Naqshe Jahan Square

Naqshe Jahan Square, One of UNESCO site in Iran. The Naqshe Jahan Square or also known as Imam Square or Shah Square.

the square located in the center of Isfahan city.

Naqshe Jahan square is from the period of Shah Abbas I and has a length of 500 m. from north to south, and its width is approximately 165 m. Surrounding these vicinities are the Abbasi Mosque and Sheikh Lotf Ol-lah Mosque, the Qaisarieh portal and the Ali Qapoo Edifice. During the reign of Shah Abbas I and his successors, this square was an area where festivities, polo, dramatics and military parades took place.

The Maidan was where the Shah and the people met. Built as a two-story row of shops, flanked by impressive architecture, and eventually leading up to the northern end, where the Imperial Bazaar was situated, the square was a busy area of entertainment and business, exchanged between people from all corners of the world. As Isfahan was a vital stop along the Silk Road, goods from all the civilized countries of the world, spanning from Portugal in the West, to the Middle Kingdom in the East, found its way into the hands of gifted merchants, who knew how to make the best profits out of them.

The Royal Square was also admired by Europeans who visited Isfahan during Shah Abbas’ reign. Pietro Della Valleconceded that it outshone the Piazza Navona in his native Rome.