Naqsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan

To get acquainted with every corner of this attraction, we take a look at the main buildings of the Naqsh-e Jahan Square, seek for fun activities and go through the history of Naqsh-e Jahan Square.

In this guide, which is part of the Iran Tourism Guide, you will be fully acquainted with Naqsh-e Jahan Square. A square that welcomes many travelers from all over the world every year.

In this article we will thoroughly review this beautiful place and explain its history to you. Below we will explain the tourist attractions within the square and its address.

Sights of the Naqsh-e Jahan Square

Historical sites in the Naqsh-e Jahan Square aren't only a few. so if you don't know them well, you may miss some experiences. Here are some sights you can visit in this area.

Keep in mind that we briefly explain each of these works and then discuss them separately in other articles so that you fully know them.

1. The overall space of the Naqsh-e Jahan Square

Entering the Naqsh-e Jahan Square, you see a different mood of the city. The square has a large pond in the middle, with beautiful fountains that make it very special.

Numerous crossings allow you to easily move around the square and enjoy its beauty. On both sides of the square there are religious buildings and mosques, and on the other side is a spectacular palace.

Isfahan Bazaar entrance is also the same square that invites you to a different historical world. Around the square, there are booths or shops offering amazing handicrafts and you find yourself staring at their goods.

Everything is so spectacular that you forget to step inside the buildings and want to spend more time with these beauties.

Perhaps this is why there are also stone benches in the square so that you sit on them to immerse yourself in the lives of the people of Isfahan for moments.

4. Imam Mosque; the most important historic mosque in Isfahan

On the south side of the square, there are dome and minarets belonging to Imam Mosque.
The mosque, also known as the Mosque of Shah, Soltani and Jame Mosque, is considered to be the most important historic mosque in Isfahan and one of the most important Islamic architectural monuments in Iran.

It is a unique masterpiece of 11th century AH regarding architecture, tiling and carpentry.
Its building began in the 1642 under the command of Shah Abbas, in the twenty-fourth year of his reign, and its decorations and extensions lasted until his successors’ era.

The magnificence of the scene and the dome of this mosque puts you in one of the most stunning images in front of you.
The repetition of the building elements, the symmetrical arches, the beauty of the great ablution pond, the tiling and ... all amaze you. 

The architect of the building was master Ali Akbar Esfahani and the supervisor of its building was Moheb Ali Beikollah. Inscriptions were done by Alireza Abbasi, Abdolbaqi Tabrizi, Mohammad Reza Emami and Mohammad Saleh Emami.

Visiting Information

Visiting Time: Everyday
Opening Hours: 9:00am to 12:30pm and 2:00pm to 6:00pm in the first half of the year, 9:00 am to 11:30am and 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm in the second half of the year.

7. Wicket Gate, Forgotten Memories

On the south and north sides of the Naqsh Square, there are short, stone pillars that actually form the gates of wicket play, and today people pass by without a slightest attention.
These are reminiscent of wicket game in the past and are the oldest wicket gates in the world.

Wicket is one of the oldest Iranian sports-games, also known as kings’ games because of its popularity among kings and elders, and has now reached the whole world. In this game, the riders must be able to push the ball into the opponent's goal with wooden handles and win.

Wicket Square of Naghsh-e Jahan was 83500 square meters and its design has influenced the way the wicket game has been played to such an extent that the world famous wicket courts have been made like this. 

For many years, wicket games have been held in the field symbolically to better represent the history of this work and to make people more aware of it.

9. The Great Islamic Museum – an attraction for the future

It is said that in the future there will be a museum in the upper floor of the Naqsh-e Jahan Square named Islamic Grand Museum. Soon, however, the Naqsh-e Jahan Square will become a place for displaying and presenting Islamic works.

Having fun at Naqsh-e Jahan Square

The Naqsh-e Jahan Square is not only a place to explore the history of this land. you can also have fun and create different moments for yourself:

1. Shopping

Naqsh-e Jahan Square is one of the gates to the grand bazaar in Isfahan, where there are good opportunities to buy souvenirs and crafts and many other things.
In addition, the stands also offer good products to buyers and you can buy beautiful goods from them.

2. Riding carriage

One of the special attractions of the Naqsh-e Jahan Square is the carriages that rotate around the square and make different surfing for you. These carriages take you away from the present for a moment to a historic space.

3. Having something to eat

There are delicious opportunities in the Naqsh-e Jahan Square by which you can create a happy memory for yourself and your companions.

In this square you can go to places that sell tasty Fereni or try a combination of doogh and baklava, which is a traditional Isfahan food.
Don't forget the ice cream and juices shops, especially in summer when the weather is hot and you are boiling.

4. Café

What do you think about drinking a cup of coffee, herbal tea or tea in the Naqsh-e Jahan Square? You'd love to taste these drinks as you immerse yourself in the beauties of the square and your journey through historic.

