public transports.
By bus
A single journey prices IRR10000 (November 2016); you’ll be able to pay the driver instantly, or purchase multi-journey contactless playing cards at certain bus . Notice that there are separate males (entrance) and ladies (rear) sections on every bus.
From Kaveh Bus Terminal, take Bus 91 which runs down Chahar Bagh-e Pa’in St in the direction of the town heart, previous Takhti Junction and Imam Hossein Sq.
By Metro
Isfahan Metro is a metro system serving the town of Isfahan, Iran.
The primary part of Line 1 runs for 11 km from Qods within the northwest to Shohada through Kaveh (Northen long-distance bus terminal) to Sofeh (Southern long-distance bus terminal). A single journey prices IRR10000 (November 2018) you should purchase multi-journey contactless cards at any metro station ticket vendor offices.
Experience-Sharing Apps – Isfahan travel guide
It is suggested for traveler to make use of the ride-sharing apps similar to SNAPP or TAP30 since they’re cheaper than the common taxi .
WHAT TO SEE IN ISFAHAN
Squares and streets
Naqsh-e Jahan Sq. also called shah sq. or imam square-1602. The sq. incorporates two mosques, a palace, and the bazaar. The square is the biggest historic public sq. on the earth after Tiananmen Sq. in [[Beijing]] and it’s one among UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. Ii is surrounded by buildings from the Safavid period. This an extremely popular place for locals to picnic on Friday and vacation evenings.
Meydan Kohne (Kohne Sq.)
Shahshahan Sq.
Chaharbagh Boulevard: 1596, courting from the Safavid period, the avenue is probably the most traditionally well-known in all of Persia.
Chaharbagh-e-khajou Boulevard
Mosques
The beautiful mosques of Isfahan are among the many most stunning and attention-grabbing on the planet.
* Constructed in the course of the Safavid time, it is a superb example of Islamic structure of Iran, and considered one of many masterpieces of Persian Architecture. It’s registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Monument. Its splendor is especially because of the great thing about its seven-colour mosaic tiles and calligraphic inscriptions.
Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque: one of many architectural masterpieces of Safavid Iranian structure, this mosque is taken into account to be probably the most stunning in Iran. Constructed-in 1602 by Shah Abbas I.= and designed by his chief architect, Sheikh Bahai. The mosque was designed to be a non-public mosque for the royal household and due to this fact it doesn’t have any minarets. There’s a tunnel from the mosque to the Royal Palace, throughout the sq..
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Hakim Mosque: one of many oldest mosques in Isfahan. Constructed by Shah Abbas II between 1656 and 1662. Situated on the location of a Tenth-century mosque. The portal was lined in mud till it was found in 1956.
* Began in AD842, that is the primary Islamic constructing to adapt the four-courtyard structure of Sassanid palaces
Palaces – Isfahan travel guide
Ālī Qāpū(The Royal Palace) – Early seventeenth Century. It’s forty-eight meters tall and there are seven flooring, every accessible by a tough spiral staircase. Within the sixth-floor music room, deep round niches are discovered within the walls, having not solely aesthetic worth but additionally acoustic. It’s wealthy in naturalistic wall draws by Reza Abbassi, the courtroom painter of Shah Abbas I, and his pupils. There are floral, animal and fowl motifs.
Talar Ashraf (The Palace of Ashraf) – 1650.
Hasht Behesht (The Palace of Eight Paradises) – 1669: Reportedly constructed for residence functions of the King’s harem.
Chehel Sotoun (The Palace of forty columns) – 1647: It’s referred to as Palace of forty columns, as there are lots of columns, and in Iranian, 40 means many. By the way, there are twenty columns, and these are mirrored within the pool in entrance, which could additionally account for its title. The role of this palace was for holding religious-national ceremonies and royal festivals and for receiving royal ambassadors and visitors.
