Esfahan

From MaxTravelz

(Persian: اصفهان) Esfahan's stunning architecture, tree-lined boulevards and relaxed pace make it the undisputed highlight of Iran's cities. The capital of Esfahan Province, and once the country's capital, the Persians call it "Nesf-e-Jahan", meaning "Half The World".

Contents 1 Understand 2 Get in 2.1 By plane 2.2 By train 2.3 By car 2.4 By bus 3 Get around 4 See 5 Do 6 Learn 7 Work 8 Buy 9 Eat 9.1 Budget 9.2 Mid-range 9.3 Splurge 10 Drink 11 Sleep 11.1 Budget 11.2 Mid-range 11.3 Splurge 12 Contact 13 Stay safe 14 Cope 15 Get out 16 External links

Understand

The city is geographically located at 32°38′N 51°29′E, 340 km south of Tehran in the lush Zayandeh-Rud plain, at the foothills of the Zagros mountain range. The city enjoys a temperate climate and regular seasons. No obstacle exists as far as 90 km north of Isfahan and cool northern winds blow from this direction. Isfahan is located on the main north-south and east-west routes crossing Iran. It is situated at 1590 meters above sea level. It receives an average of 355 mm of rain per year, making it similar to Denver, Colorado in terms of altitude and precipitation. The temperature ranges between 2 and 28 degrees Celsius. The record high temperature was 42 degrees Celsius and the record low was −19 degrees Celsius.

The southern and western approaches of Isfahan are mountainous and it is bordered northward and eastward by fertile plains. Thus, Isfahan's climate is varied and occasionally rainy, with a precipitation average varying between 100 and 150 mm.

Isfahan was once one of the largest cities in the world. It flourished from 1050 to 1722, particularly in the 16th century under the Safavid dynasty, when it was the capital of Persia. Even today, the city retains much of its past glory. It is famous for its Islamic architecture, with many beautiful boulevards, covered bridges, palaces, mosques, and minarets. This led to the proverb Esfahān nesf-e jahān ast: "Esfahan is half of the world".

Isfahan has been designated by UNESCO as a world heritage city. It contains a wide variety of Islamic architectural sites ranging from the 11th century to the 19th.

The merchants of Isphahan were important backers of the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran.

The Jolfa area, South of the river and West of city center, has been an Armenian quarter for several hundred years, ever since one of Iran's Shahs moved many Armenians from a border area into his capital.

Get in

Es·fa·han (ĕs'fə-hän') or Is·fa·han (ĭs'-)(Persian: اصفهان)

A city of central Iran south of Tehran. An ancient town and capital of Persia from 1598 to 1722, it was long noted for its fine carpets and silver filigree. Today it has textile and steel mills. Population in 2000: 2,040,000.

By plane

Isphahan has an airport. Before the revolution, it was a major military air base.

By train

By car

By bus

There are regular busses to Tehran and Shiraz.

Get around

See

Squares and Streets:

   * Naqsh-e Jahan Square also known as shah square or imam square-1602.
   * Meydan Kohne (Kohne Square)
   * Shahshahan square
   * Chaharbagh Boulevard - 1596.
   * Chaharbagh-e-khajou Boulevard

Mosques :

   * Shah Mosque (it is called Imam mosque after Iran's Revolution)
   * Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque
   * Jame Mosque

Palaces:

   * Ali Qapu (The Royal Palace) - Early 17th Century
   * Talar Ashraf (The Palace of Ashraf) - 1650.
   * Hasht Behesht (The Palace of Eight Paradises) - 1669.
   * Chehel Sotoun (The Palace of forty columns) - 1647.

Schools:

   * Madreseye Sadr
   * Madreseye Shah (Imam Jafar Sadegh after revolution)
   * Madreseye Khajoo

Caravanserais:

   * Carvanserai Shah

Bridges:

   * Pol-e Shahrestan (The Shahrestan Bridge) - 11th Century.
   * Pol-e Khaju (Khaju Bridge) - 1650.
   * Si-o-Seh Pol (The Bridge of 33 Arches) - 1602.
   * pol-e-Joui or choobi(Joui bridge)
   * Pol-e-Shahrestan (Shahrestan bridge)

Churches and Cathedrals

   * Vank Cathedral - 17th century.
   * Kelisaye maryam (maryam church)

others include :

   * Atashgah - a Zoroastrian fire temple.
   * Buqe'h-ye Ibn-Sina (Avicenna's Dome) - 12th Century.
   * The Tombs of Nizam al-Mulk & Malek Shah - 12th & 18th Century.
   * Jolfa (The Armenian Quarter).
   * The Bathhouse of Sheikh Bahai.
   * Pigeon Towers - 17th Century.

You could spend a happy week exploring the bazaar, the entrance is on Naghsh e jahan.

Do

Learn

Work

Buy

Isphahan carpets are world-famous, among the vey finest Persian carpets. They are also often extremely expensive. Carpets from the nearby town of Nain are similar in style, also well-known, and also expensive.

Eat

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

Drink

Sleep

Budget

• The Amir Kabir Hotel is a favorite among backpackers.

Mid-range

Splurge

Contact

Stay safe

Cope

Get out

External links

http://shahrdari.isfahan.ir/

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