Some of the Cafés of Naqsh-e Jahan Square are not simple cafes and operate as a gallery café or museum café, so you will never be tired of being in them. The other thing is that these cafes serve breakfast and you can spend the early hours of your day there.

5. Photography

Unique photography subjects can be found everywhere in the square, allowing you to take the most beautiful and lasting images.

From the beautiful domes of the mosques to the water fountains and architectural designs and so on, everything can fit into the picture frame and be the best souvenir of your trip.

The History of the Naqsh-e Jahan Square

The Safavid first chose Tabriz and then Qazvin as the capital, and after some time decided to change it to Isfahan.
Before the capital transfer took place at the square, there was a large garden called the Naqsh-e Jahan. It was the site of government buildings and the palace of the rulers of Timurid and Aq Quyunlu.

The garden took its name from a city in the Republic of Azerbaijan, or today Nakjavan, which Hamdollah Mostofi refers to as "a happy city that is called Naqsh-e Jahan and most of its buildings are made of brick."

On the west side of the square and at the location of Ali Qapu, there was the square like part of the garden known as the Kooshk Door.

In the Seljuk era, the place was called Kooshk Square, and the capture of Barkiyarq, the fifth Seljuk king, by his brother, Mahmoud took place there.

Kooshk Square was also the location of the execution of convicts and holding official ceremonies such as the Nowruz celebration, so it was very important.

What happened during the reign of Shah Abbas I?

In the early days of his reign, King Abbas I expanded the square and there were fireworks ceremonies many times.

Various historical sources attribute the present-day construction of the square to the reign of Shah Abbas I in 1602, and some suggest the possibility of using Hassan Padeshah’s map in Tabriz in designing and building the Naqsh-e Jahan Square.

At the entrance of the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque and the Jame Mosque in the square, you can see the two names of master Mohammad Reza and master Ali Akbar Isfahani.
These are two of the architects who designed the field and built it in its current form. 

The square was one of the largest squares in the world in the 17th century, and the French knight Jean Chardin named it as the most beautiful square in the world.

In the book Ghasas al-Khaqani, Vali Gholi Shamlou writes about dedicating this square to charity affairs:

In 1636 Shah Abbas has dedicated the great carvansaray, Qeysarieh building and Shahi bath to the cost of marriage of girls and boys at that time.

Other indications are that the income of the four bazaars around the square was dedicated to the fourteen holy imams in 1608.

During the reign of the great Shah Abbas the and his successors, the square was a playground for wicket, army parades, lightings, and various performances in the dates of the royal celebrations, and on other days, people were surfing and buying and selling.

In the past, big markets were set up on Friday, with many people buying and selling there to meet their needs.
Among the first official ceremonies held in this area is the welcoming of the commander of Imam Qoli Khan who returned to the capital (Isfahan) after conquering Hormoz Island.

Shah Abbas II builds the square

During the reign of Shah Abbas II, the overcrowding of the surrounding market and the sellers led to the construction of another square. The square was very close to the old square behind the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque.

At first it was called the New square, and later because at the same time the old mansion in the Naqsh-e Jahan garden was destroyed and its material were used for building the square, the square was also called Naqsh-e Jahan Square.

According to the French tourist Chardin, up to fifty thousand lights were lit in the square during the festivals and its beauty reached its peak.
Detailed description of the square was written by other well-known European tourists such as Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, Pietro Delavale, Samson, Engelbert Campfer and ... who visited Isfahan after the Safavid era and admired its beauty.

Evidence suggests that the square was active during the construction of the square and later in the Safavid period, but the attention paid to the square was gradually reduced during the reign of shah Soleyman and Shah Sultan Hussein.

During the reign of Shah Soltan Hussein, many of the trees that Shah Abbas had planted with his own hands were destroyed, and the gradual stagnation of the flow of water caused the rest of the trees to dry.

What did the Qajars do to the square?

As the Qajars gained the power, the square was neglected like other Isfahan monuments. Parts of the square were destroyed during the turbulent period of Iran due to the invasion of Ashraf Afghan before the establishment of the Qajar government. 

The Nagharkhaneh of the Qeysarie gate also was destroyed during the Qajar era, and the square never gained its popularity again.

In the governing period of some local rulers, such as Prince Zal al-Sultan and Prince Sarem al-Dowleh, the Naqsh-e Jahan Square Complex went to the brink of extinction. 

By the end of the Qajar era, most of the booths and shops were demolished and the tiles of the domes were broken, and the square needed immediate restoration.

Naghsh-e Jahan in the Pahlavi era

As the Pahlavi gained the power, a new era began for the square and repairs were made. These repairing have continued from that time until today to maintain this eye-catching attraction.
After the restoration of the square and its surrounding buildings during the reign of Reza Shah, the official name of the square was changed to Shah Square. The Abbasi Jame Mosque was renamed the Shah Mosque.