Colleges
Madreseye Sadr
Madreseye Shah (Imam Jafar Sadegh after the revolution). The compound was constructed throughout Soltan Hossein, a Safavid king, to function a theological and clerical college to coach those that have been considering such sciences. The dome and the larger a part of the walls are lined in vivid yellow bricks which give a sense of lightness. The doorway gate embellished with gold facade and silver and the tile-works contained in the constructing are masterpieces of fantastic artwork and trade. The central courtroom, with its pool and backyard, are surrounded by arcades on two ranges, every giving entry to a scholar’s room.
Madreseye Khajoo
Bridges – Isfahan travel guide
Stroll alongside the Zayanderud River beside the traditional bridges. You see many locals doing this daily. Nonetheless, on account of a drought and badly deliberate dam, there may be normally no water within the river.
Pol-e Shahrestan (The Shahrestan Bridge) – eleventh Century. It is likely one of the oldest surviving bridges in Iran, constructed within the 14th Century (C.E.).
Pol-e Khaju (Khaju Bridge) – 1650. It’s the best bridge within the province of Esfahan. It was constructed by the Persian Safavid king, Shah Abbas II round 1650 C.E. This construction initially was ornated with creative tile works and work serving as a teahouse
Si-o-Seh Pol (The Bridge of 33 Arches) – 1602. It’s extremely ranked as being one of the well-known examples of Safavid bridge design.
Pol-e-Joui or Choobi(Joui bridge)It’s one among Isfahan’s oldest bridges and was in-built 1665, in the course of the Safavid period.
Pol-e-Maarnaan (Maarnaan Bridge)
Church buildings and Cathedrals – Isfahan travel guide
Vank Cathedral (The Church of the Saintly Sisters) – seventeenth century. The inside is roofed with tremendous work and gilded carvings and features a wainscot of rich tile work. The delicately blue and gold painted central dome depicts the Biblical story of the creation of the world and man’s expulsion from Eden. Proper above the doorway, there may be an attention-grabbing fresco of heaven and hell with black and brown devils slaughtering white bare individuals who clearly sinned. To heaven go properly dressed pious people with candles. Entrance to the compound on which there’s a museum: IRR200,000. Good worth in comparison with what you pay at different Monuments.
Kelisaye maryam (maryam church)
Gardens
Flowers Backyard Although, the very best time for Flowers Backyard is spring, in different seasons, you could find many stunning small waterfalls, lined sub-garden of cactus.
Birds Backyard
Trendy Isfahan
Isfahan Metropolis Middle which is lately accomplished and now serving the guests with its number of services and products, reminiscent of a museum, a Meals courtroom with conventional and worldwide meals, an Artwork Gallery, the biggest shopping center in Iran with native and worldwide manufacturers, The biggest indoor amusement park in Iran. You may spend an entire week exploring its services.
Trendy Eating places reminiscent of Shab Neshin, Kentucky Home, Hermes, …
Trendy Amusement Parks reminiscent of Isfahan Metropolis Middle amusement Park, Simorgh Amusement Park and Dreamland Amusement Park east of Isfahan.
Children Membership Sofia Youngsters Membership is the very best children membership in Esfahan. They will hold and educate your youngsters in English language. The value is about 3 US {Dollars} per hour.it’s consists of Espresso store, rock climbing, youngsters`s sand sport and so forth. (Close to Shahrestan Bridge).
Different sights
Atashgah: a Zoroastrian fireplace temple. This small reconstructed temple and ruins are dramatically set atop a rock on the outskirts of Isfahan and supply a commanding view of the smog-covered metropolis. You may take one of many blue buses there (ask the drivers). Alternatively, you possibly can cycle the 15 km from the town alongside the river bank. Entry: IRR 150,000 for foreigners. Free for Iranians.
Buqe’h-ye Ibn-Sina (Avicenna’s Dome) – twelfth Century.
The Tombs of Nizam al-Mulk & Malek Shah: twelfth & 18th Century.
Jolfa: The Armenian Quarter, it consists of one of the stunning church buildings in Iran.
