Esfahan

The Bridge of Khaju or pole-i-Khaju, the most famous of Isfahan bridges, has roused the admiration of travelers since the 17th century. There was an earlier bridge across the river at the same spot, near the district of Khaju on the old Shiraz road; this was probablybuilt in the reign of Timurian sovereign, one of the successors of Tamerlane (15th century). The present structure was built by Shah Abbas II round about 1650. It has 23 arches and is 436 feet long and 39 feet wide.

It is also a dam; sluice gates between the piers closed the canals, raising the water level upstream so that large reserves could be collected for irrigating the surrounding gardens. With its two stories of arcades with intersecting arches, its stone steps downstream with the water cascading over them, and its two large pavilions in the center- "The Prince' Parlors"- this bridge is a masterpiece of balance and harmony. The outer side of the arcades is decorated with richly colored tiles, and the interior of the pavilions with more recent paintings.

"Khaju Bridge"

The Bridge of Allahverdi Khan across the Zayandeh Rud is a continuation of Chahar Bagh, the principal street in Isfahan. Built at the beginning of the 17th century at the order of Shah Abbas, it is named after the general-a famous war- chief- who was put in charge of the work. It is also called the Bridge of 33 Arches, or Si-O-Se Pol. It is 45 feet wide and 175 yards long but- although it is impressive looking- it does not have the same archaeological or aesthetic interest as the two other bridges farther downstream.

"Si-o-se Pol"

This building -now a veritable museum of Persian painting and ceramics -was a pleasure pavilionused for the king's entertainment's and receptions. It stands inside a vast royal park, but relatively near the enclosure, and was built by Shah Abbas II round an earlier building erected by Shah Abbas I. An inscription states that the decoration and frescoes were finished in 1647. Only two large historical frescoes date from the later period of the Zand dynasty. Unfortunately, the Chehel Sotun has been badly damaged since then, especially when the Afghans occupied the town and covered the paintings with a thick coat of whitewash. It is now being extensively restored under the aegis of the Institute Italiano Per il Medio Orient.

The pavilion opens onto the gardens by means of an elegant terrace, only a few steps high and supported by slender, delicate wooden pillars. In reality, there were never more than twenty columns, but they were reflected in the pool in the park, and so the Persian liked to call the building the "pavilion with forty columns" (besides, the number 40 had a symbolic meaning in Persia and expressed respect and admiration).

"Chehel Sotun"

The name Ali Qapu, "Magnificent Gate", was given to this place as it was right at the entrance to the Safavid palaces which stretched from the Maidan Naqsh-i-Jahan to the Chahar Bagh Boulevard. The building, another wonderful Safavid edifice, was built by decree of Shah Abbas the Great in the early seventeenth century. It was here that the great monarch used to entertain noble visitors, and foreign ambassadors. Shah Abbas, here for the first time celebrated the Now - ruz (New Year's Day) of 1006 AH / 1597 A.D. A large and massive rectangular structure, the Ali Qapu is 48 meters high and has six floors, fronted with a wide terrace whose ceiling is inlaid and supported by wooden columns.

The 18 columns of the hall are covered with mirrors and its ceiling is decorated with great paintings. The chancellery was stationed on the first floor. On the sixth, the royal reception and banquets were held. The largest rooms are found on this floor. The stucco decoration of the banquet hall abounds in motif of various vessels and cups. The sixth floor was popularly called "the music room". Here various ensembles performed music and sang songs. From the upper galleries, the Safavid ruler watched polo, maneuvers and the horse-racing opposite the square of Naqsh-i-Jahan.

"Ali Qapo seen from Naqsh-i-Jahan Square"

The Hasht Behesht (The Eight Paradise Palazzo) is an octagonal structure, typical of many royal palaces in Isfahan. Commissioned by Shah Sulieman, it was built about 1669 (about A.H. 1081). The garden, is visible at all times through the great arches, is an integral part of the structure. The domed ceiling of the main reception room is painted in purple on a glittering gold base, while above the windows, in the lantern dome, fragments of mirror sparkle in the light.

"Hasht Behesht garden and palace"

The tombstone of Amu Abdollah bears the Hijrah date of 716 A.H. (1316 A.D.) and two minarets, one on either side of the mausoleum ivan, from the main attraction of this place, since any movement produced in one of them is automatically reflected not only in the other minaret, but even in the whole ivan. Hence, the popular name "Minar-i Jonban". The architectural style of the monument is that of the Mogul period. The ivan of the mausoleum has been ornamented with four-pointed and polygonal azure tiles, and an inscription on the tombstone reads as follows: (This is the tomb of the virtuous, god-fearing Sheikh, "amu Abdollah ibn Muhammad ibn Mahmud Saqla, my God bless his soul. Dated (17th Zil-Hijja, 716 A.H.).

"Minar Jonban (shaking minaret), entrance ivan"