Soaked in a rich history and culture, Isfahan is a stunning and romantic city located in central

Iran. This truly magnificent city is renowned both domestically and internationally for

its many architectural wonders such as unmatched Islamic buildings, bazaars, museums,

covered bridges, splendid palaces, grand mosques, and impressive minarets.

Isfahan is renowned not only for the abundance of great historical wonders but also for

its astonishing natural beauties such as Persian gardens, and tree-lined boulevards that

combine natural elements with manmade components to create a unique artistic achievement

that reflects the heights of art, philosophy, and religious concepts. Moreover, the city

is known for its ‘life-giving river’, the Zayandeh-Rood, which has long bestowed the city

an original beauty and fertility. The cool blue tiles of Isfahan’s Islamic buildings, and the

city’s majestic bridges, contrast perfectly with the encircling hot, dry Iranian countryside.

Sitting majestically on both the east-west and north-south trade routes which traverse the

country, the city was once a crossroads of international trade and diplomacy in Iran. The

city was once one of the largest cities in the world. It flourished from 1050 to 1722, particularly

during the 16th century under the rule of the Safavid dynasty, when it became the

capital of Persia for the second time in its history and it has retained much of its past glory.

Today Isfahan is the third largest city in Iran and a major tourist attraction. It produces

fine carpets, textiles, and handicrafts. Isfahan also has excelled in terms of science and

technology with the many scientific institutes and young scientists it has. Also, it is now

home to some heavy industry, including steel factories and a nuclear facility on its outskirts,

however, its inner core wants to be preserved as a priceless gem.

Isfahan is a city for walking, getting lost in mazing bazaars, dozing in beautiful gardens,

and meeting people. This has led to the Persian proverb “Esfahan nesf-e jahan” which

means “Isfahan is half the world”.

A Pearl in the Middle East

ISFAHAN

4 ENDLESS DISCOVERY ISFAHAN

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