Sheikh Bahai Bathhouse: falling aside because of neglect.
Pigeon Towers: Constructed within the seventeenth century to draw pigeons, whose feces have been then used as fertilizer.
Hamam-e (Bathhouse) Ali Gholi Agha positioned in a pleasantly quiet neighborhood with many silver and bronze smiths.
WHAT TO DO IN ISFAHAN – Isfahan travel guide
- Take a taxi to the south of the town to Soffeh Mountain and catch a telecabin up for IRR60,000 or go bowling on the solely bowling alley within the metropolis beneath the telecabin station.
- Stroll alongside stunning Zayanderood river and revel in effectively maintained parks and historic bridges on the methods.
- Take pleasure in a horse-drawn carriage journey within the historic Naqshe-Jahan sq..
- Have a picnic in Nazhvan backyard and benefit from the surroundings
- Take a stroll in Chahar-Bagh road whereas having fun with Persian saffron ice-cream
- Take a day journey to Kashan and Qamsar, particularly in the course of the months that native Rosewater manufacturing is underway in Qamsar.
WHAT TO BUY IN ISFAHAN – Isfahan travel guide
Notice that retailers in the principle sq. should pay a further 8% tax on gross sales, which is handed on to the client. Until the merchandise that you’re buying is exclusive or cheap, you could be better off buying outdoors of the principle sq..
- Esfahan carpets are world-famous, being the very best of the Persian carpets. They’re additionally usually extraordinarily costly. Carpets from the close by city of Na’in are related in model, additionally well-known, and are costly too. For individuals who have an interest, it’s potential to purchase the extremely ornamental and brightly coloured conventional costume of Esfahan, however such clothes might be costly, so it’s higher to haggle for an affordable value.
- Miniatures These beautiful miniature work are painted on camel bone. Most of them are bought framed, and costs begin from about IRR15,000. It may be extra expensive if the paintings is finished by a miniature grasp. Store and have a look at numerous retailers earlier than making your resolution.
- Khatam Kari Made out of hundreds of tiny ideas of coloured wooden sticks, these patterned handcrafts are well-liked amongst locals for framing photos, reward packing containers, backgammon and chess boards.
- Mostajeran Carpet, Kuala Lumpur Ave, Isfahan (Reverse Keshavarzi Financial institution, off Chaharbagh St). The biggest assortment of rugs in Isfahan – and be sure to see the again room, by means of the safety door. Pleasant and never pushy owners. Worldwide bank card and transport accessible. Silk rugs ~USD$3500, wool rugs >USD$200.
WHAT TO EAT IN ISFAHAN – Isfahan travel guide
Isfahan travel guide:
In some parks, you possibly can merely receive a carpet and tea from the park warden, and have a picnic on the grass! You’ll find households collect in these parks, and produce barbecues and prepare dinner freshly made kebabs, which odor (and style) scrumptious.
Native meals in Isfahan
- Chelo kebab (kebab with rice) is a should; there are regional variations in Isfahan.
- Beryani is a well-liked and attractive lunch dish in Isfahan. Many guests wrongly name it “Biryani” which refers back to the place that sells Bryan. This native dish is made from sheep meat and lung. Though it’s generally called a fatty dish if you want to strive it you could order a dietary one.
- Fereni & Shireh (Fereni= A concoction of cereal, rice flour, water, and milk) at Fereni Hafez, which is alongside Hafez Road close to Imam Sq.. Normally, they combine it with date essence. It prices IRR15000 for a small bowl or IRR25000 for an even bigger one.
- Khoresht mast is a well-liked dessert dish, solely made in Isfahan. It’s a candy yellow pudding, which accurately means “Yogurt Stew”. Saffron, meat, and yogurt are among the many fundamental elements.
- Doogh-o-Gooshfil a wierd mixture of Doogh (yogurt drink – normally salty/bitter) and Gooshfil (sort of candy)
FOR ISFAHAN HOTELS AND TOURS
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