Naghsh-e Jahan in these days

After the Islamic Revolution, the official name of the square was changed to Imam Square or Imam Khomeini Square. What we know today as Naghsh-e Jahan or Imam Square is the old square, and the new square, whose beauty and attractiveness is not as much as the old one.

Only the name of the square remained, and Naghsh-e Jahan became a pseudonym for the current square. It is interesting to note that the field was initially about 100,000 square meters, and with the changes over time and the addition of a row of shops, about 20,000 meters of it was reduced.

Today, the square is not only a historical and local attraction for people, but also a place for prayers on Friday and political gatherings.

The functions of the Naqsh-e Jahan Square throughout history

One of the interesting things about the Naqsh-e Jahan Square is its diverse uses and functions throughout history, including:

1. Political performance in terms of the establishment of the royal palace and the holding of ceremonies, parades, etc.
2. Religious performance in terms of the existence of two mosques and the performance of religious ceremonies and rituals and the observance of prayers at a time when the worshipers were more than the capacity of the mosques.
3. Commercial operation due to being in the heart of shops and bazaars and the dwellers, and the crowd of people buying stuff.
4. Recreational performance due to fireworks, wicket, skating, Shater Davani, national festivals and celebrations, acting, playing puppets, narration and acrobatics, etc.

The ruined buildings of Naqsh-e Jahan

In addition to the buildings seen today around the Naqsh-e Jahan square, there are other buildings in the field that have gradually lost their use and have been permanently demolished. These are:

• Clock building that was completely destroyed and replaced by the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque.
• 
  Marble columns that were probably brought from Persepolis in Shiraz to Isfahan and today one of them is in the Chehelstoun Museum and the other is in the Museum of Ancient Iran in Tehran.
• Six Spanish cannonballs that were captured from Hormuz Island and taken by Imam Gholi Khan.

National and Global Registration

The Naqsh-e Jahan Square has been listed in the National Iranian Heritage List on February 15th, 1932 by No. 102. This square is one of the first Iranian works to be listed in UNESCO's World Heritage List since October 26, 1979, and the following criteria have been set for registration:

• It's a masterpiece that demonstrates human ingenuity and creativity.
• It is a prime example of the interaction between human and the environment or can be referred to as representing a culture.
• It is directly related to the events or traditions of life, thoughts and ideas, important artistic or literary works of the world.

Access roads

Address: Naqsh-e Jahan Square, Isfahan

If you want to get to this area using public transport, you can use the following ways:

Bus

To reach Naghsh-e Jahan Square by bus, you must use the buses of Imam Hussein Square (AS) – Bagh Ghadir East Terminal or Imam Hussein Square – Hasht Behesht Khorasegan Terminal and get off at Imam Square Station.

Subway

If you would like to use the subway, go to the Imam Hussein Square Station and take a taxi to the Naqsh-e Jahan Square.

Comments of the foreign tourists

Naqsh-e Jahan Square is so famous that foreign tourists make sure to visit this square when they arrive Isfahan and then go to other attractions of the city.
You might be keen to know what they think of this beloved Iran attraction. For this reason, here are some of their views on the TripAdvisor site:

Greek Tourist - Visiting Date April 2019 

It is how it should be

It used to be a horse rink in the past and was used for wicket competitions. Now the square hosts shops selling handicrafts and beautiful products. Attractions here include the palace, the mosque, and so on. The best photos can be taken from the terrace of Ali Qapu Palace.

Absolutely fascinating

I was really emotional when I saw the square from above and from a cafe. It was the most beautiful square I have ever been to.

German tourist - Visiting Date April 2019

Perhaps the most beautiful square in the world!

In any case you should see this square. There is a special mood all day and night here. During the day you see families in the square and you can see cyclists and children playing. The sunset here is amazing.

Get to this place when the latest rays of sunlight shine. Wait for the sun to go down and see the sky change from light blue to orange and red to purple and dark blue (night).
It doesn't matter if you forget the time. There are many restaurants here to make your meal.

Indian Tourist - Visiting Date April 2019

Great Square

This is the second largest square in the world and you should see it. The beautiful palace of the square is adorned with all Persian arts and has a music room on top of it that you should not miss.
A great place to shop and a great attraction for those who admire heritage, art and architecture.

Australian Tourist - Visiting Date April 2019

Stunning scenery

To me, seeing this field was a dream come true. I wasn't really ready for this greatness. You can see the magnificent Ali Qapu Palace in the square and its beautiful terrace overlooking the square.
The slope of the staircase to this terrace is steep and may not be suitable for everyone, but seeing the beautiful landscape is worth the effort to climb these stairs.
Elements of beautiful architecture can be seen on the terrace and some paintings are also visible.

