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Things to Do in Esfahan

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Things To Do in Esfahan

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Reviews and photos of Esfahan attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Esfahan sightseeing.

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Esfahan Things To Do

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	Chehel Sutun Palace Tip Rating:

By iwys on December 2, 2004

Esfahan Page by iwys

Mural at Chehel Sutun

by iwys

Chehel Sutun palace is a seventeenth century summer pavilion, built by Shah Abbas as a reception hall in which to entertain foreign dignitaries.

There is a long, rectangular pool in front of the pavilion, flanked by fir trees. I found it quite incredible to see fir trees just across the Gulf from the hot desert of Saudi Arabia.

The murals on both the innner and outer walls of the palace are some of the most beautiful in the world.

One fascinating aspect of these murals is the Mongolian features of many of the people at that time, because, of course, this was once part of the Mongol Empire.

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Directions: Just off Emam Hussein Square in the centre of Isfahan.

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	The Second Biggest Square in the World Tip Rating:

Updated By iwys on May 10, 2005

Esfahan Page by iwys

by iwys

Isfahan boasts the second biggest city square in the world, after Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

The only problem is what to call it. It has had so many different names over the years. First it was Naqsh-e Jahan. Then it was Maidan-e Shah.Currently it is called Emam Khomeini Square.

It is 510m long and 165m wide. It was built by Shah Abbas in 1612. The southern end is dominated by Masjed-e Emam. At the northern end is the bazaar. On the eastern side is the Sheikh Loftollah Mosque and on the western side, the Ali Ghapu Palace. Its fountains look beautiful at sunrise and sunset.

Horse-drawn carriages take visitors for a quick spin around the square.

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Directions: It is the centre of Isfahan.

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	Shaky towers Tip Rating:

Updated By TheWanderingCamel on May 12, 2007

Esfahan Page by TheWanderingCamel

Don't lean too hard

by TheWanderingCamel

Something of a curiosity is the Menar-e Junban - a Mongol period mausoleum known generally as the Shaking Minarets. Whilst of no great architectural merit, the building is very popular with visitors because of the odd way pushing on one minaret can make the other move. If you want to try your hand at moving the minarets yourself, access to the roof is via a very cramped and dark staircase. If you don't feel like tackling that, it's easy enough to observe from the ground outside.
Currently the minarets are undergoing restoration - all those years of shaking have taken their toll - and the building is encased in scaffolding. You would be advised to check their current status when you arrive in Esfahan before making the trip out to where they are.

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Directions: About 6 kilometres west of the city centre.

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	Khaju Bridge Tip Rating:

Updated By iwys on January 4, 2005

Esfahan Page by iwys

Khaju Bridge

by iwys

The 132m-long, Khaju Bridge was built over the Zayande River in 1650. In the middle is a royal pavilion, which was used by Shah Abbas.

It is also a dam, and when I was there in March, the water level was so low that there was no water left on the downstream side.

Under the bridge is one of the oldest teahouses in Iran.

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	Masjed-e Imam Tip Rating:

Updated By iwys on December 4, 2004

Esfahan Page by iwys

Masjed-e Imam

by iwys

Masjed-e Imam is the greatest mosque in Isfahan. it dominates the southern end of Emam Khomeini Square. It is considered by many to be the finest building in Iran: the Persian equivalent of the Taj Mahal.

It was built, by order of Shah Abbas, from 1612 to 1638. Inside it is vast, tranquil and cool. The main dome is 54 m high.

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Directions: At the southern end of Emam Khomeini Square.

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	Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque Tip Rating:

Updated By iwys on December 17, 2004

Esfahan Page by iwys

Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque

by iwys

Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, which dominates the eastern side of Emam Khomeini Square, was built by order of Shah Abbas, from 1602 to 1619, to honour his father-in-law, the Lebanese preacher, Sheikh Lotfollah.

The floral, mosaic tiles of the dome have a golden glow at sunset.

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Directions: On the eastern side of Emam Khomeini Square, facing the Ali Ghapu Palace.

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	Ali Ghapu Palace Tip Rating:

Updated By iwys on December 17, 2004

Esfahan Page by iwys

Ali Ghapu Palace

by iwys

The Ali Ghapu Palace overlooks the main square in Isfahan, and there is a pavilion from which the Shah Abbas watched the polo matches played in Nagsh-e Jahan. There is still a pair of stone polo posts at one end of the square.

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Directions: The centre of Isfahan on Nagsh-e Jahan.

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	Masjed-e Jame Tip Rating:

By iwys on December 5, 2004

Esfahan Page by iwys

Masjed-e Jame

by iwys

Masjed-e Jame, or the Friday Mosque, is the oldest in Isfahan. It was built during the eleventh and twelfth centuries.

It is made of unadorned, clay bricks, and is much simpler than the mosaic- tiled seventeenth century mosques.

Today it functions as a museum of Islamic architecture.

Open 7am-7pm

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Address: Majlesi Street

Directions: Masjed-e Jame is in the north of the city, just off Ghiyam Square.

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	Fire worship Tip Rating:

Updated By TheWanderingCamel on April 8, 2005

Esfahan Page by TheWanderingCamel

Up and up

by TheWanderingCamel

If you have visited the Shaking Minarets you might like to continue on to the ancient Zoroastrian Fire Temple - the Atashgah (Place of Fire). Little more than a tumbled ruin of mud brick remains now, and the climb up is very steep, but the view from the top makes it worth while - all Isfahan is spread out below you.

leyle

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Directions: Approx.7km west of the city

Website: http://isfahan.apu.ac.uk/atashgah/atashgah.html

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	Si o Se Bridge Tip Rating:

By iwys on December 5, 2004

Esfahan Page by iwys

Pol-e Si o Se

by iwys

The 300m-long, Pol-e Si o Se, or the Bridge of Thirty-Three Arches, was built over the Zayande River in 1602.

It connects the Armenian suburb of Jolfa to the city centre.

It's a nice place to promenade in the early evening.

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Directions: Si o Se Bridge is where Chahar Bagh-e Street, the main north-south avenue through Isfahan, crosses the river.

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More Esfahan Tips

Overview	Hotels and Accommodations Tips: 46 - Photos: 27
Things To Do Tips: 228 - Photos: 383	Nightlife Tips: 6 - Photos: 10
Transportation Tips: 19 - Photos: 17	Restaurants Tips: 33 - Photos: 45
Shopping Tips: 16 - Photos: 15	Off the Beaten Path Tips: 8 - Photos: 12
Tourist Traps Tips: 6 - Photos: 5	Warnings or Dangers Tips: 5 - Photos: 5
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Flights Tips: 10 - Photos: 0

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