Naqsh-e Jahan Square

By sisarv Points Of Interest ۲۱ اردیبهشت, ۱۳۹۸

Overview

A spectacle in its own right. Naqsh-e Jahan (Imam) Square is one of the largest public plazas in the world, earning a listing as a Unesco World Heritage Site. The 512m-long and 163m-wide square was laid out in 1602 under the reign of the Safavid ruler, Shah Abbas the Great, to signal the importance of Esfahan as a capital of a powerful empire.

The name means ‘pattern of the world’ and it was designed to showcase the finest jewels of the Safavid empire – the incomparable Masjed-e Shah, the elegant Masjed-e Sheikh Lotfollah and the lavishly decorated Kakh-e Ali Qapu and Qeysarieh Portal. It is has changed little since it was built, and at each end the goal posts used in regular polo games 400 years ago are still in place (these polo matches are depicted on miniatures for sale around the square). The only modern additions are the fountains, which were added by the Pahlavis, and the souvenir and craft shops, which occupy the spaces on either side of the arched arcades.
Recent civic administrations have restored the square to its full glory by making the en-tire space a pedestrian zone. Horse-drawn carriages, a few electric carts and Shank’s pony are now the only transport in the square, allowing visitors to enjoy the majesty of the view untroubled by traffic.
The square is at its best in late afternoon when the blue-tiled minarets and domes are lit up by the last rays of the sun and the mountains beyond turn red. This is the time when local families congregate for a promenade around the perimeter, the fountains are turned on and the light softens, illuminating the truly splendid architecture.