You have to spend a full day in the field. There is also a large market here and places to eat.
The carpet sellers here invite you to drink tea and so you have the opportunity to drink lots of cups of tea.
There are small shops in the square selling handicrafts. Here you hear people trying to make beautiful goods with different materials.

Mosque tiles are part of the spectacle of this square and look very beautiful yet sophisticated. The color of these tiles changes constantly with the change of light and get a different face at any moment.

Make sure you take the time to go inside the buildings and enjoy the tiles, brickwork and architecture.

Naghsh-e Jahan from the view of historians

The square has attracted the eye of many people with its beauties over time and many historians have admired it.

The French tourist Dieulafoy visited the square in 1881 and wrote about it:

"I do not need to try to solve an important issue like the Greek Pythagoras, but it is quite something clear to me and I can say with complete certainty that in today's civilized world there is no building that can compete this regarding the beauty and symmetry of buildings. That's not my opinion only, other Europeans who specialize in architecture and engineering agree with me."

The Italian tourist, Pietro Della Valle, has also described the Naghshe Jahan:

"All around, the square is surrounded by beautiful, harmonious, amazing buildings that have never been disconnected. All the doors are large and the shops are as the street level and above them porches, windows and thousands of decorations create a beautiful landscape. Keeping this balance in architecture and delicacy of work makes the square more beautiful, and even though the buildings in Navona Square in Rome are taller and richer, I dare to say, I prefer Naghsh-e Jahan for some reason."

Professor Walther Hinz, a contemporary German scholar who studies about Iran, writes about this historic square:

"The square is in the center of town. The construction took place at a time when we did not have the same size and style of architecture and principles of urbanization in the West."

Professor Arthur Pope, in his book Architecture of Iran, referred to the Imam Mosque in this square and wrote about it:

"The construction of the mosque proceeded slowly, despite the impatience of Shah Abbas to complete it, with the last marble covering being completed in 1638 AD.

This monument represents the culmination of a thousand years of mosque construction in Iran. The inscription on the third floor of the mosque, dated 1025 AH by Alireza Abbasi, a well-known calligrapher of the Safavid era indicates that

Shah Abbas built the mosque out of his own property and donated it to the soul of his great ancestor, Shah Tahmaseb.
Beneath the inscription with the handwriting of Mohammad Reza Emami, is another inscription that honors the architectural and engineering position of the architect of the Isfahan Jame Mosque (opposite the old Jame Mosque), the master Ali Akbar Isfahani.

The height of the huge dome of the mosque is 52 meters and the height of the minarets inside it is 48 meters and the height of its minarets in the Naqsh-e Jahan Square is 42 meters.

Large pieces of monolithic marble and exquisite stone, especially the exquisite Western Shabestan Shaban, dating back to 1095 AH, are among the fascinating sights of this unique mosque of the Islamic world. "

Chardin, the famous French tourist, refers to the Naghsh-e Jahan as a shopping mall. He considers the Qeysarie gate as a masterpiece of this square and writes in his travelogue:

"Given that all oriental writers are very careful in determining horoscopes by astrology, they have determined the construction of Isfahan at the height of the sagittarius, and thus have depicted the sign on the entrance of the palace and the Shahi Bazaar.

Of course, the Orientals do not paint it like us, half human, half horse, but half human and half tiger, a tiger with a large snake like tail that he sagittarius half is pointing an arrow to its mouth. »

HotelOneClick Concerns

Using the field's lawns as a place to have a picnic is a sign of lack of awareness of the value of this treasure.
This will distort the image of the people of this land in the minds of the tourists and may lead to unpleasant reactions.

Shops around the square have long been the center of the craft and are one of the most beautiful elements of the square.
But in recent years, the entry of Chinese and Pakistani handicrafts and the changing the use of these shops from handicrafts to toys and food and other items has endangered the memorable face of the square. However, enacting laws to prevent this has partially mitigated the problem.

One of the issues that has been the subject of strong reactions over the past several years was the construction of the 50-meter-high Jahan Nama tower in 14 floors that was within 700 meters from the Naghsh-e Jahan Square in the historical and cultural landscape.

The construction of the building in 1996 caused the issue to be listed as a UNESCO Heritage Site as the endangered heritage for the first time in 2001, and after a visit by UNESCO inspectors in 2002, some time was given to Iran until February 2004 to allow Iran to modify the four floors.

Finally, on February 8, 2009, the upper two floors of the building were demolished to avoid damaging the cultural landscape.

HotelOneClick Recommendations

Plan a visit to the Naghsh-e Jahan Square to enjoy it both during the day and night. Nights’ lighting and dancing fountains will create an unforgettable image in your mind.

In addition to visiting the square, include other sightseeing attractions in Isfahan.